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long-term road map for the successful management and protection of 

 anadromous fishery resources. 



There are a number of other actions, in our view, that can and 

 should be done to reverse the decline of Pacific salmon and 

 effectively begin their restoration. 



First, if we are to halt the population decline and avert further 

 listing of salmon species, we must protect remaining productive 

 habitat and restore damaged habitat. Restoration of abused habitat 

 is a slow and measured process and we must show patience. Salmon 

 life cycles dictate that evidence of increased fish production from 

 habitat improvements will take at least 5 years. However, 

 providing the best habitat possible will not guarantee the recovery 

 of fish populations unless non-habitat factors are effectively 

 addressed as well. Programs that are currently under way on the 

 Klamath, Trinity, and Chehalis Rivers may take awhile but we are 

 confident that they will show the way. 



Second, a more holistic, inclusive, and biologically conservative 

 approach to fish restoration needs to be taken. Fish restoration 

 on the west coast should not be piecemeal, but encompass the entire 

 region. The continued commitment and leadership of the Department 

 of Interior should prove an effective driving force in expanding 

 existing and forging new partnerships with other Federal, State, 

 Tribal, public, and private entities at the regional and local 

 levels. To ensure that this level of coordination and cooperation 

 takes place, our West Coast Fisheries Coordinator has held numerous 

 meeting among the myriad of government entities and private groups 

 to develop a process for creating watershed-based salmonid 

 protection and restoration strategies. We are also assisting the 

 States and Tribes in developing a comprehensive, detailed database 

 that will allow us to monitor and evaluate the status of individual 

 stocks and make credible, testable decisions. 



Third, many Tribes have fishing rights to Pacific salmon and Indian 

 reservations contain important watersheds and miles of productive 

 salmon streams. As do State and Federal agencies, the tribes 

 participate as voting members on the Pacific Salmon Commission and 

 other shared resource management decision-making forums. The 



