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Taking a Watershed Approach to Restoring 

 . Salmon and Steelhead 



A comprehensive approach to watershed restoration is the only 

 sound solution to preventing widespread stock losses of salmon and 

 steelhead. Erosion risk must be reduced so that future flood events 

 will not damage the last viable stream systems supporting these 

 species. I support the concept being advanced by the Pacific Rivers 

 Council as put forth by Dr. Chris Frissell, who joins me on this 

 panel. Their approach is scientifically sound and very similar to 

 the one proposed in the long range plan to restore the Klamath 

 River (USFWS 1991) . Refuge areas must be secured and then adjacent 

 watersheds stabilized. By building on the solid foundation of the 

 last good habitat that we have, we stand the best chance of 

 achieving success. 



In northwestern California, those streams that flow from 

 Wilderness or Roadless Areas on U.S. Forest Service lands such as 

 Smith River, Wooley Creek, Dillon Creek, Clear Creek, upper Blue 

 Creek, lower Hayfork Creek, New River, and the North Fork Trinity 

 River are the only systems that possess high quality fish habitat 

 at this time. The undisturbed Roadless Areas surrounding salmon and 

 steelhead refuge habitats must be protected through legislation 

 because they represent the last gene resources available for 

 restoring Pacific salmon populations. 



Upper Blue Creek serves as a good illustration of why 

 preservation of these areas is absolutely necessary. Blue Creek 

 harbored 10,000 fall Chinook salmon as recently as 1950. The race 

 of fish had long been recognized as unique because of late run 

 timing and large size. The creek suffered major damage in past 

 floods and the lower watershed, which is on private land, has 

 recently been extensively clear cut. In the last several years, the 

 population has dropped to only 150 to 500 fall chinook salmon. 

 These fish spawn exclusively in the canyon areas immediately below 

 the Roadless Area on Six Rivers National Forest. Chinook have been 

 almost completely eliminated from all other lower Klamath 

 watersheds which are largely owned by private timber companies. Any 

 disturbance in the USFS Roadless Area in the upper Blue Creek 

 watershed increases the risk of extinction of lower Klamath fall 

 Chinook. 



While there is a great deal of urgency because of the risk of 

 losing salmon and steelhead stocks in future floods, all steps 

 taken in erosion control and prevention must be well planned or the 

 efforts may fail. Inventories must be conducted by highly skilled 

 workers with a background in geology or watershed management. If 

 people with no formal education in these disciplines are used in 

 the field, then they must be extensively trained. Supervisorial 

 staff must be adequate to conduct regular field checks to assure 

 quality control. If the large amount of money required for this 

 task is wasted, it will be tragic. Because of decreased timber 



