.jpg "Sunset over Mt Hood & Columbia R Underwood WA")
Spring Creek Fish Hatchery along Columbia River & Mt. Hood
After working for the Forest Service at Mt St Helens for five seasons my gypsy life changed and I took a temporary position with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service along the Columbia River Gorge, Washington. I was hired to research and write for publication the history of fish hatcheries along the Columbia River. Bottom line, population of salmon declined as population of people increased. And thus fish hatcheries, since 1876 on the Columbia River.
.jpg "Salmon in fish ladder Spring Creek NFH Underwood WA")
Salmon in fish ladder
The salmon life cycle is amazing. Young salmon swim from their birth waters to the sea where they become adults. After 3-4 years they return along the same route fasting all the way, to reproduce and then die. Their carcasses provide a fish buffet for wandering wildlife.
.jpg "Salmon spawning in Little White Salmon Creek Underwood WA")
Salmon spawning
Major flooding tore boards from the dam at Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery and many salmon continued upstream another half mile where a waterfall caused a natural obstruction. Their mating rituals are a water-dance like none other.
.jpg "Little White Salmon River Underwood WA")
Little White Salmon River
Maybe someday we can allow salmon to spawn naturally in free flowing clean waters and get rid of fish hatcheries. Of course we’d also have to get rid of damns, or at least build more fish ladders.
While working here I received a cash award that allowed me to buy a cabover camper and resume the gypsy life.