White Salmon River
White Salmon River
Ecosystem Components Jennah Whitney
SCI/256
June 10, 2013 Katy Mirowsky-Garcia
White Salmon River – Ecosystems Components
Introduction
The existence of Condit Dam has been a blink of time in the history of the White Salmon watershed. Since time immemorial, the White Salmon River has originated from the southwestern slope of Mount Adams. The White Salmon River,m?t 'úla wana, was named for the white salmon. White salmon spawned here, the salmon eggs grew and went towards the ocean. They grew more and then they returned. In those days, salmon were in abundance. Many tribal members would gather along the banks to fish from the rocks or river. The unique rainfall pattern in this area—wet on the west side, dry on the east side—produced a remarkable variety of foods and medicines that cause the White Salmon to be an important food gathering center for tribal members. People would gather here to hunt, fish, and gather berries and hazelnuts. Even today, the trained tribal eye can detect places where our elders fished, hunted, made baskets, and stored food. On the confluence of the White Salmon and Columbia Rivers, there is a village that is central to some of our oral traditions. The mouth of the White Salmon is also a traditional trading area that our elders refer to as namnit. At the end of the fall salmon run, houses and drying sheds would have been visible along both banks of the White Salmon River. Change began when nearly a century ago, when 125-foot high Condit Dam was constructed on the White Salmon River to provide cheap electricity in a region hungry for industrial development. The decision to block the White Salmon River for hydropower came at a price; the abundant salmon, steelhead, and lamprey that once returned there were lost. Also lost were the tribal fisheries and cultural activities that are inseparable from the presence of these foods. All life is intertwined. Yesterday, the removal of the Condit Dam was
Ecosystem Components Jennah Whitney
SCI/256
June 10, 2013 Katy Mirowsky-Garcia
White Salmon River – Ecosystems Components
Introduction
The existence of Condit Dam has been a blink of time in the history of the White Salmon watershed. Since time immemorial, the White Salmon River has originated from the southwestern slope of Mount Adams. The White Salmon River,m?t 'úla wana, was named for the white salmon. White salmon spawned here, the salmon eggs grew and went towards the ocean. They grew more and then they returned. In those days, salmon were in abundance. Many tribal members would gather along the banks to fish from the rocks or river. The unique rainfall pattern in this area—wet on the west side, dry on the east side—produced a remarkable variety of foods and medicines that cause the White Salmon to be an important food gathering center for tribal members. People would gather here to hunt, fish, and gather berries and hazelnuts. Even today, the trained tribal eye can detect places where our elders fished, hunted, made baskets, and stored food. On the confluence of the White Salmon and Columbia Rivers, there is a village that is central to some of our oral traditions. The mouth of the White Salmon is also a traditional trading area that our elders refer to as namnit. At the end of the fall salmon run, houses and drying sheds would have been visible along both banks of the White Salmon River. Change began when nearly a century ago, when 125-foot high Condit Dam was constructed on the White Salmon River to provide cheap electricity in a region hungry for industrial development. The decision to block the White Salmon River for hydropower came at a price; the abundant salmon, steelhead, and lamprey that once returned there were lost. Also lost were the tribal fisheries and cultural activities that are inseparable from the presence of these foods. All life is intertwined. Yesterday, the removal of the Condit Dam was
References: Anadromous Fish Habitat Before and After Dam Removal. (2006). Retrieved from http://friendsofthewhitesalmon.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/FAQFishEcology70307.pdf The Columbia Basin Bulletin. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.cbbulletin.com/413964.aspx Fish. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/mora/naturescience/fish.htm Friends of the White Salmon River. (2012). Retrieved from http://friendsofthewhitesalmon.org/wordpress/stewardship/trout-lake-natural-area-preserve/ Washington state Wetlands ecosystem processes http://nerrs.noaa.gov/doc/siteprofile/acebasin/html/biores/process/epecopro.htm Recovery Plan for the White Salmon River Watershed. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/publications/recovery_planning/salmon_steelhead/domains/willamette_lowercol/lower_columbia/lc-appc.pdf Washines, E. (2011). The Condit Dam Removal and Moving Forward in the White Salmon River. Retrieved from http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/opinion/the-condit-dam-removal-and-moving-forward-in-the-white-salmon-river-60230 http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/opinion/the-condit-dam-removal-and-moving-forward-in-the-white-salmon-river-60230