Hey All!
I’ve got a bit of a moral predicament and I’d appreciate fellow nature lovers’ insights.
So I volunteer at a local river educating passerby about the spawning salmon, and have been having a ton of fun doing so. However, the spot where I volunteer happens to be just upstream of a decent rapid/pool that is very popular among whitewater kayakers to the point where they have those slalom gate things like you see on ski races. I’ve seen people kayaking it often in the summer when I go fishing and don’t have a problem with it, but in the fall when the salmon are spawning, surprisingly there are a few people braving the colder temperatures to venture down it.
The problem is that the salmon are spawning just around the bend of this rapid and for some reason a handful of the kayakers have routinely (as in, all three weekends I’ve volunteered, the same handful of people have been doing this) ventured upstream into the slower water right over the salmon redds. It spooks the salmon which obviously sucks for us trying to observe them, but they also are completely oblivious to the redds they are at best going right over and at worst potentially destroying the redds when their kayaks get grounded in the shallows (I have video and audio of this happening at least once). I (and my fellow volunteers, who are older gentlemen who have… passionately expressed their displeasure with these people) have repeatedly told them to at least be careful when kayaking through here if they must go this far upstream. They have mixed responses ranging from ignoring us, saying stuff like “nah bro I’m not” or “mind your business”.
While I do believe in sharing the river with everyone, I feel they are unfairly putting already threatened salmon populations while feigning ignorace or even apathy. So what should I do? Would it be too far to report this to my state/local government? What government body would be most appropriate? Department of Fish and Wildlife? Or is this a law enforcement issue? I am volunteering one more time next week, is there anything I should especially try to get on camera if they come again?
In any human conflict, the first question is, did you communicate? Do you expect the other party to read your mind?
In this case, you did communicate, and you even documented the incidents with evidence. Great job!
It’s not your job to escalate conflicts.
People like conservation officers (game wardens) do have the tools (guns, ticket-writing power, officers of other agencies on speed dial) and the training and experience to deal with conflicts.
Thank you, so are you saying I should consider contacting the WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) about this? I know a couple iNatters who work at the department, I might also reach out to them to get their thoughts about this.
I’m surprised you haven’t contacted officials much sooner… are these species protected? Are there other areas with redds ni this river (without kayakers)?
That said, it’s just another case of “overpopulation”, too many people sharing the rare natural habitats with others… and since those kayakers have installations there, they probably have a permit for that activity, and won’t be dislodged.
Maybe an officer asking them to be careful will get more attention, but you’d need to somehow mark the redds, else they wouldn’t know about them.
Is there a ‘kayak association’ the salmon people could talk to before the next season? Our mountain bikers help to restore the trails they use. Haven’t heard of trail runners doing likewise - and they also erode their trails.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has six upland region offices and three aquatic districts that help to provide localized services throughout Washington. Offices are open during regular business hours Monday-Friday, except on state holidays.
Yes, as someone who works in state wildlife (though not Washington), you should contact them and politely explain the issue and offer your documentation. They may or may not have authority and/or opportunity to action, but then you will have gotten the info into the hands of someone who can at least evaluate the situation.
I’m unsure about the specific protections for the salmon the river, but I’d imagine at least the chinook are protected, coho might be, and sockeye I’m unsure about as they have only been transplanted into this river relatively recently (~100 years ago). I know the WDFW or similar groups will go through and mark chinook redds specifically, but I’m unsure if they do it on this river. There are other areas in the river without kayakers (including some where we have volunteer stations set up), I just happen to be volunteering here. I’ll run this past my boss and ask if I am allowed to go out and mark the redds myself, or if someone higher up will.
Maybe? I’ve had friendly conversations with the kayakers before, I can certainly ask them next week. I’d imagine there is as they do hold annual races/competitions down the rapid section in the summer
