Snorkeling, Science, and Salmon

Spring Chinook are treasured by Indigenous communities in the Klamath basin, who have long recognized the distinction between spring and fall Chinook runs. However, the view of Western science has been that spring Chinook could easily re-evolve from fall Chinook if they disappear, and as a result, there have been no special conservation provisions for spring Chinook. But a few years ago a team of researchers made a discovery that could completely change the way we see these salmon and how they should be protected. In this episode, we'll dive into the Salmon River, which is a tributary to the Klamath, with the annual Spring Chinook and Summer Steelhead snorkel survey, which aims to track these fish populations and understand how they are changing. And we'll explore what fish and river conservation could look like if it's led by people with a deep understanding of these systems and what they need to thrive.  This podcast was made possible by support from American Rivers and was produced by Blue Canoe Studios with invaluable guidance from Kerry Donahue.