191 



NORTHWEST STEELHEAD & SALMON COUNCIL 



2401 Bristol Court SW, Suite A-18 



Olympia, WA 98502 



TESTIMONY OF TROUT UNLIMITED 



TO 



U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES MANAGEMENT, AND 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 



Wednesday, July 14, 1993 



Thank you Subcommittee Chairman Manton and to the honorable 

 Representatives of the committee for inviting Trout Unlimited to testify on 

 restoring salmon and steelhead in the Chehalis River Basin of the State of 

 Washington. My name is Jerry Pavletich, West Coast Director for Trout 

 Unlimited, testifying on behalf of our Northwest Steelhead and Salmon 

 Council in the State of Washington, and more specifically, our three 

 chapters located within the Chehalis River Basin. 



The Chehalis River Basin is the second largest basin in the State of 

 Washington comprising an area of 2,660 sguare miles ( 1.7 million acres ). 

 There are hundreds of miles of rivers and streams, all ultimately flowing 

 into Grays Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. Anadromous fish resources; 

 historic, current, and potential, are of national significance and an 

 increasingly important factor in the economy of the region. 



Through the Chehalis River Basin Fisheries Resource Study and 

 Restoration Act of 1990, Congress's investment of almost $425,000 for the 

 study and $372,00 for initial restoration projects has proven to be a 

 prudent one. Through contributed funds, complimentary studies and 

 projects, and enormous amounts of dedicated volunteer efforts, the Chehalis 

 Basin is a showcase of cooperative spirit and a standard for the rest of 

 the State. 



Chairman Manton, you challenged us to identify what is needed to 

 restore salmon and steelhead. I can answer that with the motto of our 

 Northwest Steelhead and Salmon Council - "Clean Water, Wild Fish, and 

 Kids". I will briefly elaborate on each. 



Clean Water - The Chehalis Basin is predominantly timber (85%) 

 [minimal old growth] and agriculture (about 10%) . Historic logging 

 practices have left many miles of river without adequate riparian 

 vegetation and many drainages without adequate regeneration that is 

 necessary to prevent siltation of stream beds. Repairing this damage takes 

 a great deal of manual labor. Congress can provide funding for such job 

 opportunities. Agricultural practices need to be improved in many areas to 

 reduce contamination from animal wastes. Congress can continue to support 

 local conservation districts through technical staff and funding for 

 implementing best management practices on farms. Municipal waste treatment 

 and correction of failing septic systems is also an area that could benefit 

 from Congressional aid. Improving water quality is a major component 

 necessary to rebuilding salmonid stocks. 



Wild Fish - Fortunately, only two man-made dams exist in the basin, 

 affecting only a small percentage of the habitat. Congress can make sure 

 it doesn't get any worse! "In-stream" restoration projects are necessary 

 to replace lost habitat. The Chehalis River Basin Task Force (an example 

 of cooperative efforts among numerous public and private entities) sponsors 

 more than a dozen projects aimed at fish passage, spawning channels, and 

 rearing ponds. Congress can continue to support such efforts. Not all 

 wild stocks are healthy and none are out of danger. Congress can play a 

 major role in international negotiations to insure minimal interception on 

 the high seas by illegal driftnets, through the U.S. -Canada Pacific Salmon 

 Treaty process, and imposing selective fishery techniques within U.S. 

 waters to insure the maximum return of threatened and endangered stocks to 

 their natal streams. 



Kids - Let us not lose sight of the fact that not only are we 

 trying to preserve a heritage for our children, but that we must instill in 

 our children the knowledge and ability to make prudent decisions. Congress 

 can encourage inclusion of environmental education curriculum, support 

 those activities of federal agencies that reach out to students, and 

 particularly fund the Pathways to Fishing" and "Hooked On Fishing - Not On 

 Drugs" programs. 



Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Trout Unlimited would be 

 pleased to work with any members of the committee on details of the items I 

 have mentioned today. 



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