Endangered salmon and steelhead trout populations in California are getting help from a new agreement between various government agencies and the rice-growing industry to help control the use of an herbicide that is putting fish health at risk.
The agreement creates federally-enforceable restrictions on the herbicide thiobencarb, which is used on rice crops in the state. In addition to the rice growers, the agreement involved the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other state agencies.
“This is a smart approach to pesticide use that includes important safeguards for protected fish while still allowing growers to care for their crops,” said Will Stelle, administrator of NOAA Fisheries' West Coast Region. “This demonstrates that we can find balanced and workable solutions through collaboration."
California state officials put the measures in place originally based on information from rice growers and NOAA on the dangers of overuse of the herbicide near the salmon and trout endangered species habitats. The new agreement makes the restrictions enforceable under U.S. federal law.
