An event celebrating the restoration of the free-flowing White Salmon River and the return of the salmon will be held this Saturday despite PacifiCorp's announcement last week that the lower section of the river will remain closed.
The White Salmon River Homecoming Celebration was originally going to include a community raft trip through the lower section of the river. Now, the 2.5-hour trip, guided by Husum's Wet Planet Whitewater, will run from BZ Corner down to Northwestern Lake Park and the former Northwestern Lake.
The lower section of the White Salmon River remains closed due to ongoing demolition work below the former site of Condit Dam. The recently-removed structure had been a barrier to fish passage for close to a century. Ironically, the returning salmon are also a reason for the closure, as a logjam in the lower river prevents watercraft navigation and cannot be removed until after the current fall Chinook run is over.
The Homecoming Celebration will commence with the community raft float on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 9:30 a.m. Wet Planet Whitewater is offering a discounted rate for local residents. The public can reserve a spot by calling Wet Planet at 1-800-306-1673.
The event continues in the afternoon as Yakama Nation Fisheries and Trout Lake Gardeners will sponsor a traditional community salmon bake at River Drifters, located at 856 SR 141, in Husum. Tribal cooks will prepare salmon and fry bread for the community with additional food donations from Trout Lake Gardeners and a local orchard. Events at River Drifters start at 2 p.m. and will include an invocation, information booths, a free dinner and an opportunity to celebrate with other community members. Speakers will include Pat Arnold from Friends of the White Salmon River, Todd Olsen from PacifiCorp and Tony Washines from the Yakama Nation. Space is limited and the public is asked to reserve a meal ticket at www.whitesalmonriverhomecoming.eventbrite.com
Parking will be at River Drifters, Wet Planet and the Husum Fire Hall. Please see parking attendants for specific instructions.
The White Salmon River Homecoming is hosted by the Yakama Nation Fisheries, Friends of the White Salmon River, Wet Planet Whitewater and Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group. The event hosts hope to bring the entire community together to celebrate this historic moment and look to the future of the White Salmon River. After decades of debate, deliberations and disagreements over the fate of Condit Dam, the event hosts hope this event will provide an opportunity for the community to take a step toward healing divisions and building stronger relationships. The event hosts believe that by cooperating and working together, we can ensure the entire community benefits from this historic opportunity.
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