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Inter-Tribal Fish Commission to present our views and concerns. 

 As stated, my name is Levi Joseph Holt. I am a member of the Nez 

 Perce Tribal Executive Committee and chairman of the Nez Perce 

 Fish and Wildlife Committee. 



I would like to submit, Madam Chair, for the record, I believe 

 they have been provided; two documents. Managing Molecules or 

 Salmon and the Pacific Salmon document by Mr. Daniel Rawl as 

 well as, Madam Chair, a comparison of the Columbia River salmon 

 plans. 



Ms. Unsoeld. Without objection. 



Mr. Holt. Thank you. First of all, Madam Chair, I would like to 

 state again that on behalf of the Columbia River tribes I think it 

 is useful at this time to remind both this Committee and its mem- 

 bers that the tribes are very concerned about the issue of respon- 

 sibility and trust responsibility that has been guaranteed and 

 upheld under several court dockets and treaties that keep in trust 

 the health and safety of the salmon. 



In consequence we now share in this resource with the United 

 States. We did not give up our right nor abdicate our responsibility 

 to the salmon as a result of these treaties. Any recovery plan as 

 Dr. Bevan has stated in marking a program that is provided, some- 

 what desecrates and somewhat destroys the spiritual and the 

 strength of the salmon. 



Handling and marking of the fish or of the species prior to their 

 journey down the river does pose a problem. It is unfortunate that 

 we do not monitor to some degree the ocean fisheries in order to 

 tell the impacts of those particular harvest or destruction by the 

 hydro systems. 



And, Madam Chair, I might state that the hydro system must be 

 overhauled. Salmon need flows. They appear to do quite well in 

 high flows that occurred prior to the dams going up and we do ap- 

 plaud the increase fills to aid the downstream migration of the 

 spring and summer chinook. 



No matter what anyone else tells you spill levels were not un- 

 precedented. Substantially higher spills occurred in the early 

 1980's and we saw better return ratios at that time. The hatchery 

 systems on the Columbia River developed ostensibly to mitigate for 

 the damage of salmon runs must be changed to rebuild naturally 

 spawning salmon runs, not just to feed certain ocean fisheries. 



This means putting fish back in the habitat and restoring runs 

 where the damage was done. The tribal recovery plan, Madam 

 Chair, and there is a plan, is under internal review and will soon 

 be made public and we will provide further tribes' plans for res- 

 toration. 



Our program for supplementation is consistent with the Endan- 

 gered Species Act. We believe NMFS' proposal and even their defi- 

 nition of what exactly is the species is inconsistent with the ESA. 

 The articles that I have provided for the record will explain how 

 this is possible and why the ESA concept proposed by NMFS to de- 

 fine species will not allow for the recovery of salmon. 



The land and water habitat management system must be over- 

 hauled to provide for the needs of the salmon. Logging throughout 

 the whole watersheds must be salmon-friendly. We cannot continue 



