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fallen more than a year behind schedule. I would like to sea it 

 become a priority. 



Better coordination of government hatchery programs in the 

 Columbia River basin will help in the effort to avoid further 

 listings. Moreover, the conclusions of the IHOT and other projects 

 can be used as examples to guide the management decisions of other 

 government hatchery operations. 



This is just one part of the big picture which needs to be 

 addressed. There are many more which also need attention. 



Among them is habitat restoration and protection. This year 

 I worked with Congressman Dicks, Congresswoman Unsoeld, and other 

 members of the Northwest delegation to redirect funds from the 

 Forest Service road building budget to watershed restoration 

 activities on the west side forests of Washington, Oregon and 

 northern California. I am pleased to announce that $30 million 

 dollars was redirected for this purpose. 



This was an effort to promote balanced federal policies based 

 on the needs of the entire ecosystem, and to create a new 

 relationship between forests and fish habitats. It must be 

 understood that the protection of these critical habitats is 

 essential to the survival of our precious salmon and stealhead 

 runs. 



As I conclude, I should point out that there is a growing need 

 in the Northwest for objective scientific data concerning salmon 

 populations levels. The last comprehensive inventories were 

 conducted in the late 1930' s and early 1940' s, and this dated 

 information is still being relied upon today. 



And finally, Chairman Studds and Oregon's own Congresswoman 

 Elizabeth Furse deserve praise for their efforts to establish the 

 National Biological Survey. I would hope that the National 

 Biological Survey would consider this region a priority, and work 

 expeditiously to develop sound data which will help guide federal 

 policies. 



Thank you for your time and consideration. 



