8001

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8001
• Author: Western Regional Instream Flow Conference.
• Title: Proceedings, Western Regional Instream Flow Conference.
• USFW Year: 1992.
• USFW - Doc Type: Oct. 2-3, 1992.
• Copyright Material: NO

WELCOMING REMARKS TO THE
WESTERN REGIONAL INSTREAM FLOW
CONFERENCE II
Charles F. Gauvin
Executive Director, Trout Unlimited
800 Follin Lane, SE Suite 250
Vienna. VA 22180
[phone] ext. 304
Welcome to Jackson Hole. I want to thank Suzanne
and the members of the Steering Committee for putting
together this conference.
Frankly, as I look around the room and see, not only
the number of people here, but who's here, I'm over-
whelmed. I think we've got a very, very good cross-
section of the public and the decision-makers from
around the country with respect to instream-flow issues.
These are auspicious times for instream-flow issues.
There's a tremendous amount of activity going on
throughout the country, which will determine who gets
the water and how it's used, and whether fish, wildlife,
and recreation interests will receive the increased
recognition that some of us think they deserve in water-
allocation decisions throughout the country.
As many of you know, there is a massive hydroelec-
tric-facility relicensing process that has begun this year.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is currently
processing an unprecedented number of relicensing
applications. How those applications are processed and
how the debate is shaped in that relicensing process will
determine the fate of our fish and wildlife for a long time
to come.
As well as FERC relicensing, we are poised at a mid-
point in the process with respect to the salmon situation
in the Columbia and Snake Rivers. That is probably the
greatest single instream-flow problem in the country.
There's obviously a host of other problems, but flows are
very much at issue there.
In addition, we have a number of water bills that are
in Congress right now. Some of them are quite close to
action by Congress. They involve such facilities and
resources as the Central Valley Project in the Sacramento
River, the Grand Canyon with the Grand Canyon
Protection Act, and the Elwah Dam in the Elwah River in
Washington state.
We're here to have a frank and open discussion, and
it's my hope at least we can shape some of the debate
and discussion around the country, and that we will
start to see in this very, very important water year that
some of this conference's discussion bears fruit around
the country and especially in Washington. Thank you.
Dennis B. Underwood
Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20240-9000
Good morning. It's a pleasure to have the opportunity to
talk with you today, and in such an outstanding area.
Enjoying the outdoors is a long-standing American
tradition and a fundamental part of the American experi-
ence. Our nation is blessed with a magnificent natural
heritage. And never before has there been greater demand
by Americans to experience America's great outdoors-
particularly fishing-which is enjoyed by an estimated 60
million Americans each year.
President Bush and those of us in his administration are
dedicated to helping meet the demand for recreational
opportunities on our nation's lands and are actively seeking
the input and support of fishermen and other sportsmen in
promoting ethics, good sportsmanship, good stewardship,
and conservation of our natural resources.
The Bureau of Reclamation has several activities under-
way to help accomplish these goals, including our strong
support of the "Enjoy America Outdoors" program and the
establishment of partnership efforts with organizations such
as Trout Unlimited, to help improve, protect, or restore
habitat for fish and wildlife.
Reclamation's mission is to manage, develop, and protect
water and related resources in an environmentally and
economically sound manner, in the interest of the Ameri-
can public.
In implementing this mission, primarily through empha-
sizing water-resource development to provide reliable water
and energy supplies, Reclamation has helped sustain the
economy, improve the environment, and enhance the
quality of life of the West.
Reclamation projects have many benefits-flood control,
fish and wildlife enhancement, river regulation, water-
quality protection, and recreation.
Life in the West B.C.--or before Commissioners of
Reclarnation-was far different than it is today.
-Rivers ran high through spring floods, then were
sometimes dry in the fall and winter.
,There were virtually no large lakes to provide
habitat for fish.
,The sport-fishery opportunities were limited, as
were such activities as whitewater rafting.
4