6 



tions. Any land owner, private citizen, or interested group may 

 submit proposals for restoration. In fiscal year 1993, 18 habitat res- 

 toration projects are being conducted. 



Every effort is being made to implement the restoration program 

 in a manner that creates new jobs in the region. I think short-term 

 employment uses the skills of displaced timber workers to rehabili- 

 tate degraded fisheries habitat, and long-term employment can 

 occur if the runs are restored. 



Mr. Chairman, I believe the Service and its cooperators have de- 

 veloped a careful, scientifically-based and biologically-sound Fish- 

 ery Resource Restoration Program for the basin. We are ready to 

 begin work on the recovery of fishery resources of the basin. Our 

 rate of progress will depend to a great extent on the cooperation of 

 all the people involved. 



Following recent visits to the Pacific Northwest by Secretary 

 Babbitt, and in light of the announcement of the President's forest 

 plan, there is renewed interest in restoring Northwest watersheds. 

 This program is an example of a cooperative approach to fishery 

 resources restoration that can address these problems. I believe an 

 initiative to apply this approach throughout the West Coast could 

 help to provide meaningful long-term recovery for the Pacific sal- 

 monids of the Northwest. 



I thank you for the opportunity to present the Service's views, 

 and Mr. Shake and I can answer any questions you may have later. 



Mr. Manton. Thank you, Mr. Smith. 



[The statement of Mr. Smith can be found at the end of the hear- 

 ing-] , . . 



Mr. Manton. Before going to the next witness, without objection, 



the Chair will submit for the record opening statements of Mr. 

 Fields, Ms. Cantwell, and Mr. Young and recognize the presence of 

 our newest member, Mr. Torkildsen, of Massachusetts. 

 [The statement of Mr. Fields follows:] 



Statement of Hon. Jack Fields, a U.S. Representative from Texas, and 

 Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries 



Mr. Chairman, in 1990, this Committee was instrumental in developing the Che- 

 halis River Basin Fishery Resources Study and Restoration Act, which required the 

 United States Fish and Wildlife Service to examine the fishery resources and habi- 

 tats of the Chehalis River Basin in Washington State. The legislation also required 

 the Fish and Wildlife Service to establish goals for the conservation and restoration 

 of the Basin's resources and habitats and report back to Congress. 



This legislation was necessary because of the importance of the Chehalis River 

 Basin, which consists of nearly 1,400 separate rivers and streams. Historically, the 

 River Basin has produced large runs of anadromous fish, particularly salmon and 

 steelhead trout, which support commercial, tribal, and recreational fisheries within 

 the Basin and off the coasts of Washington, Alaska, and Canada. Tragically, salmon 

 and steelhead harvest have declined recently. 



The foresters attribute fish declines to the power authorities and to fishermen. 

 The fishermen blame the declines on the dams and the degradation of habitat from 

 forestry and farming practices. However, scientists concur that there is no single 

 cause of the decline in fishery resources, but generally acknowledge that habitat 

 degradation and overharvesting contribute to the problem. 



This oversight hearing today will allow us to determine the current condition of 

 the Chehalis River Basin fisheries and perhaps understand a little better what has 

 contributed to the decline in fisheries production and harvesting. 



I look forward to hearing from all the witnesses today. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



