Many of you are in a wait and see mode in regards to the WAA and I completely understand that. Though I cannot tell you where we will end up on many issues I can promise you that representation of sportfishers will remain our primary driving agenda, here is why.

Yesterday I received a synopsis of a study finished in May 1999 regarding the economic impact of Commercial and Recreational fishing.

Though I haven't had these actual numbers in my hand it is one of the driving forces behind the WAA, the belief that recreational fishing is far more important to the economy of this State.

I will use the numbers from the same year 1991 (only year with dual numbers) WDFW did the commercial impact for the economy study and the Southwick Co. did it for the recreational side. It is my hope that by seeing these numbers you will begin to understand why we feel a unified voice is so important.

Total impact:
Recreational......1.4 billion
Commercial........531 million

Total Jobs Recreational......27,200
Commercial........16,400

Total Wages Recreational......417 million
Commercial........328 million

In every category recreational fishing even in its depressed and confined condition still is far and above more viable to the economy of this state...lets join together and make this a stronger position yet!!

Thanks,

Jim

The numbers have been around for years, the problem seems to be getting anyone to pay attention to them. I hope a united voice for sport fishermen can have some impact on those spineless politicos who (probably for good reason) seem to owe their primary fealty to timber, agricultural and commercial fishing interests.

A real shocker is the amount of jobs that are related to the 4 lower snake dams. Not very many folks. The impact of removing them would be very small in relation to the gains that would be realized. The number of farms that use them for irrigation is very small ( There are actual figures on this) and the barge traffic to and from Lewiston could be replaced by rail. But as was stated before, thge numbers are out there nobody seems to care.

Where do you folks expect to get your power from?A CURRENT BUSH

Where do I expect to get my power? From the other 9 dams on the columbia! Bonneville power itself acknowledges the 4 snake dams only account for 5% of the regions power. Most of it is sold as surplus.

Blow the things up!

Oh, and Oregon, could you clone Gov. Kitzhaber and send him up to Washington to replace our "driving force" (aka spineless bastard) behind salmon recovery? Then maybe we will get somewhere.

B-Run
Don't turn this into a dam debate, again. Apples and oranges, bro.

Backlash, your right. Like a moth to a flame, I can't help it.