The purchase of a portion of Protection Island was accomplished by use of these funds, as I indicated earlier, and we are now working again with Nature Conservancy to acquire key bald eagle habitat on the Skagit River in northwestern Washington. The bond issues total some $50 million, of which this Department receives about 15%. The State now is in its third bond issue, and we hope the citizens will continue to support this program.
One of the newer laws is the Shoreline Management Act of 1971. This act provides for development of comprehensive shoreline management programs designed to control the development of these areas to insure protection of the public interest, while still recognizing and protecting private property rights consistent with this public interest. These plans must be developed with citizen involvement. Shoreline classification generally falls into four categories—natural, conservancy, rural, and urban. The natural classification can accomplish the most substantial benefit for marine birds. Provisions are also made for protection of "shorelines of statewide significance." Plans for these areas must give preference to uses favoring the public and long-range goals. These shorelines cover the areas between low and high tide levels on inland waters and high water and the western boundary of the State on our Pacific Ocean coast.
Our State Environmental Policy Act, which requires that environmental impact statements be prepared for various programs and developments, gives our Department an opportunity to insure that our valuable wildlife resources are given consideration during the planning phase of the proposed project.
The Department feels that our authorities at this time are adequate to protect marine bird populations and their habitat. The one lacking factor, as usual, is the funding for both adequate management programs and habitat protection. Our marine habitat is rapidly being developed for recreational homesites and public use which can eliminate key habitat use. A greater public awareness of the needs of marine birds can be a help in preventing destruction of their habitat; however, money talks the loudest. The acquisition of these key habitats is the most positive means of insuring their retention. We have no solution at this time to the funding problem and only hope that someone smarter than we are can provide an acceptable solution before all of our efforts become too little and too late.
[Programs and Authorities of the Province of British Columbia Related to Marine Bird Conservation]
by
W. T. Munro
British Columbia Fish and Wildlife Branch
300-1019 Wharf Street
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8W 2Z1