A school of students headed upstream for a Fall Break field-trip with the Sustainability and Ecological Justice program!
Every year, Coho and Chinook salmon embark on a long journey from the Pacific Ocean through the Columbia River and into local estuaries to spawn. The fall salmon run is an essential piece of the lifecycle of these keystone species. As the salmon traverse rivers and streams across artificial geographical boundaries imposed by humans, they raise important questions surrounding land ownership, cultural practice, ecosystem health, and ethical responsibility across species.
To explore these local environmental justice questions and connect with the lively, gorgeous natural world that surrounds us here in Oregon, SEJ took students on a fall trip to hike in the Gorge, see migratory salmon as they pass through the Bonneville Dam fish ladder, and spend a night at the Reed Ski Cabin.
The Fall Break SEJ Field Trip was a blast! After an early morning departure, we arrived at the Bonneville Fish Hatchery, where we marveled at Herman the Sturgeon, watched fish navigate the fish ladder, and learned plenty of fishy facts (Did you know that out of a salmon’s clutch of 3,000 eggs, only 2 will make it to adulthood?). Afterwards, we enjoyed a lovely hike to Punchbowl Falls. On the walk back to the van, we stumbled upon an amazing sight– adult salmon swimming up Eagle Creek! They had clearly had a long, hard journey, and watching them navigate the creek put into perspective what an incredible feat it is for them to travel up to 5,000 miles in their lifetimes. We ended our night at the Ski Cabin with nachos topped with beans from the Community Garden. The next morning, we had some extra wandering time at the Old Salmon River Trailhead before coming back to campus. We shared plenty of laughs and had some great conversations about salmon, river health, and what it means for us to share a home as a multispecies community.