U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Spring 2011 Eddies Reflections on Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 1 5/4/11 2:13 AM Departments Headwaters 3 American Fishes 10 Watermarks 4 Meanders 30 Eddies Pioneers 8 Vol. 4, No. 1 Publisher Features Bryan Arroyo, Assistant Director Conservationists for Double Rainbow–22 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tess McBride Fisheries and Habitat Conservation Tomorrow–12 Denise Wagner Executive Editor Stuart Leon, Ph.D.

Deputy Editor Richard Christian Once Bitten, Forever Summer Work Hooked–14 Meaningful to Tribal Editor Richard DeMarte Youth–24 Craig Springer Chris Kitcheyan, Mark Maskill and Jeremy Voeltz Contributing writers Jim Bowker Dan Mangeson The Art of Wenatchee River Corky Broaddus Carlos R. Martinez Richard DeMarte Mark Maskill Conservation–16 Salmon Fest Dean L. Fowler Tess McBride Karen R. Hollingsworth Celebrates 20 Years– James Gray Frank Peterson Karen R. Hollingsworth Randi Sue Smith 26 Corky Broaddus Libby Hopkins Jeremy Voeltz Heather Jerue Denise Wagner Chris Kitcheyan

Editorial Advisors Mark Brouder, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ryck Lydecker, Boat Owners Association of the United States Mark Maskill, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hal Schramm, Ph.D., U.S. Geological Survey Michael Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (retired) Denise Wagner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Assistant Regional Directors – Fisheries Julie Collins (Acting), Pacific Region Robert Clarke (Acting), Pacific Southwest Region Jaime Geiger, Ph.D., Northeast Region Linda Kelsey, Southeast Region Mike Oetker, Southwest Region Steve Klosiewski (Acting), Alaska Region Sharon Rose (Acting), Mountain–Prairie Region Mike Weimer, Midwest Region

Contact

For subscriptions, visit Forever Wildlife www.fws.gov/eddies, email [email protected] Joshua Joint painted this brook trout, and won Best of Show call 505 248-6867, or write to: Craig Springer in the State-Fish Art contest in 2004. See page 16. USFWS Fisheries RM 9100D 500 Gold Ave. SW Albuquerque, NM 87103

Design Blue Heron The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Communications U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Spring 2011 is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, Eddies On the Cover: Reflections on Fisheries Conservation wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit The late Seth Spradlin painted this award- of the American people. winning largemouth bass. See page 16. Wildlife CONSERVING Forever.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

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Double Rainbow–22 youngster. More youth are plugged into something Tess McBride Creating Moments electronic, be it video games, a computer, or hand-held devices, and they spend much less time outdoors. This Everlasting creates disunity and disconnect with wild things and wild By Bryan Arroyo places. So what will happen as young people mature with a scarcity of understanding on the workings of nature?

Yo u can read the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on your left, down-page. In what appears as a paradox, it’s more about people than it is fish or wildlife. We are people working to ensure a future for people. And that’s what this issue of Eddies is all about. We aim to communicate a smattering of what we do in the Fisheries Program to help ensure that young people, well, people of all ages, really, can make use of our 154 facilities nationwide so as to learn more about fisheries conservation—and their role in nature.

Hazel Arroyo Denise Wagner in her story, “Conservationists for Tomorrow,” communicates how Inks Dam National Fish I have a reckoning to make. The least deniable reality is Hatchery in Texas transformed itself into an education my own thoughts. How one views the nature of reality destination. Corky Broaddus writes about the 20-year-old equates to a philosophy, and mine is that experience Salmon Fest at Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery in in nature is sacrosanct. Nature-experience creates a Washington, and how the celebration of returning salmon unity, not necessarily between people, but with people connects people to conservation. Sixteen-year-old Richard and nature. Keep following me: that gives rise to a DeMarte, a high school student in New York pens a piece connectedness and thus a respect for wild things and on striper , and what the fish means to him. I think wild places. It goes further, to reciprocity—a reverence you’ll be impressed by the young man. Speaking of striped toward science—and then science reveals the nature of bass, that’s our American Fishes installment this time our existence. around, and Dean Fowler with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries contributed a life-history I have had a lifelong interest in conservation that of the species. The story on tribal youth summer originated in nature-experiences in my youth in employment tells us something new about relationships Puerto Rico, typically fishing with my dad, Teddy. with Indian tribes that date back decades. Lastly, you Whether catching river prawns by hand to eat or use will marvel at the artistic talent on display in the middle as bait, chasing crabs through the sugar cane fields, of the magazine, created by youth. Wildlife Forever was or lip-gripping largemouth bass we caught in lakes, kind enough to allow us to print some of the recent award- I had full exposure to nature and its wonders at a winning pieces of art. They are visual representations of time most formative. The seeds were planted. As an the unity and reverence that I mentioned. undergraduate student at the Catholic University of Puerto Rico I was unsure about what career path to The Fisheries Program is committed to engaging people follow, but one thing was certain, it would be within of all ages in the outdoors and to conservation education. natural resources. Professor Juan Ricart guided me We welcome you to our facilities and want you to get to there; in his tropical ecology class he was much more know our scientists. They are local resources who can than a teacher, he was an inspiration. Small moments team with schools and service organizations, as we have come and go in our lives and without knowing it they been doing for decades. Our commitment is unwavering to can be monumental to our future. Some things that forge the future of conservation. seem so short-lived, rightly made, can be everlasting.

Here’s something else that I reckon. This continuum Bryan Arroyo is the Assistant Director for Fisheries could be severed to the detriment of conservation. and Habitat Conservation in Washington, DC. Fewer Americans fish now than when I was a

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

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Reel dollars and real jobs apostle Izzak Walton wrote investment $128 million. In the in his book The Compleat National Fish Hatchery System, 123 Angler in 1653 that fishing million stocked fish yielded 13 million “will prove to be a virtue, a angler-days in turn spurring $554 reward unto itself.” Fishing million in retail sales, $256 million and conservation have in wages of jobs created, where $37 inherent and intrinsic values, million was returned to the federal and they own other values treasury in income tax. Another $34 that are very measurable. million was generated in state income taxes. Two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service economists, Better habitat means better fishing. Joseph Charbonneau, Toward that end, the Fisheries Ph.D., and James Caudill, Program has restored thousands of Ph.D., recently made such acres and miles of streams for the measurements. They assessed betterment of fish, and it is good for the economic contributions people. The economists calculate that made by the work performed habitat conservation has a value of in the Fisheries Program, $2 billion. Money changing hands nationwide, from 2004 to 2008. means jobs. All told, the economic The numbers they reported output related to the conservation in their peer-reviewed work successes of the Fisheries Program were adjusted to the value is responsible for 68,000 jobs in a

Craig Springer of a dollar in late 2010. The variety of industries. The Fisheries Program accounts for a total numbers are stunning, and economic output of $3.6 billion, and 68,000 jobs. would make any mutual fund Five hundred years of fishing manager blush. literature may have laid threadbare For the last 500 years, scribes have any questions on the value of fishing. waxed poetic about the virtues and Results from the entire Fisheries But one thing is clear, conservation vices of fishing. Some lament the Program and its 154 field stations is important to the economy, and you challenges and others applaud the account for a total economic output can take that to the bank. F Craig rewards of the quiet sport. The of $3.6 billion, coming from an Springer Engaging tribal youth This past November, the Fisheries Mountain Apache (AZ) joined with Program is committed to expanding Program, in partnership with the tribal elders, statesmen, and leaders natural resource employment National Conservation Training of inter-tribal organizations from opportunities for the nation’s Center, hosted a celebration of the across Indian Country to celebrate indigenous youth. F Stuart Leon, Ph.D. successes of the Fisheries Program’s the successful engagement Native American youth employment of indigenous youth in fish programs in Washington D.C. The and wildlife conservation week-long celebration provided ample activities and the promise opportunities for agencies to engage and possibilities for the with tribal natural resource leaders in future. These youth the development of a national tribal employment programs natural resources strategy. lead to advanced education opportunities and natural More than 30 native youth from the resource careers. The 2010 Fisheries Youth Conservation need for these programs Corps programs at Mescalero Apache is overwhelming, and the Joe Milmoe/USFWS (NM), Confederated Salish and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Representatives from tribal youth YCC groups speak Kootenai Tribes (MT), and White Service’s Fisheries about what their work with the USFWS meant to them .

