Mr. RIPLEY. I cannot answer that specifically. I know the chart this is based upon. I know there are 10 employees that are contemplated within this expenditure, and the rest of it is for the actual construction of facilities, hatcheries, and spawning channels and the necessary gathering of information to design these things. Ten employees to handle the whole project is not an excessive amount of research, and the research is not research designed to study the scales of the fish, but specifically how to do the job required for the specific facility being built on any particular stream. One of the things I do not want to leave is the impression we do not want the dams or water conservation. We vitally need that. What we are pleading for is to have both the salmon and the dams, and we can do this with planning and a few structures and a proper consideration for the biological need of the fish involved. Mr. GROSS. There is not much chance of having salmon without water. Mr. RIPLEY. That is true, and that is why the structures are needed. Mr. DINGELL. Thank you very much. We have some statements here that will be submitted for the record. (The statements referred to follow :) STATEMENT OF J. STEELE CULBERTSON, NATIONAL FISHERIES INSTITUTE, INC., BEFORE THE HOUSE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES COMMITTEE I am J. Steele Culbertson, director of the Industrial Products Division, National Fisheries Institute, Inc., of Washington, D.C. I am appearing here this morning on behalf of Mr. Charles E. Jackson, general manager of the National Fisheries Institute, Inc., who is unable to attend due to prior commitments. Because of the importance of the salmon resources of California and the need for a comprehensive conservation program such as contemplated by the salmonsteelhead development program bill, Mr. Jackson asked me to appear briefly and place National Fisheries Institute, Inc., on record in support of the proposed legislation. STATEMENT OF SPORT FISHING INSTITUTE, WITH RESPECT TO H.R. 11343, TO PRE- THE STATE Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee. I am Philip A. Douglas, executive secretary, Sport Fishing Institute, Washington, D.C. I am pleased to have this opportunity to express the Institute's views on H.R. 11343, to preserve and develop the salmon and steelhead trout and other fishery resources of the streams entering the Pacific Ocean from the State of California. We concur with and support the broad objectives of the proposals embodied in H.R. 11343, as authored by Congressman Harlan Hagen, as well as identical House bills, H.R. 11352, 11356, 11357, 11361, 11366, and 11371, as well as Senate bill S. 3184 (Engle). On the surface, the physical work entailed in Congressman Hagen's proposed legislation would be done in California, thereby imparting a “local flavor” to this bill. However, I find much evidence pointing it up as a program with both national and international ramifications. These fish are of both sport and commercial value in national and international waters. Federally constructed water development projects require Government participation in such restoration and mitigation where this resource has been adversely affected. Not only has the Federal Government caused recent losses through such construction, but historical evidence of unfavorable environmental change, due to Federal encouragement in early mining, railroading, and logging operations, drastically reduced this fish habitat and population. Today, road construction and gravel operations add to the dam barriers, irrigation structures, etc., placed on these migration routes. The State areas affected range from Monterey on the south to the Smith River on the northern California-Oregon border, and from the SierraNevada foothills, westward to the Pacific. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife envisions a development program beginning in 1962 and extending through 1966, involving $11,080,000 of Federal funds. Total operating costs were estimated to be $3,921,000 during this period. The greater partion of the development and operating funds ($7,179,000, or 65 percent) would go into hatchery expansion or development, with 7 hatcheries noted. Three (Coleman, Keswick, and Clear Creek) would affect anadromous fish passage facilities, and habitat improvement (involving clearance, gravel American and Sacramento Rivers, and two (Russian and Mad) would affect runs along the north coast tributaries. Various diversion screens, spawning channels, fish passage facilities, and habitat improvement (involving clearance, gravel loosening and restoration, vegetation removal, erosion and siltation control, and water storage) are aimed at augmenting the fish population and fishable areas. This part of the program makes up the remaining 35 percent of the estimated Federal expenditures. King and silver salmon, and steelhead trout would be the major species affected. Federal and State water plans pose serious threats to anadromous salmon and trout throughout their entire range. Coordinated planning and action may save this fishery, (even) on