Spring has fully arrived bringing the warm wet smell of rain, the realization that the world is once again green and colorful, and the joy of knowing that the months ahead will bring more time outdoors. I’ll be on my bike, hammering up a hill, sweating and working my muscles for the reward of a fantastic view and the best part: coasting down the hill and embracing the wind. I’ll be at the park, tossing a softball, kicking a soccer ball, doing cartwheels and playing with children. I’ll be hiking on Mount Hood and in the Gorge where I’ll come to an overlook and feel like I’m on top of the world as I bite into the chocolate bar I’ve earned through sweat and sore muscles. I’ll be white-water rafting on the White Salmon River as I have in past summers feeling the rush of joy as I navigate the rapids.

The giant, powerful rivers of the west have always filled me with awe and wonder. But this year will be the first time I’ll be thinking of the salmon, worrying about all the man-made barriers they get caught in and the low river level’s affect on their journey. Funny how I’ve never given them a thought, as many times as I’ve enjoyed the recreation the rivers provide. Here in the Pacific Northwest there are hundreds of organizations devoted to saving endangered salmon, and the people who do the work are a passionate bunch. Some are replacing culverts, building fish ladders, removing invasive plant species, and planting trees and shrubs to create salmon-friendly habitat, others are working with farmers to create environmentally friendly solutions for irrigation. The folks who do this work say that it’s not just about salmon. It’s about creating partnerships and finding common ground among groups who have been at odds with one another in the past. It’s about building community and bringing together teachers, parents and conservationists for planting parties and water quality monitoring. It’s about boosting local economies by hiring local contractors and suppliers for salmon restoration work. It’s about stewardship of the land and the rivers. It’s about appreciating and honoring the earth -- our home. With the coming of warm weather I get excited as I anticipate days and nights outdoors feeling the ground beneath me, the wind through my hair and the river water splashing my face. I hope to see you at the park, in the gorge, in the mountains and on the rivers. Happy Spring!

Check out these websites for more information on salmon restoration.
Wild Salmon
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Salmon Nation, a program of EcoTrust

Nina
The Dirt!
a publication of Spreading Roots, Spring Forth