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57416_USGP.indd 4 5/4/11 2:13 AM Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Often called America’s “first and the National Wildlife Refuge conservationists,” hunters and Association have coordinated a anglers have played an essential role national effort to craft a renewed in the conservation of the nation’s vision that will guide management fish and wildlife. Their continued of the National Wildlife Refuge support is essential to implementing System for the next decade. Titled the vision for the future of the Refuge Conserving the Future: Wildlife System. Refuges and the Next Generation, the process has engaged thousands An array of technology will be of people across the country to join available at www.AmericasWildlife. a robust online discussion at www. org to follow the Conserving the AmericasWildlife.org. Future conference, including keynote speakers. Individuals can The draft vision contains nearly become virtual participants in the 100 recommendations. Scores of conference by registering at www. comments were collected during AmericasWildlife.org, which features the comment period that ended blogs, videos and unique participation April 22. The final vision reflecting opportunities such as a book club the online comments and bold ideas titled “America’s Wild Read.” Visit will be ratified and launched at the the website today to become a Conserving the Future conference member and join the conversation! F July 10-14 in Madison, WI. Heather Jerue USFWS Big fish put big smiles on faces. FEATURED FACILITY Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery

Where: Jamestown, Kentucky

When: Established 1975

Then: Rainbow trout were reared to mitigate for Corps of Engineer projects in Kentucky and Georgia; to support federal programs in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Fort Knox, and Fort Campbell military installations, and other state-managed waters throughout Kentucky.

Now: Wolf Creek’s primary focus continues USFWS to be the mitigation of 15 federal water The fish hatchery stocks about one million trout per year, producing development projects in Kentucky and $34 million in direct economic benefits at a cost of $75,000. Indiana by rearing rainbow, brown, and brook trout. An agreement with Kentucky million in direct economic benefit to the American people at a Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources cost of $75,000. For the last several years, Wolf Creek has reared requires Wolf Creek to produce trout for mussels and threatened or endangered fishes like the relict another 100 waters. Current annual trout darter, spotfin chub, and Barrens topminnow. In 2006, a state- production is about 1,000,000 fish, weighing of-the-art Environmental Education Center opened, a first of its 250,000 pounds. These fish provide $34 kind at a National Fish Hatchery. F James Gray

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

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America’s Great Outdoors and conservation education The National Fish Hatchery System Fisheries field Volunteer Act of 2006 mandated stations at national that the Fisheries Program increase and community awareness of the conservation work levels. delivered at Fisheries Program facilities through incorporation With thousands of outdoor classrooms and other of outreach and conservation education programs. educational events The Fisheries Program has provided every year, the quality conservation educational Fisheries Program opportunities at the community level reaches well over for decades. one million youth alone. Biologists Sheila Kirk/USFWS As called for in President Obama’s and professional Biologist in Training is a top-shelf education program used by America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, educators U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff. Wolf Creek National Fish the Fisheries Program connects communicate Hatchery’s Amanda Patrick talks to a student about animals with today’s young generations by conservation collected in a nearby Kentucky stream. engaging families in conservation. issues through innovative, moments, learning about fish, Working in cooperation with science-based, hands on learning, plants and bugs, and science and volunteers, partners, and formal incorporating programs such as conservation. These educational Friends groups, the Fisheries Biologist in Training; Kids in the experiences plant the seeds of Program delivers a wide array of Creek; and Salmon Fest. Through stewardship that may blossom into formal and informal conservation many of our 154 facilities nationwide, conservation careers. F Denise Wagner education programs both on and off people of all ages experience inspired

Discovering Burnt Island first-hand through explorations that facility. Before include searching tide pools, digging bringing their in mud flats, studying beach sands, middle school using compass and GPS units on classes for an a treasure hunt, climbing up the overnight stay, lighthouse, and fishing off the shore teachers attend a or dock for mackerel and pollock. weeklong course Even in the fog, it is an experience to on the island. The remember. training provides hands-on Though the island and buildings learning in the are owned by the state of Maine, multidisciplinary the education staff and programs curriculum, are funded primarily with Dingell- which covers Johnson Sport Fish Restoration topics related to monies. These funds come from Maine’s marine federal manufacturing excise taxes on environment and

USFWS , boat- motors, maritime history and motorboat fuels distributed to Through hands-on experience, youth in Maine learn about the – ecology of the wild animals that live in coastal habitats. state fish and wildlife agencies. The Gulf of Maine, funds support fish management coastal ecology activities and boating access The Maine Department of Marine and geology, navigation and history, development to benefit anglers Resources has transformed the Burnt marine fisheries, and sport fishing. and boaters, and aquatic resource Island Light Station, located on a All curriculum activities are aligned education programs for the public. F five-acre island off Boothbay Harbor, with the state education standards. Libby Hopkins into an outstanding educational While on the island, students learn

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57416_USGP.indd 6 5/9/11 7:29 AM Hatchery hits the century mark The late Edgar Albert Sims, a state emphasis shifted back to anadromous legislator from Port Townsend, salmonids. Quilcene’s 12-year Washington, is credited with hatchery program for threatened transforming the concept of a fish Hood Canal summer chum was hatchery on the Big Quilcene River astonishingly successful. into a reality. The hatchery was authorized by Congress in 1909 and Today, the hatchery’s flagship began operations in 1911. coho salmon program provides a tremendously valuable resource for The hatchery originally focused on five Native American tribes and the culturing anadromous salmonids in sport fishing community alike. Other support of the work being done at the hatchery industry, but in 1930 production includes restoration of threatened began including trout for stocking Hood Canal winter steelhead, as the waters of Olympic and Mount well as boosting Lake Sammamish Rainier National Parks, as well as kokanee salmon. on military reservations. The trout program grew to encompass two- A day-long centennial celebration thirds of total production by the event is planned at the hatchery on early 1960s. In the late 1970s, the Saturday, August 20, 2011. F Dan trout program was phased out and Mangeson

FROM THE ATTIC Notes from D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives Every mounted fish has a story. Several years ago a letter came to us from an Iowa taxidermist offering a mounted Yugoslavian trout. The taxidermist said this trout came from eggs that were given to President John F. Kennedy, as a gift from Yugoslavian President Tito. The eggs were hatched at the Manchester National Fish Hatchery, now owned by the Iowa Dept. of Natural Randi Sue Smith/USFWS Mystery fish: this antique mounted trout could have been Resources. given to President John F. Kennedy by President Tito of the former Yugoslavia. In 1962, the hatchery gave the taxidermist three fish to mount, one for President Kennedy, and one for the a link—a 1963 publication, ZAVRSNI IZ VESTAJ, hatchery. The taxidermist kept one, and it’s the mount by Willoughby, ekspert za ribarstvo. And luckily, we that came to our archives. President Kennedy was also hold a translation in our files; Willoughby penned: inaugurated January 20, 1961, narrowing the time Management and Production of Trout in Yugoslavia. period. The booklet has no reference to President Kennedy. But Willoughby did spend five months in Yugoslavia Some sleuthing turned up an article about Lake Orhid preparing the publication. trout in Wyoming, that were stocked from eggs received in 1965 from Yugoslavia. Lake Orhid trout, Salmo We aren’t done yet—the rest of this trout’s story might lentica, is native to the former Yugoslavia. Recently, be recorded at the Kennedy Presidential Library, a volunteer cataloger working on material from hatchery records, or local newspapers. Meanwhile, we Harvey Willoughby, former fish hatchery chief, found may have a Presidential fish. F Randi Sue Smith

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 7 5/9/11 7:29 AM Pioneers By Carlos R. Martinez Dr. Livingston Stone

Dr. Livingston Stone is undoubtedly one of America’s greatest fisheries conservation pioneers. He was instrumental in the establishment of the U.S. Fish Commission, the precursor of today’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Stone’s work in conservation is an imprint seared in the American experience.

