So it was with a sense of responsibility that we attended the trainings, learning everything from whitewater safety to the details of the Peterson Estimate. And that night as we slept the winter rains began, soaking the earth, filling the river, and bringing a sleepy smile to many faces (those that were camped in waterproof tents,
that is). 

            One month later the rainfall was still not up to the yearly average, but an incoming storm was doing its best to change that. I stood under a shelter with Cathy Leavens of the Salmon River Restoration Council waiting for all the day’s counters to show up and check in. The sound of the falling rain nearly drowned out her voice on the tape recorder I held between us.

            “The Restoration Council’s involvement is to provide community volunteers and support to these surveys,” she says. “There also is an educational component, to bring awareness into the community about cooperative efforts -- like the fish counts --  with the agencies; to bring the community out here and let them intermingle with the agencies. And just to be a part of it, to participate.”

           Talk turns to this year’s count which began shortly after the training. “Count’s been doing really well. I think this is an improved run this year compared to the previous years. Wouldn’t you say guys?” There is general agreement from the gathered counters.

            “I think this year is going to be a spike in the chart, because there’s so many runs of fish and they’re still coming in. There’s been these pools where there’s so many fish I can’t count them all. This is my first experience being able to see so many fish in the river.”

             The chart that Cathy mentions represents all the Fall Chinook run size estimates available, going back to the late 70’s. It clearly shows dramatic peaks in population some years, while other years the numbers level out. In 1991 the estimated run in the Salmon River was over 4000 fish, compared to less than 3000 in 1990 and only 1300 in ’92. 1998 was another peak year, with an estimate of almost 6000 fish. The next year the number dropped to under 2000 and has held fairly steady -- until this year, which promises another dramatic peak. Basin-wide data shows the same sort of pattern; over 225,000 Chinook in 1995, compared to 55,000 in 1994.

(3)

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