78 



Testimony of Bob E)oppelt 



Executive Director, Pacific Rivers Council 



before the House Merchant Marine Committee 



March 9, 1993 



The degradation of The Pacific Northwest's riverine ecosystems and the extinction of safanon and odier forms of 

 riverine-riparian biodiversity have reached alarming levels. Not one river system in the region has been spared. 

 Fisheries, healthy water quaUty and quantity produced by watershed ecosystems, and entire aquatic food chains are at 

 risk. 



For tbe past two years the Pacific Rivers Council has been involved widi a major project to assess Ae capabiUty of die 

 region's (and nation's) riverine system and biodiversity conservation strategies and policies to address this crisis. The 

 project has involved over 3S top scimtists, economists and community development specialists nationwide. We conclude 

 that the region's eusting pohcies have failed. Entirely new strategies and poUcies must be established quickly to stave 

 off the impoiding collapse of many riverine systems and to prevent wholesale biological extinctions. 



THE EXTENT OF THE CRISIS: To reahze the breadth of the problems one must first have a template of healthy 

 ecosystems and biodiversity. Healthy river ecosystems in tiie Northwest are characterized by a number of factors 

 including: 1) Water quality: All safanonids require high water quahty for spawning, rearing and migration. Cool, well 

 oxygenated water (generally < 68 degrees F) free of excessive amounts of sedimentation and other pollutants is required 

 year round, 2) Water quantity: adequate flows are critical at specific times in bfe cycles for q»wning, rearing and 

 migration. A natural flow regime that includes high flows is necessary to maintain channel complexity and to tranqwrt 

 sediments, 3) Channel Characteristics: The most productive stream systems for most sahnonids have gradients of < S 

 percent These are lowland habitats composed of constramed canyons and gorges and unconstrained broad valleys which 

 are generally sites of high fish densities. Good habitats maintain a balance between high quahty pools, riffles, gUdes and 

 side channels. Cover features such as large woody debris, boulders, undercut banks, overhanging vegetation, deep water 

 and surface turtnilence are abundant in good habitats. Substrates consist of a varied of particle sizes ranging from silts to 

 boulders with low percentages of fine sediments to accommodate the spawning and rearing needs of all species. Channels 

 are free of obstructions that interfere with migration of adult or juvenile fish; 4) Riparian Vegetation: Riparian areas 

 regulate the exchanges of nutrients and materials from upland forests to ttie stream and maintain favorable 

 microclmiates. Large conifers or a mixture of old growth and hardwoods are found in riparian areas along all streams in 

 the watershed, including non-fish bearing streams. Root systems in stream banks stabilize banks and p>rotect them during 

 high flows, S) The condition of the stream is a function of the characteristics of the entire watershed. Healthy watersheds 

 have upland portions that are well-vegetated and free of chronic and catastrophic sedimentation and other forms of 

 disturbances Aat affect flow regimes, water quahty and the deUvery of large wood to the stream. 



By the same token, healthy biodiversi^ requires a wide diversity and abundance of species and organisms, not just the 

 presence of few key qxcies. 



However, whether measured by the health of riverine species, or by physical parameters, the current status of the Paciflc 

 Northwest's riverine ecosystems and fisheries is one of widespread degradation. 



Loss of Fish Species: At least 106 populations of West Coast salmonids (sahnon, trout, steelhead and char) have been 

 driven to extinction and over 210 salmon populations are currently at ri^ of extinction according to the American 

 Fisheries Society. The Sacramento River winter chinook sahncn, and the sockeye and fall, qning, and summer chinook 

 safanon of the Snake River basin are among the Pacific Northwest fishes listed as protected species under the Endangered 

 Species Act Petitioas have been filed for sturgeon, bull trout Columbia River coho sahncn, Illinois River winter 

 steelhead, and other fishes, whose listing could have widespread consequoices for the region. Himdreds of other 

 freshwater and anadrcmous fishes probably qualify for, and could receive, federal protection in the near fiiture. 



However, more than just salmon are at risk. The endangered salmon are just symbolic of a range of riverine and rq>arian 

 biodiversity losses occurring across the Pacific Nordiwest. For example, at least 132 species of riparian associated 

 animals, including 3 birds, 4 mammals, 12 amphibians, 4S moUusks, 34 anthropods and over 700 out of 1 100 lutive 

 fishes (estnarine, resident etc) on 348 streams were found to be at risk of extinction within the range of the Northern 



