OLYMPIA–Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the appointment of Joe Maroney, a life-long salmon advocate, to serve on the Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board, which awards grants for restoration projects statewide.
“Joe Maroney will be a great addition to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “Having worked for the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and lived in eastern Washington for decades, he will bring not only his knowledge of salmon but that of tribal and eastern Washington issues to the board. That will help ensure we have broad perspectives and different voices leading our salmon recovery efforts.”
Maroney is the director of Fishery and Water Resources for the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, where he has worked since 1995. His entire career has been spent working on hydropower relicensing and implementation across Washington, Idaho, and Montana. He was a two-time chairman of the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority, representing resident fish managers. Maroney has worked on bull trout recovery, fish passage, and non-native fish suppression and eradication projects focused on northern pike and brook trout. He has been a member of the Washington Invasive Species Council since 2016.
“Mr. Maroney has vast knowledge of Columbia River basin resource management issues and their impacts on fish,” said Jeff Breckel, chair of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board. “That, combined with his passion for salmon will make him an excellent board member.”
The Salmon Recovery Funding Board awards about $125 million biannually in grants to cities, counties, tribes, nonprofits, private landowners and regional salmon enhancement groups to do on-the-ground projects to restore salmon habitat. The Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office sets the statewide strategy for salmon recovery and monitors progress.
Marone lives in Spokane and his term runs through July 15, 2025.