President and key Cabinet positions attending. We look to the for- 

 estry conference with optimism and hope, and see it as an oppor- 

 tunity to define both the problems and solutions related to forestry 

 management on the Federal lands in the region. 



My hope is that the President's summit in the region and subse- 

 quent action by the Congress will lead to an ecosystems manage- 

 ment approach that will be regionwide in application. A watershed 

 restoration strategy is an important link to such an approach, en- 

 suring the restoration of habitat that would have a multispecies 

 benefit. 



In addition to the clear ecological benefits of habitat restoration 

 and ensuring the viability of salmon populations, I am pleased that 

 the initiation of comprehensive watershed restoration strategy will 

 create jobs in the region — that is what we need — and in rural tim- 

 ber-dependent communities. It is important to emphasize that 

 these jobs will concentrate on fixing roads and involve the use of 

 heavy equipment. 



The Pacific Rivers Council will testify this morning that between 

 7,000 to 11,000 good wage-paying jobs could be created in the 

 Northwest if this gets moving, and I ask the committee to give full 

 consideration to their arguments. A main point that the rivers 

 council will argue, and I agree with, is that we should take a seri- 

 ous look at the watershed initiative from the standpoint that it is 

 both job creating and ecologically rehabilitating. 



Finally, let me say that to make a regionwide watershed restora- 

 tion project work, and to tie it into a meaningful ecosystems man- 

 agement strategy, there has to be credible leadership from the ad- 

 ministration. Ajid from my experience so far, I believe that this is 

 going to be the case with the President and his team. I expect this 

 administration to address forest management concerns through a 

 coordinated strategy in which watershed restoration is a compo- 

 nent. We know that this kind of effort can be done on the ground 

 with real results, as has already been demonstrated in northern 

 California and eastern Oregon. 



I look forward to working with you, Mr. Chairman, as one of the 

 really outstanding leaders on these kinds of issues in the Congress. 

 With this commitment to helping ensure that this initiative gets 

 started in a comprehensive and effective manner, we need your 

 help. 



Mr. Vento. Thanks, Norm, for an excellent statement. 



Without objection, all of the statements of witnesses' and Mem- 

 bers' opening statements, in their entirety, will be made a part of 

 the record. Hearing no objection, so ordered. 



It is a positive statement and I think indicative of the tremen- 

 dous work that you have done, I think, in the past years with re- 

 gard to these Pacific Northwest forests. I observed myself early 

 on — and I think others perceived the same — that there was a forest 

 full of problems under the spotted owl. I think we are beginning 

 to see that now, and I think your embrace and articulation of an 

 ecosystem approach is important. 



These are complex issues that need to be addressed in terms of 

 water quality. I think the Olympic Peninsula has very few water 

 projects; is that correct? 



