THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGAGED FAITH COMMUNITIES
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BY JOSEPH BOGAARD
almon are one of the Northwest’s earliest and most influential inhabitants. Fossilized, eight-foot “spiketoothed salmon” have been found in central Oregon embedded in rocks that are more than 4 million years old. Scientists credit more contemporary salmon populations with building the tremendous biodiversity of life across this region—its lush ancient forests, rich ecosystems, and abundant fish and wildlife populations. More than 135 other species— insects, plants, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds— all benefit from healthy abundant salmon populations and, conversely, suffer from their absence. Salmon leave their natal streams as tiny juvenile fish and enter the ocean where they grow to great size. Then, miraculously, they return a few years later as adults to their freshwater rivers and streams to spawn and die. In doing so, salmon deliver immense quantities of ocean-derived nutrients that nourish terrestrial habitats and their inhabitants—like cedar trees, bears, wolves, eagles, and people. Think for a moment about this return, this annual ritual of animated, marine energy and matter in the form of millions of fish across uncountable generations swimming against the current and surging into the far reaches of the Columbia and Snake Rivers and their tributaries and across the Pacific Northwest. One can begin to understand the outsized role that salmon have played over a very long time to build a diverse and abundant Northwest landscape. Over the past century or more, however, these ancient relationships Left: Looking down on and connections have been severed. the Grand Ronde River Lands and waters have been “develin northeast Oregon. oped,” rivers dammed and pollutThe Grand Ronde joins the Snake River a few ed, forests clearcut. The changing miles upstream from climate is now adding new pressures Lewiston, ID. Above/ Right: Snake River and new urgency for big actions and, restoration leaders we hope, more humble attitudes. and colleagues spent Salmon are connectors—of lands 5 days together rafting and camping in Hells and water and wildlife and people— Canyon on the Snake so our solutions to support their reRiver last September. covery require holistic approaches Article photos courtesy of the author. that reflect this shared truth. A M AT T E R O F S P I R I T
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