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Nat’s membership in the Fish, Farm & Forest Communities Forum was another example of his desire to solve problems through cooperation and consensus building among diverse groups. From his membership on the Klamath River Task Force to his participation on the Bay-Delta Ecosystems Roundtable, Nat always sought ways to restore and protect essential fish habitat throughout Northern California, and always considered the legitimate interests of the opposition in the process. His efforts in fishery restoration were honored with a proclamation from the California Legislature in 1989.

On May 22, 1998 Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (San Francisco), speaking about the loss of Nat Bingham, read the following statement into the record of the House of Representatives: “Nat was a bridge across troubled waters. He confronted forceful opposition in his work, and he always responded with grace, goodwill and solid science to support his positions. His ability to bring harmony out of discord was well known. Anyone who is aware of the Pacific Coast salmon decline also realizes that there are no simple solutions to the complex problems facing a number of salmon species in our region. Nat always had a way of emphasizing the positive and seeking solutions that would nurture and sustain the resource he devoted his life to protecting.”

Perhaps Dave Bitts, PCFFA Vice-President, said it best: “Nat had an astonishing breadth and depth of vision. Whatever the forum, he always had the big picture in view, not just for the moment, but for the future as well. The fishing industry, and the many populations of salmon, were blessed to have a statesman of Nat’s gifts and stature working on their behalf for the past twenty-five years. Not only will we miss him personally more than we can say, but the quality and scope of his work will also be impossible to replace.”

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