Floods

Future of Voights Creek unclear in state budget

From Joe Turner at the News Tribune:

Reader points out to me that the no fish hatcheries will close is misleading too. The budget says (on Page 397): “During the 2007-09 biennium, the department shall not make a permanent closure of any hatchery facility currently in operation.” So, reader wonders, “if that means that since Voights Creek hatchery hasn’t been in “operation” since it was damaged in the floods that this leaves a door open for it to be permanently closed.”
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Tribes, salmon and floods

Eric De Place at the Sightline Daily Score blog writes an interesting piece about salmon and floods:

…when I wrote that the costs of doing nothing about climate change outstrip the costs of fixing the problem, one person wrote asking for hard numbers. How do we know for certain which is more expensive? Maybe it will be cheaper to abandon ship, so to speak: move everyone (and everything) out of flood-prone areas and forget about reducing emissions. (more…)

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Floods and Lack of Habitat Hurt Chinook, Good Weather Boosts Pinks

Fewer juvenile wild chinook migrated from the Puyallup River in 2007, likely because winter floods in the winter of 2006 washed away chinook redds – or nests – before the fish had a chance to emerge from the gravel. But, because of good weather this past winter, a record number of pink salmon are leaving the watershed. The Puyallup Tribe of Indians counts outgoing salmon with a smolt trap in the lower Puyallup River, enabling them to estimate the productivity of the entire watershed. A smolt trap is a safe and effective way to capture and count juvenile salmon. Smolt refers to the term “smoltification,” a physiological process juvenile salmon undergo that allows them to migrate from fresh to salt water. According to recently analyzed data, fewer than 10,000 wild chinook migrated from the Puyallup watershed last year, down from a peak of 60,000 fish in 2005. On the other hand, over 100,000 pink salmon have left the system so far this year.

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People and Salmon: We’re in the same boat

"Who comes first? Salmon or the humans?" Minority state house Leader Richard DeBolt asked this important question recently, criticizing salmon protection measures he believes contribute to increased flooding in the region. He’s understandably upset because his community of Chehalis was ravaged by this winter’s floods. Our hearts go out to the thousands of people in western Washington who suffered through some of the worst flooding in decades. Salmon and people are not in a race. There is no first or second place. People and salmon must succeed together.

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Caring for the American Village

OLYMPIA (September 21, 2005) — When Katrina swept over the southern U.S., leaving tens of thousands of people homeless in its wake a few weeks ago, tribes across the country swung into gear to help provide whatever relief and support they could to our brothers and sisters in the South.

The National Congress of American Indians organized a nationwide fund-raising effort. The National Indian Gaming Association, coordinating with NCAI through its Spirit of Sovereignty Foundation, committed to raising a minimum of $1 million for the cause. The Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin dispatched fire crews to fight fires, distribute food and unload trucks. Dozens of other tribes throughout the country have raised tens of thousands of dollars, sent school supplies, opened tribal homes, tribal buildings and even casinos to help shelter refugees and support aid programs. The Fort Belknap Tribes of Montana even committed to send the meat of 10 bison to the demolished region. Numerous Northwest Tribes and tribal organizations such as the Potlatch Foundation in Seattle, Salmon Homecoming and Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians are also pitching in as best they can, with funding, direct support and prayer ceremonies. Just as they have consistently done over the years, tribal members have readily stepped forward to help ease the suffering of the needy.

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