I am pleased to appear before you today to testify about the Federal role in salmon recovery efforts in the Columbia River Basin, particularly long-term decisions regarding the Federal Columbia River Power System. I have invited senior representatives from the regional agencies which are providing the lead role in this effort. They are key members of the Administration's northwest salmon recovery team and here to respond to your questions. Before delving into the specifics of the Columbia Basin, let me first provide several points of context. Many salmon and steelhead runs in the Pacific Northwest and California are in deep trouble.
Several runs are, according to our fishery scientists, at serious risk of extinction.
From Puget Sound to Central California, these runs need our help if we are to pass this important legacy to our children and to future generations. Extinction is not an option. This Administration, along with the people of the Northwest, is firmly committed to doing what we must to restore our precious salmon runs. Salmon are a keystone species which serve as an important indicator of the health of our streams and river systems overall. Healthy salmon runs require clean, healthy river and stream systems, which define our Northwest landscape.