HOH RIVER -- The Hoh Tribe is conducting a study to determine the genetic relationships between today's Hoh River native steelhead and hatchery steelhead. The genetic study will reveal the…
"We took a leap of faith when we put it out to bid that we could come up with the money for the additional jams this year," said Ed Johnstone, fisheries policy representative for QIN. To complete the additional four jams, QIN had to buy more logs. Thanks to last-minute donations of $10,000 from Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition in Forks, $15,000 from Wild Salmon Center in Portland and $25,000 from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the project protecting one of the last remaining spawning channels for sockeye was completed.
Historically, Quinault River sockeye had more than 55 miles of spawning habitat from the mouth of Lake Quinault to the Olympic National Park border. Today there are fewer than 3 miles of spawning habitat corresponding with a precipitous drop in sockeye populations. Halting the erosion of remaining spawning habitat and creating more is a goal of the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN).
"There's no good season for an oil spill," said Chad Bowechop, marine manager for the Makah Tribe's Office of Marine Affairs.
"There are only two anadromous fish-bearing tributaries in that portion of the South Fork Calawah drainage and Hyas Creek is one of them," said Phil DeCillis, fisheries biologist for USFS. "It had the least amount of wood per mile of the streams we surveyed, so it was important to get more in there. The tributaries are important refuge areas for fish."
"We started this program five years ago when we as a staff talked about the need to promote fisheries and natural resources management to the next generation," said Russ Svec, fishery manager for the Makah Tribe. "We hope to not only spark student interest in fisheries management, but through their experience, promote a better understanding of our native culture and environment. We want to connect them to those stories our elders told us, to create the passion about what we have and to protect it for tomorrow."
"The partnerships that are being built both in this process and in our work regarding removal of the Elwha dams and bringing the salmon back has been gratifying," said Frances Charles, chairman of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. "It will continue to be important that we be informed when there are camps or artifacts found. Protecting all the resources on these lands and doing no harm is a joint concern. We're grateful that the details of the government-to-government relationship make this partnership work and it will evolve as we listen to one another and move forward."
Timberlands about half the size of Washington, D.C., were flattened by the early December storm that packed winds of more than 147 mph along the southwestern coast of the state.…
"The appointment of Jim Woods speaks volumes about the expertise and capacity found within the ranks of our tribal staff," said Micah McCarty, chairman of the Makah tribal council. "We're proactive in this trust relationship and we look forward to continuing a meaningful and productive relationship with EPA."
The Aberdeen Daily World has an article about the closure of the Chehalis River system to chinook fishing. The closure of the sport fishery for spring and summer Chinook salmon…