On a November float trip, Spokane Riverkeepers spied a fall Chinook salmon who died at the end of her life cycle. She expired after giving her all to the River, the ecosystem and the human communities. She passed on after spawning in the Spokane River, a totally natural and beautiful process.
She was an adult who had come back to the upper Columbia River looking for suitable spawning habitat. She was released in September with over 150 peers, just above the confluence of the Hangman Creek/Spokane River by the Spokane Tribe in concert with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. All five of the Upper Columbia Plateau Tribes have worked on this ultimate vision. This was a ceremonious Tribal release that marks the first time adult, Chinook salmon have been back to the Spokane River over 110 years. The construction of hydroelectric dams blocked their great migrations and contributions long ago. This salmon release is a part of a phased plan by the Tribes of the Upper Columbia Plateau to return this keystone species to the watershed. Upper Columbia Plateau Tribes are leading the way in the visions and actions that stand to heal water, heal communities, and benefit all residents of the Inland Northwest. The Columbia River could be boasted to have once had the greatest migrations in the animal kingdom. On a par with the American Bison or the wildebeests in Africa. Over 16,000,000 salmon once returned annually to the Columbia Basin. They migrated clear into Canada and as far as Nevada. 40% of their habitat was above the Grand Coulee Dam in the upper Columbia Basin, tragically blocked in 1942. While there may be power values - make no mistake, the hydroelectric dams of the Columbia Basin represent a major cultural, biological, and ecological catastrophe.
It is at once exciting and hopeful to find her body there in the clear, cold waters of the Middle Spokane River. Her return and natural death mark the return of salmon to our Basin and as a keystone species. Her final act reflects the once and future health, well-being, the benefits of the Spokane River to our Region and will return essential ocean nutrients back to a hungry River who will up-cycle these essential nutrients back into the entire riverine ecosystem. Everything from stoneflies to redband trout to osprey to bears and people depends on these fish for tangible and ineffable benefits to the region. For example, the salmon that return is composed of nitrogen found in ocean environments. When these fish die they then give this gift from the ocean to the River they are absorbed by the whole river community. Studies in Alaska have found ocean nitrogen in riverbank alder leaves.
This is a huge moment of celebration and promise for the community. Please visit the website at UCUT.org to learn more about the phased plan to return one f the greatest migration on earth back home to the Spokane River. The return of salmon is an ecosystem driver, and cornerstone of health that promises our river a bright future!
A chinook salmon has spawned and died at the end of her life cycle, giving the gift of her body back to both the Spokane River and the communities - human and natural - who depend on the River.