Born in Massachusetts in 1836, Stone graduated from Harvard College in 1857. He subsequently entered Meadville Theological School where he was ordained a Unitarian minister. Reverend Livingston Stone pastored the flock at South Parish Church in Charleston, New Hampshire, a mere four city blocks from the banks of the Connecticut River. Perhaps the allure of flowing water was too strong. For reasons unknown, Stone resigned his clerical duties in 1866 and began a career in fisheries conservation. He rapidly became a respected authority. In 1870, he was one of the founders of the American Fisheries Society, helping draft its constitution and serving as the organization’s first secretary. The American Fisheries Society is today the world’s largest and longest-serving professional society of its kind.

In 1872, Stone was named U.S. Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries. In an attempt to mitigate for the depletion of Atlantic salmon, Spencer F. Baird, the first U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries, instructed Stone to obtain a supply of Chinook salmon eggs from the Pacific Coast. Despite countless hardships and difficulties that would test the mettle of any man, Stone succeeded in establishing the first federal hatchery (see Eddies, USFWS Special Issue 2009). From preacher to fisheries conservationist, Livingston Stone pioneered scientific fish culture and advocated for habitat conservation well ahead of this time. He wears an early U.S. Fish Commission uniform in this shot, taken circa 1895. Stone was born in 1836 and died in 1912.

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57416_USGP.indd 8 5/4/11 2:14 AM Dr. Livingston Stone

Located at the remote junction of the suddenly there came a terrible crash, time, advocating regularly for the McCloud and Pit rivers in northern and tanks, ice, and everything in conservation of fish habitat. He California, he named it “Baird the car seemed to strike us in every routinely encouraged the American Station,” in honor of his friend and direction,” penned Stone, recounting Fisheries Society and the U.S. employer. As indicated by the report the event. government to acquire land for fish of the Commissioners of Fisheries of refuges, writing “Let us now, at the California (1874–1875), our nation’s “We were, every one of us, at once eleventh hour, take pity on our long first national fish hatchery would wedged in by the heavy weights upon persecuted salmon and do him the go on to play an important role us, so that we could not move or stir. poor and tardy justice of giving him, in fisheries history. “The largest A moment after, the car began to fill in our broad land that he has done establishment in the world, for the rapidly with water. The heavy weights so much for, one place where he can hatching of salmon eggs, is that of upon us began to loosen, and, in some come and go unmolested and where the Government of the United States, unaccountable way, we were washed he can rest in safety.” on the McCloud River, in Shasta out into the river,” said Stone about County…from six to ten million of cheating death. He had some measure of success. young Salmon are hatched each On Christmas Eve 1892, President year and distributed to the Fish One man was crushed in the engine- Benjamin Harrison set aside lands Commissioners of the various States cab according to Stone, and two men on Alaska’s Afognak Island for having rivers suitable for their growth were taken in the swift current. The a “fish reserve.” The Library of and increase,” read the report. But fate of the fish is unknown, but Stone Congress cites Harrison’s action as the eggs would go further. Eggs from was not to be discouraged. A year “what was in effect the first national this facility would find themselves as later, Stone’s second attempt was wildlife refuge.” far away as New Zealand. much more successful with the 2,800- mile transport of 35,000 Hudson River In 1989, the Fish Culture Section In 1873, Stone was assigned the task shad to the Sacramento River. of the American Fisheries Society of delivering fish across the continent enshrined Dr. Livingston Stone in via railcar. In his first attempt, using Stone wrote the book Domesticated the National Fish Culture Hall of a retrofitted “aquarium” car supplied Trout: How to Breed and Grow Fame. In 1997, 125 years after Stone by the California Fish Commission, he Them, in 1872, published by the Office established Baird Station, the U.S. carried an aquatic menagerie: 60 adult of the Fishing Gazette in London. Fish and Wildlife Service named black bass, 60 catfish, 60 yellow perch, Stone’s short prefatory remarks were Livingston Stone National Fish 12 hornpouts, 12 glass-eyed pike, 50 prophetic: “To warn my successors of Hatchery in his honor. It’s poetic; breeding eels, 1,000 tautog, 20 striped the dangers into which I fell myself hatchery biologists there raise bass, 50 yearling perch, 40 large as a pioneer, and to make their path endangered winter Chinook salmon lobsters, 1 barrel of young selected easier, is object of this little book.” from the Sacramento River. F oysters, 190,000 Hudson River Shad The “little book” of 367 pages became fry and 100,000 young eels with intent a standard manual, and later, a classic of introducing the eastern species to for fish culturists. Stone was one of the west coast. the first to recognize the importance Carlos R. Martinez is the Director of of controlled experimentation and the D.C. Booth Historic National That was not to be. The railcar made scientific methods in fish culture. Fish Hatchery and Archives, in He strived to discover fish diseases Spearfish, SD. He was profiled it as far as the Elkhorn River in in Eddies, Fall 2009. Nebraska, before disaster struck. and their therapeutics. He described “After leaving Omaha, we stowed greater than twenty diseases in his away as well as we could the immense life and tried to educate others on the amount of ice we had on the car; and, practices to control them. having regulated the temperature of all the tanks, and aerated the water Despite being a leading proponent all around, we made our tea and of artificial propagation, Stone was were sitting down to dinner, when a conservationist vastly ahead of his

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 9 5/4/11 2:14 AM American Fishes Striped Bass By Dean L. Fowler Looking for a workout, preferably you can catch striped bass in inland buoyant eggs drift downriver as something more interesting than an waters in 31 states. they incubate for three days, many hour on an elliptical? Well, head to becoming food for other fishes. The an East Coast estuary or an inland The early American colonists netted, same fate awaits many of the newly reservoir and angle for one of the salted and stored the incredibly hatched larvae that set about feeding most prized sport fish in the U.S. The abundant anadromous shads, on microscopic zooplankton until striped bass is admired and highly herrings, and striped bass that filled they’re large enough to eat fishes, valued throughout its native range the coastal rivers during their spring- crustaceans, and aquatic bugs. They from New Brunswick on down the time spawning runs. These fish were spend their first summer in the East Coast to around Florida, and vital foods that without which the fresh and slightly brackish waters a few locales in the Gulf of Mexico. colonists may not have survived the of the same river estuary in which Because of its fighting ability and Northeast winters. The Colony of they, their parents, and likely their massive size—30-pound fish are not Plymouth established a free public ancestors were spawned. Science uncommon—and fine flavor, it’s one of school with the income generated by has shown that the females have a the most sought after fish in the U.S. the early coastal striped bass . greater fidelity to their natal waters For most of American history, striped than do the males. For the remainder Significant commercial fisheries bass supported primarily commercial of their lives striped bass will feed have existed for striped bass almost fisheries. It wasn’t until the 20th primarily on fish. With the onset of continuously since colonial times. century that striped bass fall and cooler temperatures, the Like the storied salmons, it is an became widespread, thus making the young stripers school up and drift anadromous fish—it spends most fish more valuable. downstream into deeper, saltier, and of its life in the ocean and bays, but warmer waters. It’s in these estuaries ascends coastal rivers to spawn in Angling created another matter for they remain for two years. freshwater. Because of its value, fishery managers to consider. Not in the late-1800s the U.S. Fish only were striped bass stocks affected By age three, having reached 16 Commission sent striped bass across by commercial fishing, but angling inches or so, some begin to join the country in milk cans via rail to had an increasing influence as well. the annual coastal migration that several locations along the coast of With the striped bass naturally being takes them on a round trip as long California, well outside its natural a wide-ranging fish, this created a as 2,000 miles for those spawned range. Today, striped bass live in need for coordinated management in the Chesapeake Bay. The large rivers from Washington to Mexico, among the coastal states where the schools of these migratory striped where they now support popular fish occurred. The largest producing bass generally stay within a couple fisheries. area by far for coastal striped bass is miles of the coast. They tend to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary overwinter in the ocean relatively Striped bass also flourish in inland rivers. The Hudson and Delaware close to their natal river, which they reservoirs. Quite by accident, some rivers also contribute to the coastal ascend to spawn during the spring. striped bass were trapped in the migratory stocks. After spawning, the larger fish feed Santee-Cooper chain of reservoirs in the lower estuaries, regain some in South Carolina when they were No matter where the fish lives, strength, and head to the ocean and impounded in the early 1940s. These water temperature and day-length northward to the preferred cooler landlocked fish adapted well to their determine when the fish spawn. waters off the northeast coast around new freshwater homes. Enough That can be as early as March in the Maine and Nova Scotia, where they free-flowing river habitat upstream southern states to July in Canada. stay the summer. We know that males of these reservoirs existed to allow Striped bass spawn in rivers in open mature by age two and females, age striped bass to make spawning runs water with groups of males drawn three to seven. The males tend to up the Wateree and Congaree rivers. to a single female that may release die at a younger age than females. Once fishery managers discovered millions of eggs. There is no parental Consequently, most stripers that that stripers could develop trophy care for the eggs or young. This is exceed 20 pounds are females, as are fisheries in large lakes, they began a numbers game: release as many most coastal migrants. Stripers have stocking them in earnest. Today, eggs as possible in the hope that a been known to live up to 40 years and few make it to adulthood. The tiny reach 100 pounds. Striped bass that

