Salmon Without Rivers: A History Of The Pacific Salmon Crisis

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The image of salmon battling upstream through whitewater cataracts to spawn in their birthplace is integral to any happy vision of the Pacific Northwest. Sadly, because they face more insidious obstacles than swift currents, few people today actually witness this remarkable spectacle. Armed with exhaustive research and an ability to synthesize his findings into a concise, readable indictment of the status quo, Jim Lichatowich, a fisheries scientist for 30 years, traces the sudden decline of Northwest salmon populations following the onset of Euro-American settlement. He points a finger at the usual suspects: logging, mining, damming, grazing, irrigation, commercial fishing, and development. Moreover, he cites the political establishment for a failure of nerve. Since the shift from a Native American "gift" economy based on sustainability to a profit economy based on self-interest and short-term financial gain, the historically resilient salmon have met one adversary after another, with little or no help from the legal apparatus charged with their protection. In fact, federal and state governments have responded to the deepening crisis mainly by building fish hatcheries up and down the West Coast. Contrary to the beliefs of entrenched bureaucrats and sport fishermen, says Lichatowich, hatcheries have merely diluted the gene pools of wild stocks while allowing resource extractors to continue their multifarious operations and politicians to shirk their responsibilities. In 1960, for instance, after decades of declining runs, the Washington Department of Fisheries reported, incredibly (and characteristically), that new advanced management techniques would soon result in "salmon without a river"--more welcome news to those who would continue to exploit these iconic fish and their habitat. At the dawn of the 21st century hundreds of hatcheries still operate, yet Northwest salmon populations have decreased 95 percent.

Lichatowich is a learned and persuasive advocate for wild salmon. He's also eloquent, as in this description of his first visit to the Columbia River's Grand Coulee dam:

As I sat there wondering and swatting mosquitoes, the face of the dam lit up. It was the start of the nightly laser show.... Appropriately, the lasers sent a series of large green dollar signs floating through the darkness. Then a series of laser salmon swam across the face of the dam. Here were the ideal salmon, I thought, the fish that fit perfectly into our worldview. We have complete control over them--press a button and they appear; press another and they change from green to red; press another and they swim over the dam. Salmon and dams are compatible--as long as you are not particular about the kind of salmon.

So what to do? Lichatowich opines that we need a new "worldview," one that places natural resources within a context of respect and sustainability. He looks to state and federal governments to enforce the protections already granted by laws like the Endangered Species Act. And he sees evidence that public perceptions may be changing on such issues as habitat conservation and biodiversity; breaching four dams on the lower Snake River to aid fish passage would have been unthinkable even in the early 1990s. Whether this new worldview can save salmon in time is another question. --Langdon Cook

Book Description

"Fundamentally, the salmon's decline has been the consequence of a vision based on flawed assumptions and unchallenged myths.... We assumed we could control the biological productivity of salmon and 'improve' upon natural processes that we didn't even try to understand. We assumed we could have salmon without rivers." --from the introduction

From a mountain top where an eagle carries a salmon carcass to feed its young to the distant oceanic waters of the California current and the Alaskan Gyre, salmon have penetrated the Northwest to an extent unmatched by any other animal. Since the turn of the twentieth century, the natural productivity of salmon in Oregon, Washington, California, and Idaho has declined by eighty percent. The decline of Pacific salmon to the brink of extinction is a clear sign of serious problems in the region.

In Salmon Without Rivers, fisheries biologist Jim Lichatowich offers an eye-opening look at the roots and evolution of the salmon crisis in the Pacific Northwest. He describes the multitude of factors over the past century and a half that have led to the salmon's decline, and examines in depth the abject failure of restoration efforts that have focused almost exclusively on hatcheries to return salmon stocks to healthy levels without addressing the underlying causes of the decline. The book:

describes the evolutionary history of the salmon along with the geologic history of the Pacific Northwest over the past 40 million years
considers the indigenous cultures of the region, and the emergence of salmon-based economies that survived for thousands of years
examines the rapid transformation of the region following the arrival of Europeans
presents the history of efforts to protect and restore the salmon
offers a critical assessment of why restoration efforts have failed

Throughout, Lichatowich argues that the dominant worldview of our society -- a worldview that denies connections between humans and the natural world -- has created the conflict and controversy that characterize the recent history of salmon; unless that worldview is challenged and changed, there is little hope for recovery. Salmon Without Rivers exposes the myths that have guided recent human-salmon interactions. It clearly explains the difficult choices facing the citizens of the region, and provides unique insight into one of the most tragic chapters in our nation's environmental history.

