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March 11, 1993 '•owckissional WOBKIWe Gbouf 



"^ China. Chair 



The Honorable Gerry E. Studds 



Chairman 



House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Comiaittee 



1334 Longworth House Office Building 



Washington, D.C. 20515 



For inclusion In the proceedings of the hearing on watershed 

 management practices and the role of hatcheries in the recovery 

 of salmon populations. 



Dear Mr. Studds, 



The winter run Chinook salmon are listed as "threatened" 

 under the Endangered Species Act and "endangered" under 

 California law. There is current consideration by the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service to also list the species as "endangered" 

 under federal law. 



Because of this dire situation, I am writing to bring to 

 your attention the Winter Run Chinook Salmon Captive Broodstock 

 Program, a program to preserve the population of the winter run 

 Chinook salmon of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary. 



The winter run Chinook has a unique gene adaptation to the 

 Sacramento River. In the 1969 this species numbered more than 

 100,000 fish, enjoyed spawning grounds far upstream and 

 flourished in a relatively healthy ecosystem. This has all 

 changed and the Chinook spawning population has declined to 191 

 fish in 1991. 



The captive broodstock program is already underway. As of 

 September 1992, 1,000 juvenile salmon are being raised in 

 captivity for 3 years until maturity when they will be spawned 

 and their progeny fish will then be returned to the wild. 

 Research of the fish during the adult stages of their life 

 history is also being conducted and has provided original 

 methodology for genetic identification. The program has a 

 projected 10-year life span, hopefully enough time so that 

 habitat conditions can be sufficiently Improved and the 

 population can thrive once again. 



The program has been Implemented in order to genetically 

 preserve the species by supplementing the natural population, and 

 as part of a comprehensive and cooperative effort to restore 

 water quality and a habitat that can support the natural wildlife 

 of the region. Actions already taken to protect winter run 

 habitat include: reduction of water diversion at the Glenn- 

 Colusa Irrigation D4,gt?riM^pRMA*iiW J*ftRR*i««MM» °^ striped bass 