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57416_USGP.indd 10 5/4/11 2:14 AM Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Virginia Anglers across the country enjoy catching striped bass. Virginia’s striped bass fishery lures thousands of anglers each year to the Chesapeake Bay and it tributaries. spawn in rivers south of Virginia tend agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife But there’s more, and it’s to remain close to their natal river, Service, and the National Marine immeasurable. To many an angler, unlike their wandering northern Fisheries Service. The 1984 law gave the most important thing about this cousins. the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries sleek-shaped, powerful game fish is Commission the power to regulate the adrenaline rush you get when Striped bass numbers have been up coastal striped bass harvest. it’s on the end of a line. There’s a and down since the 19th century. cardiovascular workout that beats Commercial harvest plummeted It’s all paid off: coastal striped bass any elliptical. F from 14.7 million pounds in 1973 was declared fully restored in 1995. to only 1.7 million pounds a decade Today, millions of fish are harvested later due to excessive harvest in both each year by anglers and commercial the recreational and commercial fishers, with the latter taking about Dean L. Fowler is a fisheries biologist working fisheries, coupled with polluted one-third as many pounds of striped in the American Shad Restoration Program of spawning habitats. With such a bass as that taken by the former. the Virginia Department of Game and Inland valuable fishery in dire straits, Striped bass fishing across the Fisheries in Richmond. Congress passed the Atlantic Striped country generates thousands of jobs, Bass Conservation Act in 1984, and contributing millions of dollars to the research and restoration programs economy. commenced with state fish and game Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 11 5/4/11 2:15 AM By Denise Wagner Conservationists for Tomorrow Improving science literacy through outreach USFWS Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery biologist, Greg Landry, teaches students of RJ Richey Elementary from nearby Burnet, Texas, about the value of clean water to fish and to people.

In today’s world, fisheries Outdoor education areas or “Outdoor formal and non-formal education conservation is as much about people Discovery Zones” on National programs. These curricula educate as it is about the fish. It’s about Fish Hatcheries are a great way to about the conservation work of the good public relations, education, and connect the public in many ways. Fisheries Program, and inform the awareness—and that creates future Educational experiences conducted people we serve about fisheries and stewards—be they constituents or at these sites are coordinated among aquatic species conservation. An future employees. The U.S. Fish and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service informed public leads to increased Wildlife Service’s Fisheries Program employees, volunteers, Friends support. An educated public leads to is evolving in a way to better serve groups, students, youth organizations, greater science literacy. Conservation the people we work with through and the community. They can be education facilitates the recruitment outreach, by engaging people of all used as a tool for public relations, of youth into eventual fisheries ages. and a means to deliver a variety of conservation careers.

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57416_USGP.indd 12 5/9/11 7:29 AM Many of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Jackson inventoried all available birds, fish, conservation, and outdoor Service’s Fisheries facilities have resources. From there followed visits recreation. done an excellent job of optimizing to school teachers and principals, their properties into an educational meetings with the Texas Parks and People who visit the hatchery gain resource, and have fully engaged Wildlife Department, community a heightened awareness of how to their communities. A great example leaders, and local organizations make minimal impacts to fish and that started from scratch and has like the Highland Lakes Master wildlife habitats. Hatchery employees come a long way in just a couple of Naturalists, and scout troops. These have greater opportunities to talk to years is at Inks Dam National Fish meetings yielded ideas on what could visitors about the hatchery’s role in Hatchery. be created to help meet the needs of conservation, the economy, and about all interested in using the outdoor the wide array of career opportunities Located in Burnet, Texas, Inks education area. The list created within the Fisheries Program and the Dam National Fish Hatchery has included things from curriculum U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. been around since the late 1930s. extension activities that would With tremendous potential, it benefit the school kids, to hiking and Creating awareness and increasing sits on 170 riverside acres, where wildlife viewing trails, all the way to science literacy, telling our story, biologists raise channel catfish, major refurbishing of the old Lower helping to create stewards for Clear Creek gambusia, largemouth Colorado River Authority building conservation is what we must do for bass, paddlefish, and rainbow trout. to use as an interpretative center. the future of fisheries conservation. F The Colorado River flows by many Also from these meetings, a Friend’s historic structures built by the group came to fruition. In fact the Civilian Conservation Corps during Friends of Inks Dam National Fish the Great Depression. Hatchery, non-existent two years ago, Denise Wagner is the National Conservation Education Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and now has 30 members who volunteer It is an amazing place but Inks Dam Wildlife Service’s Fisheries Program. to help at the hatchery. Last year In her free time she enjoys hunting, National Fish Hatchery has had they put in 9,000 volunteer hours. It fishing, rafting and Zumba fitness. an identity problem. Even their doesn’t hurt, too, that the hatchery is own community had overlooked the also frequently in the local news. federal facility. Many local people did not know about the work done, The Outdoor Discovery Zones at let alone that the hatchery existed. Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery Marc Jackson, the hatchery manager serve many purposes, and have at the time, and administrative tech, done a great deal to reinvigorate Cindy Fronk, recognized the need the facility and the community. First for change and took action. As they and foremost this outdoor classroom began planning the future of the meets the educational needs of the facility and the surrounding property, local teachers. For example, the they wanted a name for their new Discovery Zone on the Overlook Trail conservation education plan, one that showcases vernal pools where people would let others know in few words learn about the vital importance what they were up to. The outcome: that food, water, space, and cover Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery play in habitats. Open space and Restoration Project. trails provide an opportunity for local citizens to share their love of all The restoration of the hatchery’s things in nature. The Highland Lakes landscape happened quickly with Master Naturalists use the outdoor Fronk pushing the work along. Fronk classroom to share their love of

