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Chairman Studds and members of the House Committee on Merchant Marine 

 and Fisheries, thank you for the opportunity to testify regarding recovery efforts for 

 threatened and endangered salmon in the Columbia River. 



My name is Bruce Lovelin, and I am the Executive Director of the Columbia 

 River Alliance for Fish, Commerce, and Communities, an organization that brings 

 together diverse entities throughout the Northwest in support of a balance of economic, 

 biological, cultural and social values in management of the Columbia River system 

 (attachment 1). 



We believe in maintaining a strong multi-use river system for the economic 

 health of our region and comprehensive efforts to preserve naturally spawning salmon 

 that are based on good science, least cost and economic reality. We are committed to 

 the ideal that regional commerce and naturally reproducing salmon are compatible. 



As the region pursues salmon enhancement, it must realize that the deterioration 

 of Columbia River Basin salmon runs occurred over more than a century (attachment 

 2), and that no single cause is responsible. Restoration of the run will at least require 

 several decades, involve all aspects of the salmon's life cycle, and require a major 

 commitment of all northwest parties. 



$350 Million for Northwest Salmon 



Since the first Endangered Species Act petition was filed in March 199(), the 

 region has devoted significant resources, expanding efforts for aiding northwest 

 salmon. We have completed three regional planning processes; the Salmon Summit, 

 the Northwest Power Planning Council Strategy for Salmon, and, the more recent. 

 Snake River Salmon Recovery Team's Recovery Plan. In 1994, Northwest citizens 

 and businesses will pay almost $350 million for salmon enhancement through higher 

 electric power rates. This is almost double the funding level of two years ago and it 

 will almost certainly increase in the next few years. CRA members are concerned with 

 our continued ability to fund these programs. The businesses, communities, and public 

 that we represent are frustrated that although over $1.5 Billion has been spent in the 

 last 1 3 years, the salmon runs continue to decline. We believe that future funding is 

 uncertain and were pleased with the Administration's recent acknowledgement of this 

 fact with the announcement to use taxpayer funding for spill and flow programs of $10 

 to 30 million. 



