Issue Position: Restoring Salmon Populations

Issue Position

A message from Congressmen Norm Dicks (D-WA), Greg Walden (R-OR) and Brian Baird (D-WA):

All of us in the Pacific Northwest want to preserve wild salmon. Whether motivated by economic, recreational, or conservation concerns, we all recognize Pacific Northwest salmon as a national treasure and appreciate that salmon are critical to our economy, environment, and culture.

We have committed to a bipartisan, regional effort to fully explore salmon issues and identify potential solutions. As we move toward these goals, we want to ensure that we hear from all affected parties in a fair and open manner.

In October of 2005 we held public meetings in Vancouver and Tacoma regarding the impediments to returning adult salmon and steelhead. These meetings had a broad array of participation from government agencies, tribal interests, harvesters, sport fishermen, interest groups, and experts. Two additional meetings have been slated for early 2006. One will take place in eastern Oregon on Tuesday, February 21 and another will take place at a later date near the mouth of the Columbia River.

These meetings have proven invaluable in further educating us on the different needs of the many stakeholders. However, there are still many people with concerns, ideas, and information whom we have not yet heard from. Unfortunately, time constraints prevent us from hearing from everyone in a public forum, so we invite people to submit written comments to us.

Preserving Pacific Northwest wild salmon is a vast, complicated issue. We sincerely hope you will take the time to share your written thoughts on this issue with us.

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