Customer Reviews:

Peter Morrison.......2005-09-11

This is a must read book for anyone interested in salmon, rivers and the ecology and history of the Pacific Northwest. Excellent information and a good read.

Great read.......2005-08-02

This is an excellent book that documents the history of salmon, how native Americans viewed them and how modern Americans view them. It focuses on why the pacific northwest is facing a salmon crisis, and our failed attempts to replace what we have lost. Great read for anyone who is concerned about environmental issues.

Pacific Northwest Salmon History Book.......2003-12-02

Salmon Without Rivers is a great book of historical facts. It includes many issues like; original salmon locations/populations, "Economy over Environment" issues, and the ineffectiveness of large decision making commissions/agencies. However, with all his good background information the book does not propose any solutions nor investigates today's coastal human communities as they relate to the salmon and/or habitat.

A captivating, human, informed book.......2001-01-16

As a freelance author writing a piece about salmon for a California-based magazine, this book was indispensible and eye-opening. It is unfailingly sensitive and intelligent about salmon, discussing the fish as fellow creatures in the "natural economy" in which we all live, rather than as mere commodities in the "industrial economy" that has transformed the West in the last 150 years. It is fascinating about the geology that shaped the salmon's environment, the evolutionary history of the fish, the relationship between Native Americans and salmon in the Northwest, and it provides a detailed history of the many factors that have led to the salmon's decline, including habitat destruction, misbegotten hatchery programs, overfishing, dams, mining, grazing, irrigation. If you like to read books about ecology, the creatures of the earth, fish, or the Northwest--you can't go wrong. This is a wonderful book.

Save the salmon and us.......2000-12-24

A thoroughly researched and impassioned presentation including the history of salmon, their decline, why billions of tax dollars in restoration efforts have had paltry returns, and insights into the where we should go from here. A complex issue is examined from many perspectives in an easy to read and compelling book. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in salmon.

A Fishing Guide to Kentucky's Major Lakes

Average customer rating:

This book is an excellent source of information.

A Fishing Guide to Kentucky's Major Lakes
Arthur B. Lander
Manufacturer: University Press of Kentucky
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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North Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer (North Carolina Atlas and Gazetteer)

ASIN: 0813109469

Customer Reviews:

This book is an excellent source of information........1999-04-14

This book is an excellent source of information for anyone who fishes the waters of the bluegrass state. You will find yourself returning to it again and again as reference. It is doubtful if anyone has more knowledge about the lakes in Kentucky than Mr. Lander

Book Description

It is said that 10 percent of the fishermen catch 90 percent of the fish. There's no species in Louisiana about which that statement is more true than speckled trout. At times, specks are everywhere and anyone with a rod and reel can catch them. But during most of the year, only the most knowledgeable anglers consistently boat their limits.

For this book, Todd Masson interviewed biologists, anglers and experts, who have willingly shared their knowledge with readers. Complete with maps and more than 100 photos, the book contains new insights and never-before-published information about Louisiana's favorite saltwater species.

It's not the lucky anglers who catch the most fish; it's the ones who know the most and best understand the species. This book will, without a doubt, make you a better speckled trout fisherman.

Customer Reviews:

Masson Hits the Mark.......2002-03-12

I have read Louisiana Sportsman magazine for years and have enjoyed Todd Masson's stories. He is truly an excellent oudoors writer and concetrates on the issues that Louisiana sportsman need to hear as well as the fundamentals to maximize each and every outdoor adventure in this state.