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 13 5/9/11 7:29 AM By Richard DeMarte Once Bitten, Forever Hooked My mind races with excitement as In seconds, my rod slammed the The low oxygen levels coupled with I prep my fishing gear for what lies gunwale. A striper gulped the bunker the fleets of net boats that stripped ahead. I clean and lube my reels and and started a screaming run. I knew nearly all the baitfish from these make up a few hundred new striped this was a big fish by its speed and waters turned it nearly into a barren bass rigs. My 2010 logbook guides the surge I felt in the fight that wasteland. Anglers lowered their my fishing plans for 2011. “All things followed. My fishing instincts took sights in the hopes of just tangling striped bass” is my life. over. I quickly adjusted the drag, with even a few fish now and then. and used the rod for leverage. My Landing a striper or two in a week’s Since I landed my first snapper dad fired up the engine and weaved time would be big news in those days. bluefish at age three, the love of our way around two of the moored fishing has coursed through my veins. sailboats. In the clear, my line The good news is that times have When I was 11, I had landed an 18.5- screamed off my reel and my rod changed and over the past few pound bluefish that could have bested bent. The give-and-take went on for decades the care and nurturing of this an IGFA record by a full 3 pounds, what seemed like an hour. When I fine body of water has shown what but didn’t realize the fact until three finally brought the striper within we can all do to make a difference. weeks later. Before my teens, I had netting range, my jaw dropped as I These waters are once again vibrant, landed over 60 striped bass, the gained a full appreciation of its size. much cleaner and truly full of life. largest a whopper that measured 42 As quickly as possible, we weighed, The pollutants and net boats are inches and tipped the scales at over measured, photographed, and tagged gone and I can tell you firsthand that 27 pounds. this beauty. While it was still in my the striped bass population is alive hands in the water, its dorsal fins and well. In the past few years alone The morning I landed that fish will rose erect, and with a single powerful I’ve hooked and released 730 striped live in my memory forever. As my sweep of its enormous broom-like bass weighing up to 42 pounds. You dad Joe and I headed out before tail, it splashed and soaked us both can bet I take very seriously my sunrise, we spotted a large school of as it disappeared into the depths. We responsibility to keep this waterway menhaden, AKA moss bunker, at the looked at each other and burst out clean and healthy. mouth of Cos Cob Harbor in between laughing. a few dozen moored sailboats. As I use my boat to fish the shallow we cruised toward the bunker, we The journey of learning these waters waters along inlets and stretches of shut down the engine and drifted that I fish, along with the feeding sandy beaches and while doing so, I into casting range. I launched my habits and behavior patterns of collect garbage every time I’m out weighted bunker snag-hook and the striped bass that inhabit them, fishing. In just the past three years within the first few cranks of the reel has showed me how privileged I my garbage collections—from boots I felt the telltale bump of my line in am to have this special estuary to to bottles, cans, plastic bags, and the school of fish. I reared back hard experience and enjoy. With that discarded —have weighed and the snag-hook found its target. comes a responsibility that we all in at 400 pounds. have to protect these waters and With my first snagged bunker that conserve the fisheries for many years I make it a personal practice to morning, I let out a bit of line and to come. always use circle hooks and to release allowed the weighted set to sink. everything I catch, except for the few I wanted to take advantage of the The past decade of striper fishing in that are occasionally gut-hooked and behavioral traits of the fish I was the Western Long Island Sound has will clearly not survive. Every fish really after, striped bass. Stripers are been nothing short of spectacular. My that I release gets tagged. The tags at times lazy feeders and often lay father reminds me quite often that have my phone number plus a unique underneath schools of bunker while back in the 1970s and 1980s pollution sequential number that identifies bluefish aggressively chomp bunker in the forms of waste water and each fish. I keep a log of data about in half with their razor-sharp teeth. fertilizer-laden runoffs choked the each one: its length, weight, lure The uneaten half, the bunker’s head, oxygen and destroyed the life of this used, location caught, tide, water sinks and stripers pick up these easy estuary. Lobster die-offs drove most depth and temperature, weather meals. of the lobstermen out of business. conditions, and time-of-day. To date,

14 Eddies Spring 2011

57416_USGP.indd 14 5/4/11 2:15 AM of the 730 stripers I’ve tagged and released, I’ve received 52 phone calls from other fishermen who have re-caught these fish. Most of the calls have been from within a 50-mile range. But six of them were re-caught hundreds of miles away—as far north as Cape Cod to as far south as Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay.

Knowing a little about striped bass biology underscores the importance of conservation. Each fish caught and released can have a significant effect on a fishery. An average 10-pound female striped bass which is about 6 years old and 28 inches long lays around 3 million eggs. Survival rates vary, but you can expect well below one percent of those eggs to mature into adult bass. That’s not many. You can see that conservation makes a difference. F

Sixteen-year-old Richard DeMarte is a junior and honor student at White Plains High School in New York. He participates in band and baseball when not studying or fishing. DeMarte is considering a college major related to conservation. Visit him online at www.nyctfishing.com. Joe DeMarte Western Long Island Sound on the New York-Connecticut border is habitat for 16-year-old Richard DeMarte—and the striped bass that he passionately pursues.

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 15 5/4/11 2:15 AM By Karen R. Hollingsworth The Art of Conservation® Young Artists of Wildlife Forever’s State-Fish Art Contest™

Largemouth bass by Seth Thomas Spradlin won both the 2008 national Best of Show and The Art of Conservation Stamp Awards.

“After weeks and weeks of research, perfectionist, his goal was for the Indiana State-Fish Art winner Seth the young ‘Professor of Study’ would viewer to feel they were actually Thomas Spradlin whose art graces enter his bedroom studio, close the right there—in the nature he loved.” the cover of this issue of Eddies. In door and begin to paint. Always a These words are from the parents of 2008, Seth won both the national Best

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57416_USGP.indd 16 5/4/11 2:15 AM Late this past August, during his second summer earning funds for college as a seasonal employee for the National Park Service in Alaska, Seth, 20, and his brother Neal, 28, lost their lives in a bush plane accident in remote Katmai National Park and Preserve. Wildlife Forever is renaming their top award as the Seth Thomas Spradlin Best of Show Award in honor of his talent and conservation ethic.

“Seth’s artwork inspired us all. I remember feeling a sense of wetness from the splash in his painting. That element of engagement and his untimely loss challenges us to remember and recognize his talent,” states Doug Grann, President and CEO of Wildlife Forever. “I am pleased to rename our top award after him to inspire future young conservationists to excel and achieve in the outdoor world.”

It all began in 1998, as a child’s homework assignment and has become one of America’s most effective conservation education programs. Launched in 1999, Wildlife Forever’s State-Fish Art Program continues to teach and inspire thousands of kids across America with the school curriculum Fish On! Using art as a tool to teach youth about fish, fishing, and aquatic resource conservation, students create an original illustration of a state-fish and write an essay about their chosen fish’s habitat, life cycle, and conservation.

The program culminates in

Wildlife Forever Wildlife the nationwide State-Fish Art Contest. On Earth Day a of Show and The Art of Conservation panel of judges, Nathaniel Grann Stamp Award with his remarkable composed of Seth Spradlin (r) with Douglas Grann, President/CEO largemouth bass. wildlife artists, Wildlife Forever unveiling 2008 ART OF CONSERVATION outdoor writers, Stamp.

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 17 5/4/11 2:15 AM Wildlife Forever Wildlife Joshua Joint, 10-12, Pennsylvania - brook trout - 2004 Best of Show. fisheries specialists, and national conservation. As celebrities, have the difficult, but a past judge of rewarding, task of selecting a winner the State-Fish for each of the three grade categories Art Contest, the from each state. This year, they students learn also judged international entries about fish and stemming from a new partnership fishing and the with the Ontario Ministry of Natural best part is the art Resources. They will then choose is amazing.” the top three winners for each grade level. The creativity and hard work of In 2006, Troy all the young winners is recognized at Truesdell, a the State-Fish Art EXPO later in the Minnesota 12th summer. grader, was taken aback when he Joseph Hautman, wildlife artist received the first

and three-time Federal Duck ever State-Fish Forever Wildlife Stamp winner sums up this unique Art “hat trick” Walleye by Troy Truesdell. opportunity for budding artists winning the top and conservationists, “Several big three awards— success stories involve the arts with with just his third

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57416_USGP.indd 18 5/4/11 2:15 AM Wildlife Forever Wildlife Brie Jenkins’ “King Salmon” named 2009 Best of Show, the The Art of Conservation Stamp and People’s Choice.

oil painting ever. Departing from actually caught a walleye!” exclaimed art scholarships, aspiring to teach his preferred medium of pencil, he Truesdell. art at the collegiate level. Brie painted his favorite fish. “As an avid continues to challenge herself , I even incorporated one Four young artists in the Jenkins artistically through commissions for of my favorite Rapala lures that had family made an indelible mark on her work. In the family tradition, State-Fish Art, winning 22 Missouri first-place honors since 2000. The tradition began with Tiara winning first place in the state’s grade 4-6 category, followed by her younger sister Brie in 2002.

