We have a lot of witnesses here today, representing diverse 

 points of view. I know many of you have come a long way to share 

 your thoughts with us. Before we begin, I would like to welcome 

 Mr. CoUett and Mr. Egbert from Dutch John, Utah; Mr. Feltch 

 from Vernal, Utah; and Forest Supervisor Kulesza and his group. 

 Thank you, and the witnesses from Idaho and Oregon, for coming 

 all the way across the country to be with us. 



We are very pleased to welcome Jim Lyons, Undersecretary for 

 National Resources and the Environment. Until today, we have not 

 had the opportunity to hear from you during our oversight process. 

 I know the subcommittee members particularly look forward to 

 your testimony today. 



Mr. Lyons is accompanied by Chief Thomas and other Forest 

 Service staff and witnesses, and I thank all the witnesses and 

 members for your participation. Let me just say that I have talked 

 to many members of the committee who will be milling back and 

 forth here today. Everyone has mark-up; we have got a lot on the 

 floor, but we are very interested in this hearing, and you can count 

 on it: we will spend a lot of time going over your written proposals. 



Let me also say that without objection, everybody's entire written 

 testimony will be included in the record so that we can peruse it 

 on airplanes and other places, and we can call you on that, I am 

 sure; and on top of that, we will probably send you some written 

 questions at a later time. 



Jim, we are grateful to have you with us here today, but before 

 we start, I would like to turn to my colleague from Idaho, Mrs. 

 Chenoweth, for any opening remarks she may have. 



STATEMENT OF HON. HELEN CHENOWETH, A U.S. 

 REPRESENTATIVE FROM IDAHO 



Mrs. Chenoweth. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I do have an open- 

 ing statement. I thank you for holding these very important hear- 

 ings on river management that impacts several of the western 

 States. I welcome those that have travelled across the country to 

 be here, and I reserve a special welcome for those from my home 

 State of Idaho. 



Hells Canyon is a well known treasure to people all over the 

 world. Idaho is very fortunate to have such an abundance of rec- 

 reational resources and the Snake River-Hells Canyon is certainly 

 an outstanding display of what makes Idaho so very unique. 



In the late 1800's and the early 1900's, adventurous river cap- 

 tains took their steamboats and stern wheelers through the rugged 

 territory of Hells Canyon. The river was an important method of 

 transportation for many homesteaders and miners who called Hells 

 Canyon their home. 



Many legends and traditions have arisen out of the travels of the 

 undaunted river captains and the inhabitants of Hells Canyon. The 

 colorful region of the history is imbedded in the Hells Canyon Act 

 by ensuring that various types of recreation and transportation are 

 recognized as valid uses on that river. 



Senator Frank Church made it very clear what his intentions for 

 Hells Canyon were when drafting the legislation. In 1975, when 

 the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture testified in hearings on the 

 proposed legislation that there were times when boating perhaps 



