For Immediate Release

April 7, 1999

SALMON FIELD HEARING WILL GENERATE ‘CREATIVE SOLUTIONS’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In remarks opening a congressional field hearing on the northwest salmon recovery strategy, U.S. Congressman Norm Dicks said that "today’s broad range of witnesses represents a unique opportunity to find creative solutions in our common effort to save the salmon."

          The congressman, who serves as the ranking Democratic member of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, joined Washington Senator Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) and members of the Washington State congressional delegation in conducting the day-long forum at Sea-Tac, airport discussing the region’s response to the recent designation of Puget Sound and coastal salmon runs as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

          Dicks stated that the Clinton administration’s federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year proposes a total of $100 million for four affected western states to begin developing salmon recovery plans. He also noted direct parallels between these efforts and the federally-funded program that assisted the region’s forest communities recover from the impact of the spotted owl listing earlier in this decade.

          "This initial funding is providing the region the ability to act quickly in response to the listings, but we know that ultimately the recovery will be a multi-year effort. It is my hope that we can look at our experiences with the Northwest Forest Plan – both its successes and failures -- and structure the salmon recovery money in a similar fashion, with a strong federal commitment. But any federal commitment must be a partnership with the region," Rep. Dicks said.

[Text of Rep. Dicks’ opening remarks for the hearing follows ]
 

Text of Opening Remarks
U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks
Salmon Recovery Field Hearing
April 7, 1999

Good morning. I would like to start by offering my thanks to Senator Gorton for proposing this hearing and for asking me to participate with him. As the new Ranking Minority Member on the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I am looking forward to the role Senator Gorton and I will be able to play in helping the region respond to the salmon listings.

We are both very pleased that so many of our colleagues are able to join us today -- Senator Stevens, and Senator Murray, Representatives McDermott, Adam Smith, and Brian Baird. I also would like to welcome Governor Gary Locke who has shown strong leadership in addressing the salmon decline. And we each extend our appreciation for the individuals and groups who will be providing testimony for us today. We thank you for your time and commitment to restoring these salmon runs.

I am pleased that we are here today to listen to the region first-hand. I think it is imperative that Congress fully understands the significance of these particular listings under the Federal Endangered Species Act. People in the region have probably heard this before but the point is extremely important: there has never been a ESA listing impacting a large urban area, and the species itself is one of the most complex ever listed. We will need to pool our efforts and our expertise if we are to be successful in the recovery of these fish, but we will need help.

As many of you are aware, President Clinton and Vice President Gore included $100 million for Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery in the administration’s budget request for fiscal year 2000. These funds, if appropriated, will provide critical support to our local governments and tribes as we implement restoration activities in Puget Sound. Last year, Senator Gorton was able to include $20 million in the Senate Interior Appropriations bill, which I was able to maintain on the House side. This initial funding is providing the region the ability to act quickly in response to the listings, but we know that ultimately the recovery will be a multi-year effort. It is my hope that we can look at our experiences with the Northwest Forest Plan – both its successes and failures -- and structure the salmon recovery money in a similar fashion, with a strong federal commitment. But any federal commitment must be a partnership with the region. The proposed salmon money requires a state match. You have our assurances that we in the Congress will do whatever we can to get this money appropriated but if the state match is not made, Washington, and the other states, will not be eligible for these funds.

The salmon recovery fund is crucial, and I believe it is also crucial that we reach agreement with Canada in the U.S. / Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty. Fisheries managers tell me that nothing will get fish into our rivers faster than a solid management agreement with the Canadians. We have been making good progress so far this year, and the Canadian government should be complimented on its prior implementation of stringent harvest reductions. But I believe we must acknowledge the linkage of the states’ recovery efforts with the Salmon Treaty because of the basic life cycle of salmon.

We must also recognize our commitment and legal obligation to the Pacific Northwest Tribes. I am pleased that my good friend Chairman Billy Frank of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission will join us today and look forward to his testimony. As co-managers of our state’s fisheries, we must act in tandem with the Tribes on any and all recovery strategies. To that end, I want to compliment the Tri-County effort and the participating Tribes for their cooperative and highly successful partnership. I hope your efforts can serve as a model as we expand our efforts.

I also want to briefly mention a creative program which I think can help us tremendously in the protection of habitat and restoration of salmon runs. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) will help private landowners receive compensation for the habitat they set aside and can also apply for matching monies to provide enhancements such as shading vegetation, erosion control measures and larger buffers around fish-bearing streams. I think its imperative that we look at all areas of concern to salmon, and believe this is an excellent example of creative problem solving.

It is my hope that this hearing will help us clarify and focus our efforts on the massive task of recovering these fish. I look forward to hearing the witness testimony, as well as any additional testimony submitted to Senator Gorton and myself.

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