36 



Economics is an important element in the plan. What does the 

 plan cost? Can the region afford it? And as of this date, these ques- 

 tions cannot be answered because both the costs and the benefits 

 of the plan have not been provided. 



We have advocated a cost-effectiveness analysis be performed on 

 the plan. This information is required as it will allow the region 

 to pursue the highest value salmon recovery measures first. 



A critical next step to this plan, and we believe it is required for 

 successful implementation, is regional acceptability and support. 

 This support is required by the Administration, States, tribal enti- 

 ties, regional communities, economic and fish advocate groups. 



The plan's success is predicated by stakeholder involvement and 

 participation. The exclusion of economic stakeholders in January, 

 1994 by the Administration during the Endangered Species Act, 

 Section 7 consultations on fiow operations led several of our CRA 

 members to seek participation using the courts. 



If we are to avoid a regional spotted owl train wreck then the 

 Administration must open the process and it must be opened in a 

 meaningful manner. An open process encouraging stakeholder par- 

 ticipation would have provided additional scientific information on 

 the recent Federal agency decision to spill water at eight Columbia 

 and Snake River dams — a program which we believe, at best, spent 

 $11 million of taxpayer funds, and at worst may have harmed the 

 very fish that we are trying to help. 



The CRA supports efforts in the Bevan Plan and we request that 

 the region move forward to proceed rapidly with the plan because 

 without it, decisions such as the recent spill program and possible 

 dictates by the Federal court could become commonplace. 



A comprehensive plan that is scientifically based is needed and 

 we do support that. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. 



[Statement of Bruce Lovelin can be found at the end of the hear- 

 ing.] 



Ms. Cantwell. I should have added at the beginning that 

 everybody's written testimony will be incorporated into the record. 

 Ms. Bodi. 



STATEMENT OF LORRAINE BODI CO-DIRECTOR, AMERICAN 



RIVERS 



Ms. BODI. Thank you, Madam Chair, and members of the Com- 

 mittee. I am here today representing American Rivers, which is a 

 national river conservation group, and Save Our Wild Salmon, a co- 

 alition of 42 conservation and fishing groups working on salmon re- 

 covery throughout the Pacific Northwest, not just in the Columbia 

 River. 



I would like to talk about salmon recovery in the Columbia today 

 and my message to you is one of urgency. Like many of the speak- 

 ers on the previous panel, I believe we are running out of time to 

 take action and we need to bite the bullet now. 



The first point that I would like to make is that a recovery plan 

 for the salmon is long overdue. I think it is very important to look 

 back on where we were about 15 years ago right before the North- 

 west Power Act was enacted. 



I was around then and so were a good number of my panelists, 

 in fact, maybe all of them were around working on these very same 



