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In 1976, the NMFS Alaska Region issued a policy statement calling 

 for mandatory buffer zones of riparian vegetation along all 

 salmon streams. Extensive research on buffer zones and salmonid 

 habitat requirements resulted in a revision of the NMFS Policy in 

 May 1988. This revision, which was based on a greater 

 understanding of the importance of buffer zones, specifies a 

 minimum no-harvest protective buffer zone along all streams in 

 Alaska that are important to anadromous fish. 



It states: 



"In order to maintain optimum production of anadromous 

 salmonids the NMFS policy is to advocate the protection of 

 riparian habitat through the retention of buffer zones along 

 all anadromous fish streams and their tributaries in Alaska. 

 NMFS will seek to ensure that a minimum buffer zone width of 

 30 meters (100 feet) be maintained on each side of the 

 stream, and should consist of the natural/ existing undis- 

 turbed forest. This policy addresses only the minimum 

 buffer zone width. In some cases a wider zone is necessary 

 to protect fisheries resources. Additional research is 

 needed from which more site-specific prescriptions can be 

 developed. " 



The buffer width recommendation is based on scientific evidence 

 compiled from research conducted in Alaska under the auspices of 

 the Alaska Working Group on Cooperative Forestry/Fisheries 

 Research which is comprised of State, Federal, and private 

 entities and from the extensive research conducted in the last 

 10-15 years throughout the Pacific Northwest. Scientists and 

 managers agree that the natural undisturbed riparian vegetation 

 adjacent to streams is a critical and integral component of fish 

 habitat. Salmonid habitat depends on riparian vegetation in the 

 old-growth forest to provide large woody debris (LWD) , shade and 



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