Maturing as artists year by year, their art is recognized with top national awards including Tiara’s catfish in 2005, and Brie’s king Wildlife Forever Wildlife Wildlife Forever Wildlife salmon in 2009, as The Art of Tiara Jenkins 10-12 Missouri - channel Conservation Stamps. Brie Jenkins’ “Channel Catfish” took catfish. 2005 The Art Of Conservation 1st Place in her home state of Missouri Stamp. Today Tiara helps fund her pursuit in 2002. of a B.A in Studio Art with merit

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 19 5/4/11 2:15 AM they mentor their younger siblings, a steward of our fish, lakes and Teal and Brock, with critique and streams. encouragement as their young talent blossoms. As Brock says, “If I get Seth Spradlin stayed up all night their approval, I know I am doing to finish a painting—a painting he ‘okay.’” had been working on for months. It seemed like forever to his family. These top winning artists, the “From time to time he would let us students participating every year, see it, as layer by incredible layer and the youngest just starting he laid in the background with their journey to learn about, study painstaking attention to detail, right

Wildlife Forever Wildlife and create with their skills and down to individual needles on trees,” Tony Lee, 7-9, Oregon - Chinook imagination, a state-fish have all his father recalled. “Seth was leaving salmon. joined the ranks of one of America’s the next morning for his summer job greatest movements. Their eyes, in Alaska. That evening he says ‘I’m minds and hearts have been opened finishing this painting before I go.’ I to conservation and becoming told him he surely didn’t have enough time and better to get a good night’s Wildlife Forever Wildlife Carson Collinsworth, 4-6, Montana - cutthroat trout.

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57416_USGP.indd 20 5/4/11 2:15 AM sleep. When we left for the airport the painting was still wet, completed overnight with an absolutely magnificent herd of elk. What an amazing gift for our family, Seth’s undying love of nature shared in his art, and we absolutely treasure it.”

Karen Hollingsworth manages the State-Fish Art Program. She’s an award-winning wildlife photographer, and is featured in numerous publications including the Smithsonian Book of National Wildlife Refuges. Wildlife Forever Wildlife Emma Gardner, 4-6, Utah - Bonneville cutthroat trout. Wildlife Forever Wildlife Makena Peet, 10-12, South Dakota - bluegill.

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 21 5/4/11 2:16 AM By Tess McBride Double Rainbow

Bill Brignon, a fish biologist with the a scale and a row of syringes on a on the successes and failures of the Columbia River Fisheries Program board that he places on his lap. Each previous run. Both are laughed about; located in Vancouver, Washington, needle contains a tag that will be including a Spring Chinook sighting hands down a pair of boots and inserted in the belly of a steelhead. and Callahan’s near fall with the waders from the bed of his truck. Xiong is working with the tagging electroshocking equipment on his After jumping into them I feel like a team under the Student Temporary back. kid geared up in ski boots and a snow Employment Program (STEP). This jumper nervously trudging out for program provides college students “Casey’s going to have to hear about my first mountain experience. This paying experience in their academic that one for a while,” Brignon joked isn’t just because I’m nervous, but fields, while continuing with school, when we heard the commotion of the also because it feels awkward to lug and they learn about the U.S. Fish incident downstream. He was right. such large and heavy boots on dry and Wildlife Service. It’s obvious these team members land. have a great vibe, and are both Xiong places a motionless fish next to serious about the work they do and Brignon speaks into his walkie talkie a ruler and then on a scale. “Getting excited to be out in the field. This as he swats away branches lingering PIT-tagged,” he declares while is why I’m thrilled to join the next in his path while we make our way reaching for a needle and turning the round of fish wranglers as a netter. down to the creek. I try to avoid fish on its back in his hand. Xiong has the flying foliage as I get used to a serious expression on his face as he I try my best to keep up with the walking in foreign shoes. Putting gently but swiftly inserts the needle team while scouting ideal placement on somebody else’s shoes for a day into the fish and pushes the tag into for fish scooping. Conder, the is exactly what I’m here to do, both its belly. electroshocker of this round, lets us physically and figuratively, in order to know of his next plan of attack and we find out what it’s like to do fisheries We soon see the netting team who gather near a section of large rocks. work hands-on. just zigzagged across the creek As soon as the shiny bellies of two scooping up steelhead that float to the steelhead emerge I dive in and catch Today I’m pretending to be a fish surface after being electroshocked. them both. biologist, which already appears Electroshocking is a non-lethal to be as demanding physically as I process that temporarily stuns the “Double rainbow!” the group shouts assumed it would be intellectually. fish so that it can be caught. Casey in reference to a YouTube video of Brignon and fish biologist Maureen Callahan, a Washington State an overly enthusiastic man who Kavanagh invited me to participate in University STEP student, has the spots two rainbows, which they’ve the tagging procedure they perform duty of electroshocker this round; incorporated into a reoccurring inside on Eagle Creek. holding out a long pole with a metal joke. I begin to feel pretty good about ring on the end into the creek, the my loot, until Brian Davis scoops “We’re comparing to see if the other end attached to a large plastic down and out does me. He’s definitely hatchery fish that are spawning here box on his back, which resembles a the pro of our group; knowing where are affecting the wild fish here, and prop from Ghostbusters. I’m later to stand, netting at lightning speed if so what can we do to lessen that,” informed the team refers to this as and scooping with a twist of the wrist Kavanagh explains of the project. the “fish capacitor,” referencing the that snaps the fish out of the water For some reason a large portion of DeLorean-turned-time machine from before I even spot them. As I begin to hatchery fish are choosing to spawn Back to the Future, which Doc Brown focus on the thrill of the catch I stop in Eagle Creek and are not returning calls the “flux capacitor.” paying enough attention to my feet, to their hatcheries of origin, which is resulting in a few slips and spills. traditionally what steelhead do. “It’s Callahan’s team includes two netters really important that we manage and a fish carrier; Brian Davis, an “Your style reminds me of Casey,” the hatcheries in a way that we don’t Oregon State University STEP Sheila Davis jokes, “willing to risk life harm the wild population,” Kavanagh student; Trevor Conder, a fish and limb for a catch.” Perhaps I am said. biologist; and Sheila Davis, a seasonal a bit wobbly, but I’m just determined fish biologist. The group is laughing to do my share. By the time we meet Chee Xiong, an Oregon State and giving each other high-fives as up with the tagging group we’ve filled University fisheries student, lays out they set down their gear and reflect two buckets with fish. I feel pumped

22 Eddies Spring 2011

57416_USGP.indd 22 5/4/11 2:16 AM classroom for his senior year, noting how useful it is to have experience doing what his professors are lecturing about.

