70 



is what we need to be looking at when it comes to these species, 

 and particularly our fisheries species. We need to take action now. 

 But we also have to recognize, in the case of fisheries, many of 

 these fisheries are very valuable, both socially and economically, to 

 this Nation. 



Sometimes I get disturbed that we seem to think when we pro- 

 vide water for fish that somehow the fish are going to use the 

 water and, therefore, it can't provide other benefits. But certainly 

 the fish themselves provide an awful lot of values. 



I would refer to California. If we would just carry out our current 

 plan, that the State developed to try to increase salmon levels by 

 just 50 percent of recent levels, not even historical levels, that is 

 worth some $190 million annually to the economy of the State. If 

 we could get salmon and steelhead back in some of these little com- 

 munities, the potential there for economic growth for those commu- 

 nities would be tremendous. 



So I think we have to look at all of that when we look at our 

 balanced approach. But the key is, as you have said, and certainly 

 as Mr. Dicks said, we have to try to get out in front and take a 

 proactice approach. 



Mr. Hansen. But we don't take the intensive care patient and 

 put him all over the city; we put him just in the hospital. We don't 

 make him affect the rest of the city and bog down our transpor- 

 tation and everything else we do. 



I appreciate your comments. 



Mr. Penfold, would you like to respond to the same question I 

 asked Mr. Edwards? 



Mr. Penfold. Well, let me say, first, we are going to follow the 

 law in BLM. Second, we are working very aggressively on how you 

 implement ecosystem management. My personal feeling is that 

 that is the road we need to go on, and we understand the concepts 

 of it. But between ourselves and government and the private sec- 

 tor, we are not doing a good job of that right now. 



That is what we must do. We need the help of Congress and the 

 private sector and cooperation amongst government agencies to 

 make this happen, but that is the road we need to get on as 

 promptly as we can. 



Mr. Hansen. Is there any private interpretation of the law? 



Mr. Penfold. Pardon? 



Mr. Hansen. Is there any private interpretation of the law that 

 you are going to follow? 



Mr. Penfold. I am sorry, I don't understand. 



Mr. Hansen. Well, laws come out and we have courts that adju- 

 dicate how the law is to be interpreted. I have heard four conflicts 

 here this morning on the same law. I wonder which one you are 

 going to follow. 



Mr. Penfold. Let me say that 



Mr. Hansen. I don't mean to be facetious. I am just saying I see 

 different organizations 



Mr. Penfold. We will put the best program forward. We are 

 going to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service, relative to our programs and as they af- 

 fect fish, and we are going to make adjustments to those programs 

 as the law requires us to do. 



