hope of success, aquatic ecosystem restoration must be done as part 

 of an overall strategic vision. 



Although different in the details, the bills before the Subcommit- 

 tee today do indeed take a more holistic approach toward aquatic 

 ecosystem restoration. In addition, these bills promote the creation 

 of partnerships between Federal, State, tribal, and local entities, 

 an approach that has proven itself again and again. 



I will leave it to my colleagues to describe the bills in more de- 

 tail. Let me finish by saying I applaud Mr. Hamburg's and Ms. 

 Furse's hard work in bringing this important issue of aquatic res- 

 toration to the attention of the Committee. You are the young 

 Turks of today, and I hope in another 20 years we can look back 

 and say that was the beginning of a new approach to restoring the 

 environment. 



Would the young Turk gentlelady, young Turk from Washington, 

 like to make an opening statement? 



Ms. Unsoeld. No, thank you. I will just associate myself with 

 the remarks of the Chairman. 



Mr. Studds. The gentlewoman from Oregon. 



Ms. Furse. Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a statement 

 later, if I may, on H.R. 4289 when we reach that part of the hear- 

 ing and would defer, if I may, until then. 



Mr. Studds. Certainly. 



Mr. Studds. Mr. Hamburg. 



STATEMENT OF HON. DAN HAMBURG, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE 



FROM CALIFORNIA 



Mr. Hamburg. Good morning to you, Mr. Chairman, and our col- 

 leagues, and our witnesses who have come from far and wide 

 today. I want to extend my thanks to you for convening this hear- 

 ing and for all the support that you have given to me personally, 

 particularly for H.R. 4481, which is the Aquatic Ecosystem Restora- 

 tion Act. 



The greatest technological achievement of our civilization pales 

 in comparison to the complexity and success of an ecosystem which 

 has evolved over thousands of years. Yet one of our greatest fail- 

 ures is in the wholesale destruction of river, wetland and estuarine 

 ecosystems. 



Only 2 percent of the rivers of our country are currently consid- 

 ered to be healthy. The sport fishery in three-quarters of our 

 streams has deteriorated to low quality. More aquatic organisms 

 than any other group are now potential candidates for listing under 

 ESA. 



Now we are faced with one of our most monumental challenges; 

 restoring the aquatic ecosystems of our country. We must reestab- 

 lish indigenous plant and animal communities, the distinctive local 

 soils which give them life, and the contours and structure of our 

 landscape which will, hopefully, reweave a web of a million 

 strands. 



I introduced H.R. 4481, the National Aquatic Ecosystem Restora- 

 tion Act of 1994, and H.R. 4408, the Russian River Fisheries and 

 Riverbed Restoration Act, in order to meet these challenges. We 

 must ensure our own future survival and well-being as a species. 



