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Watch as tribes take to the river to rescue fish when the waters drop

Justin Paul, biologist with the Puyallup Tribe, counts rescued salmon during a dewatering of the White River. More photos of the rescue effort can be found here: http://go.nwifc.org/fishout15
Justin Paul, biologist with the Puyallup Tribe, counts rescued salmon during a dewatering of the White River. More photos of the rescue effort can be found here: http://go.nwifc.org/fishout15

As the flow of the White River was held back by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Russ Ladley carefully searched for young salmon stranded in small pools. Unfortunately, most of the fish he found weren’t able to make it back to the river before the river’s flow dropped by two-thirds.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineer slowly ramped down flow out of their Mud Mountain dam facility so repairs at another downstream dam (owned by the water utility Cascade Water Alliance) could take place safely.

“These fish-outs are a regular part of the regime here on the White River, because repairs are regularly needed at a diversion dam just upstream,” said Ladley, who is resource protection manager for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
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Read more about the article Lummi fishermen pass down reef net heritage

Lummi fishermen pass down reef net heritage

Reef NetLummi Nation tribal fishermen are teaching young tribal members the traditional method of harvesting salmon in a reef net.

The tribe had four new wooden canoes made for reef netting. Traditionally, fishermen suspended the reef net between two canoes.

“It’s an imitation of the seafloor, like a reef, that’s why it’s called a reef net,” said Lummi fisherman Richard Solomon. “Sxwole is what our people called it. It was a gift earned by one of our people, I don’t know exactly how many years ago, (maybe) 200 years ago.” (more…)

Continue ReadingLummi fishermen pass down reef net heritage