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In summary, research has demonstrated the importance of the 

 riparian zone as fish habitat and that timber harvest within 30 

 meters of the streambank in this zone can cause long-term damage 

 to salmonid habitat and production. The NMFS therefore, 

 advocates retention of a minimum 30-meter no-harvest buffer zone 

 along both sides of all anadromous fish (Class I) streams, most 

 resident fish (Class II) streams, and a few significant water 

 quality influence (Class III) streams in the forest of southeast 

 Alaska. We are prepared also to assist in defining those Class 

 II and III streams where buffer zones would be appropriate. 



The NOAA policy would provide reliable protection of fish habitat 

 during and after timber harvest. It would also set a bottom line 

 that will facilitate decision making. The policy is relatively 

 simple to apply. Protection of important anadromous streams 

 would be far less compromised by lack of expertise, inadequate 

 data, personnel or budget limitations, or competing interests. 

 The minimum buffer standard would provide planners with an 

 advance knowledge of harvest limitations. It would also provide 

 an enforceable standard that lends itself to monitoring. The 

 ease with which this standard can be implemented, monitored, and 

 enforced should encourage compliance by managers and industry. 



We do not view the timber retained in a buffer as "lost" from 

 timber production, but rather, as timber required for fish 

 habitat in the true sense of multiple-use. Commercial, 

 recreational, and subsistence fisheries share the forest as a 



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