Salmon Public Outreach and Education 2020

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Department of Natural Resources (DNR) utilized the 2020-Umat-04 funding to support conservation and restoration efforts through public outreach and education from February 2021 to February 2022. DNR informed the CTUIR community and the general public about efforts to protect, restore and enhance the First Foods which include Water, Salmon, Deer, Cous and Huckleberry – for the perpetual cultural, economic and sovereign benefits of the CTUIR members.These efforts include population and habitat management goals and actions and natural resource policies and regulatory mechanisms.



The DNR Public Outreach and Educational Specialist (POES) met the high demand of Presentation request to inform students and the public about aquatic and salmon conservation, endangered species, habitat restoration, protection, and access. Other related topics also include water quality, hatchery enhancements and management, First Foods and the connections within a fully functional and healthy ecosystem, and the effects of climate change. She provided outreach to students, the general public, the local community, local, state and federal government agencies, private entities, and education institutes in the form of workshops, trainings and forums. She also worked to coordinate other key DNR technical staff to assist with project when applicable. These unique public venues provided opportunities for DNR staff to develop scientific posters for outreach events to showcase their project work and to highlight DNR program restoration efforts thoughout the CTUIR’s ceded, traditional use and usual and accustom areas. The POES designed and performed public outreach and education related presentations, designed other outreach materials, participated in collaborative planning efforts with the the Walla Walla Community College event planning team, and completed PCSRF administrative tasks.



From September 1, 2021 – February 14, 2022 CTUIR Incident Command Team enacted strict Covid restrictions. The restrictions hindered face to face public outreach and education events, excursions and outdoor field days. Events were postponed or cancelled due to mandatory prohibitions against public gatherings. In light of restrictions most outreach was done virtually. Virtual planning and outreach included the following:



MAKE A SPLASH SALMON EXPEDITION



The POES and the Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) Water and Environmental Center (WEC) event planning team held virtual monthly meetings to plan for the upcoming Make a Splash event to be held during the fall 2021 school year along with other outreach opportunities. As Covid-19 surged in July and August along with uncertainties from school district, the Make a Splash in-person event was postponed until Fall 2022.



SALMON EXPEDITION SERIES



The POES designed and participated in web-based educational presentations. The presentation and webinar requests continued to coming in from several outside organizations which addressed topics related to fresh water mussels, Salmon and climate adaptation planning, watershed and species restoration efforts.



RETURN TO THE RIVER



The POES created the Return to the River virtual YouTube channel, which featured a mini event and salmon release in 2022. Funding also supported the coordination and planning for the upcoming Return to River event that will take place on May 14, 2022. We will be celebrating the homecoming of salmon to the Walla Walla River watershed and showcases the returning salmon population and CTUIR’s partnerships in the Walla Walla Basin. Also the Tribe will show case information on the new Walla Walla River Salmon Hatchery Facility that opened during the Summer of 2021.

Species that benefit from DNR’s outreach and education project include:

• ESA listed summer steelhead and bull trout,

• Reintroduced spring chinook and Pacific lamprey, and

• Inland redband trout and margined sculpin, listed as vulnerable under Oregon’s Sensitive

Species rule.

CTUIR DNR manages the entire river system including every component of the system from an

ecosystem perspective following the tribal Tamanwit and nature’s ecological law that all

resources are important and connected to one another. Salmon is a critical resource along will all

other First Foods. They are ecologically related to each other and span across the landscape with

vast biodiversity. They are reliant on one another as are the people who also rely on them. It is

important that we manage our resources from ridgetop to ridgetop down to the flood plain and

onto the ocean.

The related projects supports the DNR management approach and also focus on the wildlife and

plant species connected to the same habitat areas that directly benefit from aquatic species

restoration efforts. Educating the public about the significance of ESA listed species will

increase support for habitat restoration projects and fish protection. Through education and

outreach efforts within the schools, students return home and share information with parents and

family. This sharing of information supports restoration efforts by increasing awareness about

natural resource management curriculum and the impacts that students can have on their natural

environment. The goal is to create young stewards to carry the mantle of natural resource

protection and preservation into the future. The CTUIR is also working to increase public

support and stronger partnerships for future salmon and watershed restoration projects.