Salmon restoration workers may have to cope with a severe cut in funding this coming year following a drop in federal money and the veto of a funding source by the governor.

While agreeing that congressional approval of $6.5 million is critical -- especially after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill to use state tideland oil revenues for restoration -- fish proponents recognize it is a fraction of past years’ allocations.

Last week, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., announced the allocation to the Pacific Salmon Recovery Fund, which made $67.5 million available for Western states and tribes. That’s far less than the $90 million proposed by the Senate, but more than the $50 million proposed by the House.

Restoration interests are watching to see if Schwarzenegger’s budget will include money for the California Department of Fish and Game to match the federal funds. Sen. Wesley Chesbro, D-Arcata, has committed to include funds in a bond measure when lawmakers return in January.

”If we don’t have a state match, all bets are off,” said Humboldt State University fisheries professor Walt Duffy. “But I’ll bet we’ll have a state match.”

Duffy also sits on the citizens advisory committee for the Fish and Game grant program, which reviews 250 to 300 proposals a year. This year, $44 million in requests were made and $19 million in projects were approved, he said.

Many of those requests come from Humboldt County each year. In 2004, 25 proposals were accepted, totaling $5.2 million.

”The governor still has an opportunity to fix this situation,” said Tom Weseloh of California Trout. “He can show he cares about steelhead, salmon, Fish and Game and our economy by providing funds for restoration jobs in his January budget. He needs to take this seriously.”

A spokeswoman for Chesbro said that a parks bond will include the fisheries money, and that Chesbro’s staff is working with the governor and the agencies to ensure that it will happen.

”Our biggest goal right now is getting the fish in the bond when the Legislature returns in January,” said Darby Kernan.

John Driscoll covers natural resources/industry. He can be reached at 441-0504 or jdriscoll@times-standard.com.