Political Quotes

“the Endangered Species Act listing of various runs of salmon throughout the Northwest has been a wake-up call for Washingtonians. We have seen an unprecedented decline in a historically vibrant salmon population, relied upon by countless sportsmen, commercial and tribal fishermen, and those of us who see salmon as a Northwest cultural icon. And for years, at all levels of government, we've spent billions of dollars in an effort to recover this important species, but we've seen little in return. Millions and millions of dollars have been spent on massive studies. Millions of dollars have fueled growing bureaucracies to address the problem and create new regulations that may or may not save the fish. In all the flurry of activity and spending, one, largely unrecognized effort has done more in our rivers and streams to improve salmon habitat than almost anything else in which we've invested our resources. Across Washington state, small, local volunteer groups spend their weekends restoring streams, revegetating riparian areas and creating healthy, inviting places for salmon to return.”