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various species and habitats within a basin. It has been our hope and Intent to 

 incorporate the wild stock restoration Initiative into a coastwlde effort. We stand ready 

 and willing to do so. 



These efforts, especially as the state and the tribes move from the problem analysis 

 stage to recovery plan development, must Include other state and federal agencies, 

 landowners, land and water users, stakeholders and Interested publics. We feel that 

 the Integration of stock management policy development with a systematic watershed- 

 oriented approach to priority species/habitat maintenance and recovery will produce 

 the comprehensive progress we must make to Improve the region's future. 



Director of Wildlife Curt Smitch and I have been working closely with federal 

 representatives responsible for the so-called Option 9 response to President Clinton's 

 call for an ecosystems approach to the forest crisis. Selection and implementation of 

 such an ecosystems approach would, at long last, require coordination of land 

 management activities and fish restoration efforts. Obviously, significant federal 

 involvement is both required and desired. We are talking to the federal representatives 

 about the need for a unified, consistent and supportive federal presence In order for 

 our efforts to progress and succeed. I urge the Committee to support an ecosystems 

 response to the forest crisis and recognize its vital link to salmon recovery. 



I also believe that the initiative will contribute to efforts of the United States through the 

 Pacific Salmon Commission to assure Canada that we are responsibly managing the 

 productivity of our stocks, stocks upon which we jointly depend. I am convinced that 

 Canada will contribute meaningfully to a co8Stwide strategy only when It knows that 

 we are doing our part as well. 



As the second thrust of the Wild Stock Initiative, we are developing broad salmonid 

 stock management policy for the state that will establish a proper priority for wild 

 stocks. All current species and watershed management goals, objectives and 

 strategies will be reviewed for consistency with the new policy and needed changes 

 will occur. 



The policy, which also has now been formally mandated by the Washington State 

 Legislature, will be developed with Involvement from the tribes, other natural resource 

 management entities, various stakeholders and the public. It also will ba adopted 

 under a process that includes formal environmental review to meet legal and sound 

 public policy obligations. 



I hope the policy becomes part of a major regional vision for successful land and 

 water use management that provides the habitat "futures" critically needed for salmon 

 as well as other wildlife and fish species. Certainly the President's Forest 

 Management Plan for the Pacific Northwest provides an Important foundation for this 

 vl9lon, especially as related to strategies on federal forest lands. If we can expand this 



