Bryan Arroyo, Assistant Director
Washington State Celebrates Two Large Dam Removal Projects
Moment of exposion at the Condit Dam
Credit Andy Maser
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For the first time in decades, the White Salmon and Elwha Rivers in Washington State are running free. The removal of both the Condit and Elwha dams marks a monumental event in history for species including the pacific salmon, lamprey and bull trout. Even though it has only been a couple of months since the initial removal, USFWS biologists are already documenting significant changes in the river channels and are preparing to study the miles of prime habitat that have been created in the dam’s wake.
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Photos and Video of Condit Dam Removal
Celebrating Salmon at Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
By Corky Broaddus
Leavenworth NFH
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The award winning Wenatchee River Salmon Festival
(AKA Salmon Fest) has become an
iconic U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Fisheries Program event, and an
inspiring model nature festival. It’s held every
September at Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, WA.
The event’s success reflects the power
of partnerships. Since its inception,
Salmon Fest has remained true to its
natural resource education mission by
updating and augmenting activities
to keep them fresh and engaging.
Salmon Fest may be a short event,
but the work is done the year-round.
It truly engages the community
and visitors in a real-life salmon
experience celebrating the incredible
natural resources found in their own
backyard. The beautiful National
Fish Hatchery venue provides four
full days of fun and learning. Salmon
Fest has served 155,000 attendees
throughout its 20-year run. The 20th
anniversary alone received 10,000
visitors.
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America’s Great Outdoors and conservation education
By Denise Wagner
Wolf Creek NFH’s Amanda Patrick talks to a student about animals collected in a nearby Kentucky stream. Credit Shelia Kirk
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The National Fish Hatchery System
Volunteer Act of 2006 mandated
that the Fisheries Program increase
awareness of the conservation work
delivered at Fisheries Program
facilities through incorporation
of outdoor classrooms and other
conservation education programs.
The Fisheries Program has provided
quality conservation educational
opportunities at the community level
for decades.
As called for in President Obama’s
America’s Great Outdoors Initiative,
the Fisheries Program connects
with today’s young generations by
engaging families in conservation.
Working in cooperation with
volunteers, partners, and formal
Friends groups, the Fisheries
Program delivers a wide array of
formal and informal conservation
education programs both on and off Fisheries field
stations at national
and community
levels.
With thousands
of outreach and
educational events
every year, the
Fisheries Program
reaches well over
one million youth
alone. Biologists
and professional
educators
communicate
conservation
issues through innovative,
science-based, hands on learning,
incorporating programs such as Biologist in Training; Kids in the Creek; and Salmon Fest. Through
many of our 154 facilities nationwide,
people of all ages experience inspired plants and bugs, and science and
conservation. These educational
experiences plant the seeds of
stewardship that may blossom into
conservation careers.