“I like handling fish and being outside. It’s pretty exciting to see what we net up,” he said. One thing Xiong mentions he didn’t expect from this summer was the intensity of a day’s work. Right on cue Brignon announces it’s time to pack up and hike up “Heart Attack Hill.” If at all doubtful before, I’m now sure I’ll experience the

Tess McBride/USFWS Tess exhaustion Xiong Each syringe is loaded with tiny tags that will be inserted under the skin of young steelhead. The data spoke about. coming from tag returns will help guide fishery managers with future decisions. After panting our way up to the from the excitement of the run, but “I went into this thing and soaked up cars, the gang invites us along their also ready for some lunch, which we a million pieces of information and ceremonial end of the day activity; sit down along (and in) the creek to got some new hobbies,” he said of his getting Slurpees at 7-Eleven. We tag enjoy. experience working in the field. “Jobs along (since we’re such good taggers in the outdoors are really cool,” he at this point), and after creating our After lunch I join the new tagging adds. While Callahan enjoys his work frozen beverages we form a circle in group. We charge up the creek and in the field, he still plans to study pre- the parking lot to compare flavors set up our station on a small bank med in school. and stacking techniques. about 10 feet above the creek. Not much room to work, but we’re able to “Pre-med also happens to be Casey’s When we drive away the group is make do by strategically placing our nickname out here,” Sheila Davis still laughing in a circle. It’s pretty supplies around Callahan, who sits on chimes in. Callahan laughs and nods clear this team’s strong dynamics a rock and prepares to do the tagging his head in agreement while splashing lives in and out of the creek. One day this round. Callahan, who will be a a handful of water on the ruler he down, 200-plus fish tagged, a handful sophomore next year, is the youngest prepares to place a fish on. of Slurpees consumed, a couple of of the group and is in the middle of references to classic ‘80’s movies his first summer working as a STEP At our final tagging site I get a chance made, and a great attitude about student. to talk more with Xiong. He predicts tomorrow still going strong. Double his work in the field will give him rainbow indeed. F a one-up when going back into the

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 23 5/4/11 2:16 AM Summer Work Meaningful to Tribal Youth Summers come and go. But memories Corps (YCC) Program in June last—and so do an education and 2010, only the second such effort work experience. Last summer, in the country administered by the Native American youth in the West Fisheries Program. Although new, it went to work doing good things was forged on old friendships. The for conservation. From northern Creston National Fish Hatchery has Montana to southern Arizona, raised fish for Native Americans for young people handled rare trout and decades (see Eddies Spring 2008). muscled hay bales for bison. Here’s a quick look at what they did—and Fifteen tribal youth and three adult what other youth can do in the future team leaders worked on a variety with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife of natural resource projects during Service’s Fisheries Program. the eight-week program. Work sites included the National Bison Range where they learned about noxious Creston National Fish weed control, and the Creston National Fish Hatchery where Hatchery the students learned about fish The Confederated Salish and production, fish biology, the role of Kootenai Tribes and Creston National hatcheries in fishery management. F Fish Hatchery in Montana launched Mark Maskill an inaugural Youth Conservation Denise Wagner/USFWS Youth from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes ready a load of hay at the National Bison Range.

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57416_USGP.indd 24 5/4/11 2:16 AM Mescalero Apache Tribal Fish Hatchery The YCC crew at the Mescalero Apache Tribal Fish Hatchery in New Mexico was essential in hatchery operations. Moreover, the work was an opportunity to apply cultural teachings that provided purpose and direction to the youth. The students participated in all facets of rainbow trout propagation. They learned practical construction and plumbing techniques while doing hatchery maintenance work. They built trails and installed fish habitat improvement structures in the Rio Ruidoso. The tribal youth were led by staff with the New Mexico Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office. F Chris Kitcheyan Chris Kitcheyan/USFWS Two members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe in southern New Mexico sort rainbow trout at their tribal hatchery. Apache Youth, Apache Trout For over 50 years, the Arizona Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office has worked with the White Mountain Apache Tribe in conservation on 17 lakes and 350 miles of trout water. But the tribe has a unique asset: the Apache trout. Once near extinction, the rare yellow trout is now a sport fish, but the species still needs much attention. Last summer, seven tribal youth worked on Apache trout conservation. They did population surveys, evaluated artificial barriers that keep competing nonnative trout caption at bay, and helped rid streams of nonnative trout where Apache trout need to go.

For all of these American Indian youth, the summer 2010 was more than just a job—they were engaged, making a difference in fisheries conservation in their own back yard. All in all, the men and women

Jennifer Johnson/USFWS gained valuable experience in natural An Apache trout gets a fin clipped while an Apache youth holds it steady. Her resources conservation and developed ancestors were the first conservators of this rare trout, found only in eastern themselves for future careers in Arizona. The White Mountain Apache Tribe closed off streams holding Apache conservation. F Jeremy Voeltz trout in the 1940s. Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 25 5/4/11 2:16 AM By Corky Broaddus Wenatchee River Salmon Festival Celebrates 20 Years A 20th anniversary celebration of the return of salmon to the Wenatchee River was held in September of 2010 at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery in Leavenworth, Washington. The award winning Wenatchee River Salmon Festival (AKA Salmon Fest) has become an iconic U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries Program event, and an inspiring model nature festival.

The event’s success reflects the power of partnerships. Since its inception, Salmon Fest has remained true to its natural resource education mission by updating and augmenting activities to keep them fresh and engaging. Salmon Fest may be a short event, but the work is done the year-round. It truly engages the community and visitors in a real-life salmon experience celebrating the incredible natural resources found in their own backyard. The beautiful National Fish Hatchery venue provides four full days of fun and learning. Salmon Fest has served 155,000 attendees throughout its 20-year run. The 20th anniversary alone received 10,000 visitors.

Linking science and fun and meeting outdoor education goals set by teachers and a Washington-state mandate created the need for a sanctioned festival curriculum, one that came together in 1994. It’s updated every year with input from natural resource specialists. The majority of these same people lead the first two School Days of the festival, providing hands-on interdisciplinary learning for 3,000 students from more than 80 classrooms. Teachers sign up for

USFWS specific activities and attend pre- Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery sits alongside the Wenatchee River in festival workshops, which provide Washington, the site of the 20-year-old Salmon Fest.

26 Eddies Spring 2011

57416_USGP.indd 26 5/4/11 2:16 AM USFWS A sidewalk was the medium for this piece of art created in chalk at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery during a recent Salmon Fest. curriculum and festival information for them to share with their students before they attend the event.

Salmon Fest weekend days are open to everyone offering more educational activities, live stage entertainment, exhibits, food court, inspirational storytelling, art, an inter-tribal Native American encampment with traditional salmon cooking and dancing, outdoor recreational activities, guided nature trail walks, and hatchery tours. The weekend has built a reputation as “our

favorite family event of the USFWS year,” with past attendees. Kids in the creek: a hands-on experience is a wonderful way to teach youngsters about fisheries conservation.

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 27 5/4/11 2:17 AM Lodging, restaurants, and local businesses are booked full throughout the Wenatchee River valley.

The non-profit Friends of Northwest Hatcheries is one of the driving forces that make this event happen. The administrative office of the Friends Group is based at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Betsy McIndoe, President of the group and newly named national Vice President of the recently established National Fisheries Friends Partnership directs the planning for Salmon Fest. Other Friends members provide financial services, transportation, student scholarships, community relations, and maintenance work.

Volunteers are the fuel that makes Salmon Fest move. The 20th anniversary operated with a total of 413 volunteers, of which 325 were high school students. All of the volunteers worked 5,365 hours for the 20th anniversary event. “Spawnsorships” from corporate and non-profit contributors raised several thousand dollars to pay for the event.