a proper multiple-water-use basis. Much sport and commercial fishing is carried on off the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska, with commercial fishermen basing their vessels part of the year in California. Salmon and steelhead sport fishing are carried on extensively in the Sacramento, Eel and Klamath Rivers, With the probable decline in salmon runs to the north, California is going to play an increasingly important role in the national salmon picture. A total development program, taking into account all fresh water aspects of this anadromous resource, should result in emphasis being given to Federal water development plans, with State participation on a cost-sharing basis. I am aware of the degree of success now in evidence, through State and Federal cooperation of the silver salmon restoration program in the Sacramento River. Some of this success needs to be credited to the colder water releases now possible for downstream areas below Shasta Dam, though salmon fingerling stocking made from the Coleman Federal Hatchery have survived to prodduce the actual fishing. In the winter of 1960 I personally observed fine catches of silvers being made in the vicinity of Battle Creek. The fish passage ways proposed may bear more scrutiny in the specific phases of this proposed program, though I note that in general these comprise "bypasses" rather than the large, ladder-type facilities that have caused so much concern on the Columbia River. This constitutes but 5 percent ($590,000) of the total project. Other sections of this program appear to be feasible. The Sport Fishing Institute feels that this legislation would promote good fish conservation for the entire anadromous fishery resource of the west coast, in its freshwater stages. It is long overdue, when one considers the (unmitigated) damage done to this natural resource by both Federal action and lack of it. It is of national and international importance; it is strongly recommended by the California Department of Fish and Game; and it appears to be practical and feasible (in the early planning stage). We urge that favorable action be forthcoming by your committee on H.R. 11343 and companion bills. Thank you. STATEMENT PRESENTED FOR THOMAS L. KIMBALL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAI SEPTEMBER 11, 1962. Mr. Chairman, I am Louis S. Clapper, chief of the Division of Conservation Education, National Wildlife Federation. I am appearing here today on be half of executive director Thomas L. Kimball, who is out of the city. The National Wildlife Federation is a private organization dedicated to the atainment of conservation goals through educational means. The National Wildlife Federation has independent affiliates in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. These affiliates are composed of individuals who, together with other supporters of the National Wildlife Federation, number an estimated 2 million persons. We appreciate the invitation to comment briefly upon a proposed comprehensive program to rebuild California's declining salmon and steelhead trout fisheries. There is little need for going into detail with members of this subcommittee on the additional pressures being placed upon fisheries resources by an expanding human population, both for recreational purposes and for food purposes. These pressures were highlighted in the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission's reports. Also recognized widely is the fact that many streams on all U.S. coasts have been damaged or ruined for fisheries purposes by water development projects constructed or licensed by Federal agencies. Projects have blocked streams to passage of anadromous fishes; altered streams for irrigation, industrial and municipal uses; and polluted them with harmful wastes. Salmon and steelhead have been eliminated from many waters. Their numbers are dwindling in others. Continued losses of habitat and water quality, if not checked, will result in the elimination of fisheries of great recreational and commercial value. Mr. Chairman, the Columbia River fishery development program authorized several years ago is proving successful through the operation of hatcheries, installation of fish screens on irrigation water diversion works, construction of fishways at obstacles, research, etc. We are encouraged by the cooperative efforts developed between the fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game and are in agreement with principles expressed in the salmon-steelhead program proposed by H.R. 11343 and other bills. believe such a program can do much to protect the public interest in valuable fisheries resources. We Anadromous fishes are interstate and international in character and importance. They, therefore, constitute a true area of concern and responsibility for the Federal Government, as well as for the States individually involved. Mr. Chairman, we appreciate the opportunity of making these observations. Mr. DINGELL. The committee will adjourn until further notice. (Whereupon, the committee recessed subject to further notice.) |