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For example, the bill embodies the Administration's focus on ecosystem based 

 management. Streams and rivers do not recognize political boundaries; their health is 

 dependent upon restoring both their urban and rural components. Urban creeks and 

 streams have also been the most frequent victims of pollution, channelization and other 

 degradation, but when restored and protected they can provide havens of beauty and 

 recreation within inner city neighborhoods. 



Waterway restoration, as encouraged under this legislation, could provide a cost-effective 

 alternative to structural projects and also enhance such important attributes as fish and 

 ' wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities. While it is generally far more ecologically 

 beneficial to select the non- structural alternative when it is practical and feasible to do so, 

 the best environmental solution should be based on the site specific characteristics. 

 Sometimes the gradient of the stream does not allow for non-structural solutions. 

 Sometimes the right-of-way land values and availability of land is severely restricted, 

 making non-structural solutions economically prohibitive. Further, some structural 

 projects do provide many ecological benefits, such as fisheries enhancement, sediment 

 basins, wetland creation, and stream stabilization. 



By giving priority for funding to stream restoration projects that benefit low income and 

 minority communities ~ areas that are deserving of greater attention from the federal 

 government — the Waterways Restoration Act would also assist implementation of 

 President Clinton's recent Executive Order on Environmental Justice by assisting low 

 income disadvantaged communities in resolving environmental problems. Additionally, 

 under this bill, priority would be placed on funding projects that train and employ at-risk 

 youth in community service, as the President called for in encouraging the enactment of the 

 1993 National and Community Service Trust Act. 



