96 



un increasingly costly, heavily subsidized aiUficial production of hatchery salmon has facilitated the decline of natural 

 populations, by temporariJy masking their loss. As even the most successful hatchery populations suffer the mevitable 

 collapse from disease, genetic depletion, or technological failure, natural populations remain the only sufficient seed 

 source to restore artificial production. 



After a century of experimentation, there is little scientific support for the notion that salmon hatcheries are sustainable 

 over the long term in the absence of wild, natural populations, or that hatchery technology can work to supplement or 

 restore remnant wild populations without seriously harming them. Each wild population of salmon and trout is uniquely 

 and subtly adapted to its envu'onment, in ways that are not fully understood by scientists. These adaptations can be 

 quickly lost in the hatchery environment or m the presence of large numbers of stray fish of hatchery origm. Therefore 

 the viability of the species remains dependent on the conservation of the diversity of its wild populations and their 

 habitats. Beyond this, wild populations adapted to margmal or disturbed habitats could m the future be the only source 

 of suitable colomsts for re-estabUshment of populations m an environment where, despite efforts toward restoration, 

 human impacts will remain pervasive. 



RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE WATERSHED RESTORATION PROGRAM 



To protect and restore the Northwest's riverine systems, fisheries and biodiversity, we recommend a new approach 

 founded on principles of watershed dynamics, ecosystem fimction, and conservation biology — a community and 

 ecosystem-based strategy that maintains and restores riverine processes and biodiversity at the watershed level. The new 

 approach integrates ecologically and economically sustainable restoration strategies in a scientifically defensible and 

 conservative way, emphasizing pnnciples of the physical and ecological functions of watersheds and key spatial and 

 temporal aspects of aquatic ecology. Simple m concept and pragmatic m appUcation, this new approach provides a 

 means for prioritizing protection and restoration policies and mterventions and for creatmg more-rapid and cost-effective 

 biotic recovery. This program would involve three interconnected components: 



1 ) The program begins with a comprehensive effort designed to identify and protect the remainmg relatively healthy 

 headwaters, key biotic refuges, benchmark watersheds, npanan areas. fIcKxiplains. and the network of biological hot 

 spots found in patches throughout entire nver systems on federal lands. This cost-efficient approach places the emphasis 

 on preventing further degradation rather than on attemptmg to control problems after they occur. 



2) Following the protection of these areas, watershed level restoration programs should be developed. Restoration 

 treatments should focus initially on "securing" or "storm proofmg" the relatively healthy areas on federal lands staled 

 above. After these areas have been secured, restoration would focus on providmg better management between the 

 protected areas and eventually linking and expandmg the healthy areas. Pnvate lands would be brought inUi the program 

 to develop nver system wide restoration strategies. 



3) Finally the program calls for the active participation of l<x;al communities and citizens in unplementing the 

 restoration program. Without support from local commuiuties and citizens, any pohcy will fail. To help generate 

 support, local jobs m restoration technologies includmg the "storm proofmg" of the key watersheds, and community 

 revitalization projects must be created. These projects are needed to restore nverme systems, and they offer the benefit 

 of providmg jobs and economic benefits. Floodplam open space preservation and snich economic conversions as new 

 crops that are less water- and energy-mtensive, and the protection of undeveloped floodplams must also be encouraged. 

 Incentives and technical assistance must be provided to encourage local mvolvemeni m taking these steps and in 

 designing and implementmg watershed level restoration action plans. 



