From Lapwai to Boise and from Salmon to Riggins, the residents of Idaho want more wild salmon in the Salmon River and more red fish in Redfish Lake.
In Salmon Stories, 11 Idahoans discuss during brief video interviews why salmon are important to their businesses, to Idaho’s ecology and to the region’s cultural heritage. Located atwww.idahorivers.org/protectsalmon/salmon_stories.aspx the project can also be accessed by going to www.idahorivers.org and clicking “Protecting Salmon,” then clicking “Salmon Stories: Video Tour of Idaho” and clicking the featured cities.
The project also includes a moving overview video of salmon jumping at Selway and Dagger falls during their summer 2010 return.
Boise realtor Cherie Barton is among the Idahoans featured in the videos. Born and raised in Lewiston, her father helped build the lower Snake River dams that impede migration of salmon to and from the Pacific. Her father is also the man who taught a 7-year-old Barton how to fish.
Barton, who was named Ada County’s Realtor of the Year in 2010, still frequently takes rod and reel to revisit the wild rivers of her youth.
“All you hear is the water. Nobody’s talking,” she said in her video. “You’re just one with that river, and it’s a phenomenal experience.
Other Idahoans featured in Salmon Stories include longtime Stanley homeowner Tom Stuart, fisheries biologist Bert Bowler, Tendoy Store owner Viola Anglin, fisherman Bill Boyer, Riggins tackle shop owner Rexann Zimmerman, former Stanley Mayor Hannah Stauts, Salmon fishing guide Chris Swersey, Riggins hotel owner Tom Anderson, Riggins restaurant owner Kim Olson and Barton.
It also includes Nez Perce tribal elder Elmer Crow Jr.
Crow goes on to share the story of why salmon are so important to the Nez Perce people.