Salmon Public Outreach and Education 2015

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provided education and outreach on their mission to protect, restore, and enhance the tribe’s First Foods which include Water, Salmon, Deer, Roots, and Berries. This goal was accomplished through three main events: Make a Splash: Salmon Expedition Series, Salmon Walk and the Return to the River event focusing on fisheries-related topics to successfully educate and inform the general public. The PCSRF funds were used in support of activities during 2017-2018.

1) Make a Splash: SALMON EXPEDITION SERIES

The Make a Splash Salmon Expedition series started with one large gathering in the Spring of 2017 where students from area schools were invited (grades K-12) and participated in an all-day educational field event focusing on salmon, wildlife, Ag Range & forestry and on salmon habitat and restoration projects. Following this, over the year, six smaller salmon workshops for the general public throughout the CTUIR ceded areas were held. The CTUIR staff also presented salmon information at local schools.

2) Salmon Walk

The Salmon Walk is an annual family event that promotes natural resources and wellness in general and focuses on educating the public at large. Salmon Walk is a “festival-style” event that challenges the community members to participate in race events such as walking, hiking, running, cycling or touring along the salmon migratory route of the Umatilla River with DNR Fish Biologists. At the Salmon Walk event there were many information booths from cooperating agencies and landowners. Participants learned about salmon restoration efforts of the tribes and other organizational partners within the Umatilla Basin and got to see live salmon specimens in a living stream tank. Salmon Walk flyers, a Salmon Walk poster, and a radio ad were created for this event.

3) Return to the River

The Return to the River Salmon Festival was held in partnership with the Walla Walla Community College, William A. Grant Water and Environmental Center. This event celebrated the exciting salmon recovery efforts and the return of the spring chinook to the Walla Walla River after being extinct for more than 80 years. The event showcased the partnerships between the CTUIR and the irrigation districts and individual landowners and their collaborative efforts to improve fish passage and habitat and restore instream flows to the river’s ecosystem. The Return to the River also celebrated the work within the Walla Walla Valley and demonstrated how important the Walla Walla River is to the Tribes and their dedication to restoring the rivers ecological function necessary to sustain the First Foods.

Species that would benefit from CTUIR DNR outreach program include federally ESA listed summer steelhead and bull trout, reintroduced spring Chinook and Pacific lamprey, as well as inland redband trout and margined sculpin, listed as vulnerable under Oregon’s Sensitive Species rule. By educating the public about ESA species there will be gained support for habitat restoration projects and fish protection. Through education outreach efforts within the school’s students return home and share information with parents and family. This sharing of information supports restoration efforts by making other become aware of what their children are learning and hear about their natural environment. The Tribe also works in gaining public support and works to create stronger partnerships for salmon restoration and to continue to create future projects.