The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival now has a 20-year tradition of celebrating the return of the salmon. The words we use to describe the personified character of salmon— endurance, strength, perseverance, beauty—in many ways describe the partnerships that keep the USFWS educational opportunities of Over 10,000 people attended the 20th Salmon Fest in 2010. The event this year promises to be all it has been, and more. This attendee creates a salmon vignette. Salmon Fest alive. Learn more at www.salmonfest.org.F

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57416_USGP.indd 28 5/4/11 2:17 AM Salmon Fest has received accolades through the past 20 years. National Association for Interpretation Media Award for “Kids in the Creek” Washington Festivals and Events Association Gold Summit Award, Best Children’s Program International Festivals and Events Association Pinnacle Award, Best Environmental Education Volunteer Organization of the Year,

American Fisheries Society USFWS Conservationist of the Year, Trout Salmon Fest is a favorite family event in the Wenatchee Valley where there is Unlimited cooking, dancing, nature hikes, and artistic expression in various media (above and below). USFWS

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

57416_USGP.indd 29 5/4/11 2:17 AM Meanders By Frank Peterson A Fisherman’s Quarry

Earlier this spring, a friend and to the quarry, tackle boxes and importantly, I learned how to apply I were out on the Potomac River, pushbutton rods in hand. Together, myself to the challenge at hand. This heading south towards one of my we plied the pond’s waters for hours, was a lesson I later brought with favorite fishing spots, an area baiting our hooks with doughball equal dedication to my studies. that always seems to attract a bait or my favored lure. We’d fish for slew of largemouth bass when bluegill and bass, while my constant Let’s not forget, too, the invaluable spawning time arrives. Speeding companion, my transistor radio, lesson of surviving ridicule, that is, along the Potomac to “my” played The Doors, The Beatles, how not to look foolish in front of bass-rich hotspot, I relished the Dylan and the like. your pals. I learned that particular sense of being on open water. I lesson one day in the quarry when I love it and always have. There’s a With city-bound trains and traffic reeled in … a snapping turtle. Yikes, freedom to being far from shore roaring just above, my setting may that thing was angry and frightening, in my own world. not have been as bucolic as the with jaws that looked more like a quiet, pristine lakes that others dinosaur’s. I know I showed my fear, As I closed the gap between open enjoyed in their childhood. But as it couldn’t help it, which sent my fishing water and creek, looking forward turned out, my old setting of quarry buddies into hysterical, doubled-over to a sure-to-be satisfying day walls, highways and train tracks laughter. But then I laughed too, of fishing, Bruce Springsteen’s was perfect — for me. Without my and like an old master, cut my line to Born to Run began to play on the realizing it, this literally hard-edged safely set the beast free, respect and boat’s sound system. The song’s fishing hole I shared with a small relief all around. line “sprung from cages out on group of friends became a training highway 9” hit home in more ground for life. Years ago, I made sure to teach my ways than one, bringing back my children to fish. That was long before early years of fishing. I couldn’t As they say, all I really need to know I joined the Recreational Boating & help but compare those fishing I learned here, in the quarry. How Fishing Foundation (RBFF) or had experiences with this totally competition strengthens character. any inkling that my love of fishing different day on the river. How patience must be learned and would one day intersect with my practiced even when you’re a kid career. At first, it was all my daughter My fishing days started young, in a hurry, maybe especially then. could do to keep rod in hand, as she my dad and grandfather teaching How a fish’s strength, energy and wandered around the shore, chasing me how to fish on the Hudson wits deserve respect, and all wildlife butterflies that came our way. River. Later on, my regular is worthy of regard. And however fishing pals were school friends, far you may be from the structure But you never know how things will guys as rough and tumble as I and discipline of school and home turn out. Of my three children, my was and as unpolished as the life, structure and discipline remain daughter, now grown into a wonderful spot we chose to fish in. It was a essential for achieving anything, even woman, is the one who has kept quarry pond in one of the area’s if that achievement is just walking fishing in her life. We still go out abandoned quarries, just off of — proudly alongside fishing buddies. together, sharing sometimes wordless you guessed it — Route 9, down sunny afternoons, as we wait for the embankment of a railroad Fishing in this quarry, I learned I had that telltale tug on a line. For me and track that crossed its way. to focus, absorb and practice specific for my daughter, the excitement of skills such as precision casting around catching a fish remains as thrilling Weekends and summers, my trees, playing a fish and reeling it now as it ever was. friends and I would hike out in, to become expert at them. More

30 Eddies Spring 2011

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I can’t help but be grateful that earn boating and fishing patches. And Okay, I admit it. In many ways, when she was young, technology was since 2007, RBFF educational grants I’m still the competitive kid from not so much of a distraction. There to youth-focused boating, fishing and the quarry. And I’m still grateful seemed ample time to discover fishing conservation groups have reached to my “glory days” of fishing, not back then, and more than enough more than 460,000 children. only because of the memories adults like me happy to make the that have stayed with me, but introduction. Meanwhile, our Anglers’ Legacy because I know they helped Ambassadors program, asks avid make me the family man and This is something I think a lot about anglers like you and me to commit to the professional — the person I these days, especially in my role introducing at least one newcomer am today. It’s a great feeling to at RBFF. The fact is, today’s kids a year to the sport, especially young know that with the help of my absorb an estimated 10 hours of people. The program has signed up fellow anglers, RBFF programs, media each day and a huge number more than 250,000 Ambassadors, and and those dedicated to fisheries of parents are strangers to fishing. recent research indicates that each conservation, many thousands of Who will introduce today’s children Ambassador introduces an average today’s kids will wind up equally to fishing? And how can technology 3.3 youth to fishing, 73 percent more lucky. F attract kids to fishing instead of than other avid anglers. distract them from it? With programs like these and These concerns, shared by my with the support of all of us in the Frank Peterson is President and colleagues at RBFF and its partners recreational boating and fishing CEO of the Recreational Boating & like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife community, there’s real hope that Fishing Foundation. You can visit Service’s Fisheries Program, a new generation of enthusiasts him online at www.rbff.org. have led to major youth-oriented will emerge. Participation in these initiatives. A big part of our recreational activities will grow and website, TakeMeFishing.org, is will continue to shape the adults that geared to youngsters, especially its today’s children become. Little Lunkers section. The site’s Fishopedia glossary gives kids the When I arrived at the creek, and A-to-Z’s of fishing, getting them anchored at the creek’s mouth, I acquainted with individual fish dropped my line in as quickly as I species and tips for catching them. could. I used a top-water lure that ExploreTheBlue.com is one of our day, but to be honest, there were so newest efforts, launched this past many bass in those waters, I think I year in partnership with Discovery could have used just about anything Education. The site offers up lots of and caught as much. free interactive materials to kids, parents and teachers to inspire By afternoon, I had caught and youngsters’ and their families’ released a total of seven fish, the interest in boating, fishing and biggest a five-pounder, way bigger conservation. than the fish I used to catch off Route 9, and most important of all, way Another RBFF initiative, the bigger than the fish my friends back Scouting Patch Program, helps scouts then caught, too.

Vol. 4, No. 1 Reflections on Fisheries Conservation

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STANDARD PRESORT Eddies POSTAGE AND FEES Reflections on Fisheries Conservation PAID U.S. DEPARTMENT U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service– Fisheries OF THE INTERIOR MS ARLSQ 720 PERMIT G-77 4401 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/eddies CONSERVING

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Spring 2011 Common Sense Sedatives Safe and effective fish sedatives are crucial to fisheries conservation. Sedated fish are easier to handle for spawning, tagging, and even surgery. Yet, no compound exists that biologists can legally use without holding the fish for a lengthy time period before release. Without immediate-release sedatives, fish and fish biologists are put at risk.

Biologists at the Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership in Bozeman, M T, in partnership with fisheries professionals from the public and private sectors, drafted a policy statement describing the challenges of limited access to sedatives in the

fisheries disciplines. “AFS Policy Statement on the Need for USFWS an Immediate-Release Anesthetic/Sedative for Use in the Dave Erdahl, Ph.D., Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Fisheries Disciplines,” was published in Fisheries Magazine, Partnership, couldn’t sedate this lake trout to collect its eggs. the flagship publication of the American Fisheries Society. Sedating fish greatly reduces handling stress. Without immediate-release sedatives, fish must be held for This commentary summarizes the draft policy statement and impractically long periods. calls attention to the complexities associated with gaining Food and Drug Administration approval for an immediate-release that in the end will minimize risk to fish, fisheries professionals, the sedative. They describe the constraints this places on fisheries environment, and the public. For more information on the Policy conservation and the industry, and recommend a Statement, please see the March issue of Fisheries Magazine. course of action to facilitate the timely approval of sedatives Learn more at www.fws.gov/fisheries/aadap. F Jim Bowker

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