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Washington Trailers \^™EEJJ B J u °J°^? 8 'oo8 



Association cfcg _ _^ gkl Phone (206)741 '9287 



TESTIMONY TU THE COMBINED SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES MANAGEMENT 

 AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENVmONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 



Prepared by Geoff Lebon, Washington Trollers Association, July 14, 1993 

 Presented by Diane Ellison, Chehalis Basin Fisheries Enhancement Task Force 



The Washington Trollers Association consists of commercial hook and line fisher 

 persons who fish for salmon off the coast of Washington State. During the past 20 years, 

 our harvest of coho salmon has decreased by 95% and our harvest of chinook salmon has 

 decreased by 85%. These reductions have taken place because it was the only tool fishery 

 managers have had to endeavor to rebuild salmon runs. In light of all the ESA listings 

 coming to bear on salmon, it is obvious that this tool has not worked. 



The Grays Harbor basin is an integral part of the salmon production within the troll 

 fishery. The Washington Trollers Association, realizing this, has been very active in 

 fishery enhancement over the past decade and we have seen firsthand, many of the 

 problems within the basin 



Many of the mainstream rivers have been stripped of their riparian zones in the 

 agricultural areas allowing summer time temperatures to skyrocket. Temperatures within 

 the lower Neuwakum for example approach the mid-70 degree range during the summer. 

 The 70 degree point is considered a lethal point for young salmon by many people Even 

 though the Neuwakum provides prime coho spawning opportunity, its gravel beds are 

 empty during the spawning months. 



Wholescale logging of some watersheds is causing many detrimental flow 

 conditions for young salmon in their redds, or nests, and in the water itself. High winter 

 flows, or scouring floods, and low summer flows with high temperatures are reflections of 

 this activity. The West fork of the Wishkah is a prime example of this: a water shed 

 encompassing many land owners, both governmental and private, who, for the most part 

 decided to log their lands at the same time. A sticky issue for any governing body to deal 

 with. This watershed, offering prime coho and steelhead habitat is in need of help. The 

 majority of the acreage within this area has been logged within the past 1 5 years, and that 

 which is left is still being logged For this reason, the Washington Trollers Association 

 is concentrating on working with the native coho in this watershed and with the 

 timber companies to protect the habitat. 



