I first fished the North Umpqua a dozen years ago, and I was way late to the game. It’s been a river iconic in the steelhead community for at least a century, from before Zane Grey, to Frank and Jeannie Moore, to the present moment. And the situation in the present moment is unbelievable. After reading about it in emails and social media, I lined up a visit with Jim McCarthy of Water Watch of Oregon and Kirk Blaine of The Steamboaters and Native Fish Society. If you were upset by the social media posts, listen to the conversation, and get really mad. Then act. Sign the Native Fish Society petition, and then go ahead and write your state representatives and the governor, and ODFW. And call. And let them know that in the face of innumerable challenges to the survival of wild steelhead, a public and valuable resource that brings incalculable financial benefit to Douglas County, we are watching a small, select group bypass all meaningful regulation and oversight for their own benefit.
Senators, ODFW, and the Governors contact is listed below. Jim and Kirk both volunteered their contact information for any additional information or any possible help someone can offer.
Petition- https://nativefishsociety.org/action-alerts/ask-you-state-and-federal-representatives-to-stand-up-for-the-north-umpqua-river
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/directory/contact_us.asp (https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/directory/contact_us.asp)
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/senate/Pages/SenatorsAll.aspx (https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/senate/Pages/SenatorsAll.aspx)
https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx
jim@waterwatch.org
kirk@nativefishsociety.org (mailto:kirk@nativefishsociety.org)
Episode 103 - Winchester Dam
