Cle Elum Lake Sockeye First Return Ceremon

This project provided outreach and education funding for the Sockeye First Return Ceremony on July 10, 2013 where 200+ attendees came including tribal, federal, state, and local attendees. Also three State Legislators, elders, and visitors from Canada attended. Scott Rumsey from NOAA Fisheries also presented at the Ceremony. The Yakama Nation Fisheries helped with story content and photos for a NOAA Fisheries Story for the YN Fisheries Summer 2013 publication. Many articles were published concerning the event that had a circulation of over 750,000 customers.

The YN provided a meal for 200 people that included beverages, coffee service, salmon, salads, fruit plates, vegetable plates, and associated set-up logistics. The ceremony set-up logistics included tents, port-a-potties, washing stations, and trash service. An Honorarium for the elder speaker and the sign language demonstration was provided. Education and Outreach included media coverage with circulation of 750,000 (see attachment). A number of plans, bills and proposals are currently being discussed at a tribal, local, state, and federal level concerning connecting the fish passage component within the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. Through outreach and education efforts such as these, there will be an increased awareness, advocacy and understanding of the Yakima Basin fish passage and fish habitat issues.

Sockeye salmon are the preferred species for reintroduction above the storage reservoirs in the Yakima Basin. Sockeye salmon are the only species of salmon whose juveniles are obligatory lake-dwellers prior to smoltification. This species was present in all of the natural lakes in the Yakima system before the storage dams were constructed. The reintroduction will be utilizing forty miles of pristine habitat and reintroducing a species that will reconnect an ecosystem that has been disconnected for over a hundred years.