18 



NEW INFORMATION HAS DEFINED THE ANADROMOUS FISH ISSUE. 



In 1991, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) identified 

 214 stocks of salmon, steelhead and sea- run cutthroat trout from 

 California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho as "at risk" of 

 extinction or "of special concern." Of those stocks, nine of 

 the stocks were included into four distinct populations by the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service and were subsequently listed 

 under the Endangered Species Act. The Forest Service has 

 designated some of the other stocks as sensitive species for 

 management emphasis. Approximately 134 "at risk" stocks 

 identified by the AFS report are found on National Forests. Of 

 those, 55 judged by AFS to be at "high risk" of extinction, but 

 not federally listed, occur in 39 stream systems on 16 National 

 Forests. To complete our understanding of the status of Pacific 

 anadromous fish stocks, a review similar to the one published by 

 AFS is needed for Alaska salmon, steelhead, and sea- run 

 cutthroat stocks. Recent information suggests that coho and 

 chum salmon, and steelhead stocks in Alaska probably are 

 declining. 



Recent assessments made by our own Forest Service research has 

 shown that stream systems in many watersheds throughout the 

 Pacific Northwest have been degraded and need improvement, as a 

 result of the effects of man's activities on watersheds and fish 

 habitat. For example, the number of large, deep pools in many 

 tributaries of the Columbia River, have decreased in the past 



