15 



I would just say in regard to the funding source that our studies 

 up in New England have found that the public is quite amazed 

 that industries — who are using our rivers, which are public re- 

 sources, are not paying for them, and I think that they would wel- 

 come, even if it meant a few extra cents to their electric bills, their 

 producers paying for what they are degrading. 



I would be remiss if I did not say a few words about the Urban 

 Watershed Restoration Act. Ms. Norton has introduced this. We 

 have worked closely with her. Among the Nation's rivers, urban 

 rivers are the most degraded and are absolutely in the worse 

 shape. They got a head start on the rest of the rivers in terms of 

 degradation. They have had centuries of settlement and misuse. 

 Ms. Norton gave an eloquent statement, and I certainly will not try 

 to replicate that, but I will say these rivers most often run along 

 areas that are the least enfranchised and in our lowest income 

 areas. So we applaud her efforts and work with her to see timely 

 passage of this important legislation. 



Thank you, and I will be glad to answer any questions. 



Mr. Hochbrueckner. Thank you, Ms. Norcross, and let me as- 

 sure all of you that your statements will be included in the record 

 in their entirety. 



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

 hearing.] 



Mr. Hochbrueckner. At this point, we will hear from Ms. Lau- 

 rel Marcus from the California State Coastal Conservancy. Ms. 

 Marcus. 



STATEMENT OF LAUREL MARCUS, CALIFORNIA STATE 

 COASTAL CONSERVANCY 



Ms. MARCUS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Laurel 

 Marcus. I work for the California State. I am the manager of the 

 Russian River enhancement plan. 



The State coalition is a nonregulatory agency which has com- 

 pleted and implemented over 25 watershed creek and river projects 

 statewide. H.R. 4480, the Russian River Fisheries and Riverbed 

 Restoration Act creates a partnership between the Federal, State, 

 local agencies, and community organizations to bring back an en- 

 tire river and watershed system. For the past three years, the Cali- 

 fornia State Coastal Conservancy has led a community-based plan- 

 ning effort which focuses on balancing the needs of people with the 

 need to restore fish habitat in this river system. This project is the 

 largest effort in California that addresses an entire river system 

 and attempts to enhance all of its beneficial uses. 



The Russian River was once a world-famous steelhead fishery 

 and was well-known in North America for its trophy-sized fish. 

 With the advent of large Federal water projects, the watershed was 

 developed. Two Corps of Engineers reservoirs were constructed 

 which provided drinking water to a million people and flood control 

 to thousands. Additional Federal flood control projects were built to 

 attempt to stabilize the river banks. Landowners were encouraged 

 by these developments to reclaim additional river wetlands and 

 squeeze the river into a smaller channel. Gravel was mined from 

 the river to build dams and roadways. 



