The once abundant salmon species are a symbol of the Pacific Northwest.  Commercial fishermen and native tribes depended on them for a way of life; sport fishermen and families fished for them for recreation.  Salmon are a vital link in our ecosystem, and they are a cultural and historical icon.  Their decline mirrors the overall decline of the Pacific Northwest environment, and it is something to take very seriously.

Remedies to reverse this alarming trend have been suggested by elected officials, industries, environmentalists and scientists.  These solutions range from dam removal to fish barging to greater reliance on hatchery fish.  As you know, I am a newcomer to this debate and am learning more about what we can do to restore the species.  It is clear to me, however, that the first thing we should do is protect what little salmon habitat we have left.  The Columbia River, once the picture-perfect model of salmon spawning territory, has only 51 miles of undeveloped, undammed river left, the Hanford Reach.  It was (ironically) undeveloped because of its proximity to the Hanford Nuclear Plant.  We should now protect it because of its value as habitat for salmon and other wildlife.

I recently introduced a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the Hanford Reach as a Wild and Scenic River, to be protected from damage.  A comprehensive plan to improve the fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, river access and aesthetics of the levees downstream of the Reach would be developed and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  

Although Senator Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) and 4th District Representative Doc Hastings (R-Pasco) argue for local control of the river, federal designation of the Reach is the best approach.  Since the federal government oversees most of the river (because of the Bonneville Power Administration, the surrounding dams and the Hanford nuclear site), it makes sense that the federal government take the responsibility for protecting the last wild stretch.  It doesn’t make sense to split up jurisdiction among four separate counties.

Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) has introduced identical legislation in the Senate, and I am hopeful the Senate will begin taking action early this summer.  As a member of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over the bill, I hope to play a major role in seeing this bill through the House of Representatives.  As you may know, the Resources Committee is famous for its extreme anti-environmental leadership; nevertheless, I look forward to taking this first step towards restoration of the Pacific Northwest salmon species.