[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 172 (Tuesday, December 21, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING BYRON LEYDECKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 21, 2010

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise with my colleague 
Congressman George Miller today to recognize the great accomplishments 
of our friend Byron Leydecker, who recently announced that he will 
conclude operation of Friends of the Trinity River, the organization he 
founded 18 years ago and has led ever since.
  The Trinity River flows through mountains in coastal northern 
California and is the largest tributary of the Klamath River. These 
rivers supported huge bountiful populations of both Chinook and Coho 
salmon, steelhead and other fish that sustained Native Americans for 
millennia and visitors from other continents for the past two 
centuries. The impacts of ill-advised and poorly managed development 
had devastated both the Trinity and the Klamath. Thanks in large part 
to Byron, the Trinity is on its way to recovery.
  He pushed the Department of the Interior to develop and then 
implement the historic 2000 Trinity Record of Decision, he has worked 
tirelessly ever since to ensure that the Trinity restoration program 
goes forward as intended, and he has pushed the agencies to follow the 
science.
  Byron has led an active and vigorous organization over the years, 
devoting his time, energy, and financial resources to make a real 
difference in the direction of the Trinity River restoration program, 
which is today one of the leading efforts of its kind.
  Byron and FOTR have worked with the usual alphabet soup of government 
agencies, as well as tribes, fishermen, and water and power interests, 
to develop and implement the restoration plan. Byron has always been 
consistent and persistent, cooperative when possible and tough when 
needed.
  Thanks to Byron and the work of FOTR, the Trinity River is now in 
better shape than at any time since the 1960s--we have seen increased 
flows, a healthier fishery, and a stronger scientific foundation for 
its management.
  While there will always be snags and eddies in these undertakings, 
the successful restoration of the Trinity River will serve as a 
national model of a restored river below a Federal dam. The Trinity 
River could have no better friend than Byron Leydecker. We are grateful 
to Byron for his leadership, and thank him for all his work on behalf 
of healthy rivers and sustainable fisheries.

                          ____________________