vernonia’s
voice outdoors and recreation
2007
The Recovery of the Salmon
By Scott Laird
Last month we talked about the yearly return of native salmon to our regional wa-
ters. We focused on the life cycle of salmon, particularly here in the Nehalem River
Watershed. This month we continue our discussion with Upper Nehalem Watershed
Council Director Maggie Peyton and talk about the recovery of salmon here in the
Upper Nehalem Valley.
Maggie Peyton has been working for the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council
(UNWC) for eleven years. She is well respected in her field and has had great suc-
cess in attaining funding for assessment, monitoring and restoration of local water-
shed streams and rivers. One important piece in watershed restoration is Salmon
Recovery which has become a large focus of Oregon governmental agencies.
In 1995 Oregon began developing what would later be known as the Oregon
Plan for Salmon and Watersheds or the Oregon Plan for short. The mission of the
Oregon Plan is to restore Oregon watersheds and to recover fish and wildlife popu-
lations to levels that provide environmental, cultural and economic benefits. The
Oregon Plan does this through four elements:
Coordinated state, federal, and tribal actions that support restoration efforts, imple-
ment regulatory programs, manage public lands, and promote public education and
awareness,
Voluntary restoration actions by private landowners,
Monitoring of watershed health to determine the effectiveness of programs, and
Strong scientific oversight.
After twelve years the results appear to be mixed.
“The populations are still depressed, they’re barely holding their own, and the
returns remain well below historical levels,” said Maggie Peyton. “It’s not the same
ecosystem it was 150 years ago. It can’t support the same numbers.”
“Even though there have been some signs of recovery, there are many new con-
cerns,” continued Peyton. “We have disrupted and altered the habitat over the last
100-150 years. We are impacting the oceans through over fishing, pollution, and
now with global climate change. Salmon have been basically stolen by Japanese
and Russian fishermen. And we have stripped the riparian zone of trees and allowed
sediments into the streams.”
“But there have also been a lot of improvements made recently, a lot of posi-
tive changes. The whole attitude of the local stakeholders has changed, especially
with incentives that have been added. The Forest Practices Act has led to voluntary
measures. There have been road improvements and culverts installed that allow
better fish passage. There has been a large investment in ecosystem improvements.
We can see a level of raised consciousness, a change in the mindset and an ability to
understand and adjust to the situation. And we’ve been able to find ways of doing
it without impacting the economy. Oregon is on the verge of making great strides,”
said Peyton.
When asked specifically about the Nehalem Watershed, Peyton responded, “The
biggest problems here are water quality with elevated temperature and sediment
loading; water quantity where summer low flows and winter high flows have be-
come more extreme; and the condition of the aquatic habitat has become simplified
over the years through land-use practices and policies. It’s too warm for the Coho.
november
15
The Nehalem River has problems every summer with rising stream temperatures
exacerbated by low flow conditions; every winter with sediment loading originat-
ing from landslides, road failures and eroding stream banks; and year round with
depleted habitat conditions that limit salmon spawning, rearing and refuge opportu-
nities.”
“We have had great success with locally initiated programs that involve local
landowners who cooperate with the Watershed Council and state and county agen-
cies to repair riparian areas on their properties,” continued Peyton. “We go in and
plant trees to provide shade and stream bank stabilization, work to remove invasive
species and improve wildlife habitat. We are working to re-create more and better
habitat so as the numbers of salmon increase, there will be good habitat for them,
and, in return, survival rates will increase. The people in this community and sur-
rounding areas are making a great effort to be good stewards of the watershed.”
While discussing the salmons’ amazing ability to find their way back to their
home waters, Peyton shared an interesting story which speaks to the salmons’ ability
to recover here in Oregon. “Up at Fishhawk Lake there was a culvert that was block-
ing fish passage. No salmon had been able to pass through it for twenty-five years, so
no salmon’s life cycle had started there for years and years. When they took out that
culvert and made it passable again, no one expected any salmon to return without
them being re-introduced. But you know what, salmon started coming back that first
year, even though they were not born there. It was amazing!”
With the help of dedicated professionals like Maggie Peyton, volunteers who
help with watershed projects, cooperative landowners, industry and business owners
who are willing to adjust their practices, and good oversight, monitoring, and educa-
tion from state and local government agencies, things are looking up for Oregon’s
salmon populations. “We can and do make a measurable difference.”
THE PRACTICE-OF-PRAYER WORKSHOP
Makes you a better “prayer”
Like season training makes you a better player
The prayer of waiting
The claiming prayer
The prayer of helplessness
The prayer of asking
The prayer in secret
The giving up prayer
The prayer for your dreams
The prayer of blessing
Pizza and Prayer
At Vernonia Four-Square Church
Monday evenings 6 – 8 p.m.
(meet in the kitchen)
This is a FREE workshop led by Sonia Spackman
For more information call (971) 998-8169
A Spirited Old-Fashioned Christmas
It’s never too early to start planning for Christmas, and we want you to know what is being
planned for your enjoyment in Vernonia. It's ‘A Spirited Old-Fashioned Christmas!’
What does that entail, you ask?
Vernonia Pride will be decorating the downtown area with that theme in mind. We
encourage everyone to follow suit. After the Christmas Bazaar on Saturday December 1st,
a Santa Claus-led parade will start on California Avenue next to the Washington Grade
School. The parade will continue down Bridge Street to City Hall for the official Christ-
mas tree lighting ceremony. Prizes will be awarded in different categories, including
“Best Decorated Log Truck.” Everyone is invited to participate. Decorate your rig, car,
baby stroller... Kids light-up and decorate your bikes and your wagons. No ATV's please.
Let's make this the best Christmas parade yet! There will be music provided by the
High School band and choir, and refreshments served in the old-fashioned flavor.
We encourage everyone to get into the spirit. The shops downtown will be open to
start off the Christmas season. Remember your "Holiday Bucks" card to get
stamped. You may be the lucky winner! ‘A Spirited Old-Fashioned Christmas’
is the time to visit with friends, sing praise for all the blessings we have and
remember our neighbors who are less fortunate. Mark your calendar and
join your friends and neighbors on Dec. 1st, be in the parade or stand and
cheer, visit Santa Claus, listen to the music and enjoy some refreshments.
Tis' the season to be jolly!!