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We take a watershed approach to habitat improvements in our Strategy for 

 Salmon. The Strategy calls on Oregon, Washington and Idaho to designate "model 

 watersheds" where this type of planning can be demonstrated. Model watersheds 

 designated so far include the Grand Ronde River in Oregon, the Lemhi River in Idaho, 

 a tributary of the Salmon River, and Asotin Creek, a Snake River tributary in 

 Washington. 



We are encouraged by cooperative habitat improvements already being 

 undertaken in partnerships between private individuals and government — particularly 

 the U.S. Soil Conservation Service and its local districts. These projects not only 

 improve conditions for salmon, but many of them improve agricultural practices and 

 provide educational opportunities, too. Controlling erosion, for example, can make 

 farmland more productive and also improve conditions for salmon by reducing the 

 amount of silt that flows into rivers. 



Our Strategy for Salmon also calls on federal and state land and water managers 

 to improve salmon habitat by revising timber, mining and livestock management 

 practices and protecting streamside areas where salmon spawn and rear. 



Summation 



A successful salmon recovery program must meet several key tests: 



• The program must be developed in public, and all interested parties must be allowed 

 to participate. A single agency or governing body should coordinate this work and 

 write the program. 



• It must be a comprehensive program that addresses impacts at every stage of the 

 salmon life cycle. 



• It must be based on the best available science while recognizing the limitations of 

 science, and include a rigorous program of monitoring and evaluation so that it can 

 be altered if necessary. 



• Finally, it must be fully implemented. 



If this model sounds as if it is based on our Strategy for Salmon, that is what I 

 intended. 



Mr. Chairman, that concludes my remarks today. I would be happy to answer 

 any questions. 



P:VJAHIMMF.SPH 



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