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Your bill, H.R. 4408, by authorizing funding for fisheries studies and 

 restoration and for mainstem enhancement projects, is recognition 

 that the long-term health of the Russian River will depend on both 

 restoring habitat in the river's tributaries and dealing with the 

 mainstem's critical problems of incision, downgrading and bank, 

 erosion. 



Last week a representative from FORR and several fishery 

 conservation organizations met with your District Director, David 

 Nelson, to iron out some technical difficulties with the bill as 

 introduced. We are pleased that Mr. Nelson agreed to the changes 

 and that he assured us that the bill would be amended to reflect 

 them. The meeting demonstrated the consensus among fishery, 

 groups that the bill avoids the mistakes of past restoration efforts 

 and provides a framework for future success. 



Therefore, Friends of the Russian River enthusiastically endorses H.R. 

 4408. 



I would like to conclude by expressing our gratitude to you and Rep. 

 Woolsey who have recognized that the Russian River is the lifeblood 

 of three counties, and have taken this important step to restore it to 

 health. The efforts of Rep. Woolsey and Rep. Hamburg will be 

 remembered by all of us who wish to pass on to future generations 

 the be lefhs of the resources and natural values of th ± Russian River. 



Sincerely yours, 



Tom Roth 

 Executive Director 



cc: Rep, Lynn Woolsey 



