3 



The simple solutions often proposed for these complex problems 

 are also often misguided. In the timber crisis, for example, the 

 focus on how to protect the owl has distracted attention from the 

 real question of how to protect habitat and how to provide for sus- 

 tainable use of natural resources. The result of the approach has 

 been a species-by-species, crises-by-crises, almost dam-by-dam 

 crises, that has merely promoted further tensions and difficulties 

 in trying to solve the problem. 



And our witnesses this morning are widely recognized for their 

 work toward integrated and coordinated solutions to our resource- 

 based problems. I want to welcome them here this morning and 

 particularly Bob Naiman. I think my introduction to him kind of 

 epitomizes some of the problems that we have. We are policymak- 

 ers, decisionmakers voting on issues sometimes for which we have 

 very, very little background. ^ 



And it was in my attempt to find out whether we couldn t be 

 more efficient and do something for the owl and something for fish 

 habitat on the same pieces of real estate that I stumbled across Bob 

 and found that although he had been in contact with the Congress 

 talking to staff (the Appropriations staff) trying to get grant money 

 for research; we, the decisionmakers, often didn't know what work 

 he was doing and, therefore, didn't even know the kind of questions 

 that we should be asking our experts. And so for his help in inte- 

 grating these problems so that we can have an integrated solution, 

 I am particularly indebted to his guidance. 



And I also have very, very much appreciated the advice that we 

 have gotten from John Sayre, a leading voice in the debate over 

 the role of hatcheries in salmon recovery, and I welcome him here 

 also today. I found both of them to be extremely knowledgeable, 

 and I am just delighted that you can share your expertise with the 

 committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate your dedication 

 to resolving these complex natural resource issues facing the Pacif- 

 ic Northwest and your willingness and desire to take an integrated 

 approach. 



Mr. Studds. I thank the gentlewoman. The gentlewoman from 

 Oregon. 



STATEMENT OF HON. ELIZABETH FURSE, A U.S. 

 REPRESENTATIVE FROM OREGON 



Ms. FuRSE. Mr. Chairman, thank you for this opportunity to hear 

 what can be done to restore the magnificent salmon of our nation's 

 streams and rivers. Many members of this subcommittee are aware 

 of the crisis that our salmon face. Salmon are an essential ingredi- 

 ent of my district's lifeblood, both for their own sake and for the 

 sake of the salmon fishers. 



Until the mid 1980's, most mixed-stock fisheries were managed 

 to harvest the tremendous abundance that Federal and state hatch- 

 eries produced, but that bounty came at a price, the loss of spawn- 

 ing and rearing habitat and the decline of naturally spawning 

 salmon populations along the entire West Coast from California to 

 Alaska. 



There is really no issue now as to whether fishing regulations 

 need to protect weak natural stocks. Salmon regulations are coordi- 



