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decline in the health of Pacific Northwest riverine ecosystems. 



There could be severe economic impacts for the Pacific Northwest 

 if salmon populations continue to decline. It has been estimated 

 that the direct, indirect, and induced economic stimulus of the 

 fishing industry produces over $1 billion in personal income per 

 year and supports over 60,000 jobs in the region. These numbers 

 represent the economic effect from a resource that is in a 

 severely degraded state; the potential economic return from a 

 healthy ecosystem would be greater. 



Many causes for the decline of salmon have been identified: 

 urbanization; agricultural practices; logging; construction and 

 operation of dams; over harvesting; and road building. All of 

 these factors combine to create cumulative losses of riverine 

 habitat and watershed ecosystems However, the American Fisheries 

 Society has identified habitat loss as the most consistent 

 contributor to the decline of salmon populations. 



In addition to habitat loss, traditional hatchery practices have 

 also been identified as contributing to the decline of wild 

 salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest. In essence, the 

 problems with hatcheries are associated with the "feed-lot 

 mentality" evident in traditional hatchery systems. In other 

 words, hatchery managers have often focused on producing large 

 numbers of juvenile salmon, as opposed to a goal of producing 

 fish that will have the capability, as adults, to return and 

 spawn naturally. 



The role of habitat protection and hatchery practices on the 

 restoration of naturally-spawning salmon populations will be the 

 focus of the hearing. As part of this goal, the benefit of 

 managing rivers on an ecosystem or watershed- basis will be 

 explored. 



HABITAT PROTECTION AND RESTORATION ON A WATERSHED BASIS 



Management of rivers on the level of ecosystems or watersheds 

 seems to make intuitive sense, but it presents some very 

 practical problems. Watershed nanagement seems to be a 

 catch-phrase that has yet to be adequately explained. The 

 purpose of this panel of the hearing is to explore methods of 

 identifying and restoring habitat necessary for ecosystem health 

 and the survival of naturally spawning salmon populations. 



The availability of adequate habitat is very important to the 

 survival of salmon. Salmon require stream beds with gravel of a 

 particular size in order to lay eggs. The water must have enough 

 oxygen and be relatively free of pollutants for the eggs to 

 hatch. Too much silt in the streams can cover the eggs and 

 deprive them of oxygen. In addition to the chemical properties 

 of the water, the presence of vegetation on the stream and river 

 edges also has important consequences for the survival of salmon. 



