11 



The service is concerned that base appropriations might be ear- 

 marked for contribution to the fund, thereby reducing agency capa- 

 bility to address other resource issues. 



The service looks forward to working with the other tasks force 

 members to produce a system that will provide strong financial 

 support for the restoration trust fund. 



The Administration has a number of suggestions for amendments 

 to the language of H.R. 4481 which we will provide in a subsequent 

 report to the Committee prior to the markup. 



In closing, Mr. Chairman, the Department of the Interior sup- 

 ports H.R. 4481 and believes that with some refinements it will 

 provide a significant step forward in efforts to restore our aquatic 

 ecosystems. We look forward to embarking on a strong national 

 aquatic ecosystem restoration effort for today and for the future. 



I would be happy to answer any questions you or the Committee 

 may have. Thank you. 



Mr. Studds. Thank you very much, Ms. Beattie. 



[The statement of Ms. Beattie can be found at the end of the 

 hearing.] 



Mr. Studds. Mr. House, founder and director of the Mattole Res- 

 toration Council. 



STATEMENT OF FREEMAN HOUSE, MATTOLE RESTORATION 



COUNCIL 



Mr. House. Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee, my name 

 is Freeman House. I am the founder and director of the Mattole 

 Restoration Council in northern California. The MRC and its mem- 

 ber groups have for 15 years engaged in salmon enhancement and 

 watershed rehabilitation work, and in community organizing in the 

 service of these activities. 



Civilizations and nations rise and fall according to the health of 

 their ecosystems. This well-documented cycle has been repeated 

 again and again in human history: in China and Mesopotamia, on 

 the Ionian peninsula, and on the Phoenician coast of latter-day 

 Lebanon. After 500 years of Euroamerican residence in North 

 America, we are facing this regular crisis of civilization once again. 

 But this time there may be a difference. My knowledge of history 

 is extremely limited, and I may be wrong about this, but as far as 

 I know, never before has the governing body of a great nation rec- 

 ognized the consequences of the exhaustion of their resources in 

 time to mount a strategy to break the cycle. I see this bill as an 

 important part of that strategy and I am exceedingly proud to con- 

 tribute to your deliberations. I am proud, too, that H.R. 4481 was 

 introduced by the Congressman from my district, Dan Hamburg. 



I would like to spend my time today talking to you about why 

 I believe that a localized community approach to this strategy is es- 

 sential to its success. There are several reasons why this is true. 

 The health of ecosystems and their reaction to excessive develop- 

 ment is a phenomena made up entirely of details; details of popu- 

 lation fluctuations, of weather patterns over the long term, of land 

 use history and on and on. Not to mention the idiosyncracies of in- 

 dividual landowners. We also need to remember that we are enter- 

 ing into a timetable dictated by nature; an undertaking where try- 

 ing to imagine short-term fixes will almost inevitably result in the 



