58 



It is time to stop viewing watersheds as short-term sources of 

 revenue. Logging, mining, and grazing can continue to produce so- 

 cietal benefits on a long-term basis using environmentally sensitive 

 methods. But we must also develop and implement management 

 goals that recognize that fishing, hunting, and other forms of recre- 

 ation are legitimate and significant revenue and job generators. 



Finally, we need to retain or restore the ecological functions of 

 watersheds that can provide millions of dollars' worth of benefits 

 related to flood protection, water quality protection, and ground- 

 water recharge, m the past, coal miners didn't wait to become sick 

 before checking for a carbon monoxide problem; they used canaries 

 as advanced indicators and then took action. 



I submit to you that salmon and steelhead are economically and 

 aesthetically valuable in their own right, but they are also canaries 

 telling us to take action to protect the ecological and cultural integ- 

 rity of the Pacific Northwest. 



This concludes my formal testimony, and I will certainly be 

 happy to answer any questions that you or the committee may 

 have. 



Mr. Vento. Thank you, Mr. Edwards, for your statement and we 

 will place the entire statement in the record. 



[Prepared statement of Mr. Edwards follows:] 