Specks is an incredible look into patterns of the speckled trout, one of the finest fish to catch and serve on the dinner table. The book is put together very well including the scientific facts about this fish and the seasonal secrets to catch these fish throughout the state's top ten trout regions. The pictures are of good quality and excellent for seeing what the state has to offer as well as the rigs for catching specks. The maps are of good enough quality to get a general idea of where the action is throughout the year, but shouldn't be substituted for high quality topographic maps and charts. Masson also includes directions to each of the best fishing spots, where to launch your boat and local establishments that can serve the day and weekend angler if they need supplies, refreshments or a quick meal.

Book Description

Whether you're new to fishing or an accomplished angler, this comprehensive and entertaining guide will improve your chances every time you cast a line in Central California and beyond. You'll learn where the best spots are on the beautiful small streams, rivers, lakes, and ocean fisheries in Central California, how to change tactics within the seasons, and select the right baits, lures, and equipment.

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Recipe for Progress: How to Legalize Drugs by Jefferson Fish
How Would Drug Legalization Actually Work?
Just what the title says, an excelent analysis .

How to Legalize Drugs
Jefferson M. Fish
Manufacturer: Jason Aronson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Substance Abuse | Recovery | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

To examine the problem and propose solutions, Jefferson Fish has marshaled contributions from some two dozen creative thinkers representing the disciplines of anthropology, economics, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Customer Reviews:

Recipe for Progress: How to Legalize Drugs by Jefferson Fish.......2001-03-16

HOW TO LEGALIZE DRUGS by Jefferson Fish,Ph.D.is the most comprehensive & informative publication i've come across addressing the highly charged political & social issues surrounding drug policy reform. Contributing to this masterpeice are 30 thinkers from the disciplines of anthropology, economics, law,philosophy,political science, psychology & sociology with each presenting an in-depth, scholarly & multifaceted dimension to our understanding.

In dedicating this work to the "victims of Drug Prohibition," Dr. Fish describes in painful detail what has become known as "the drug exception to the Bill of Rights." He even considers the entertainment value of the war..."like public executions of the past,or Romans throwing undesirables to the lions...if politics is about giving bread & circuses to the masses, then 'fighting drugs' may provide the kind of exciting entertinment that citizens are willing to pay for!"

LEGALIZE gives ample consideration to both public health (harm reduction) & human rights based approaches to policy reform & unlike many, Dr. Fish maintains hope in the midst of despair. He believes the time is ripe for powerful rapid change as we've seen with the collapse of the Soviet Union after decades of the Cold War & earlier in the century with the end of alcohol prohibition.

LEGALIZE contains 9 different proposals for legalization, from the most limited to the most sweeping, with a variety of health & rights based rationales. Dr. Fish points out that even if only marijuana were legalized, then the war on drugs would shrink drastically & many drug warriers & criminal justice bureaucrats would be out looking for jobs.

For those interested in more than superficial or soundbyte awareness of the War on Drugs, the in-depth treatment in LEGALIZE heralds the possible return of intelligence & commonsense to these & related issues & is a monumental & comprehensive statement in its own right.

How Would Drug Legalization Actually Work?.......1999-10-21

Steven Wishnia, copyright © High Times Magazine (October 1999) What would the world of legalization look like, and how would we get there? Jefferson Fish's anthology, How to Legalize Drugs (Jason Aronson), tries to answer those questions. Its 24 essays-by such drug-policy luminaries as Dr. Lester Grinspoon, Ethan Nadelmann, and federal Judge Robert Sweet-discuss the history of the Drug War, strategies for ending it and ways to manage legal drug use and sales. At 660 pages, with chapter titles like "The Transition From Prohibition to Regulation: Lessons from Alcohol Policy for Drug Policy," and "Discontinuous Change and the War on Drugs," it definitely isn't prime baked reading material. But if you want an intense look at specific issues and nuances, you'll be rewarded. What are the differences between the harm-reduction and the rights-based libertarian arguments against the Drug War? How do the language and concepts of drug-related discourse reinforce prohibitionist thinking? ("Marijuana, for example, has never caused a death, but how does one persuade the public to adopt a more accurate view of the pharmacological reality?" the authors ask.) Which drugs should be legalized, and where and how would they be sold? And the ACLU's Kevin Gray, comparing the Drug War's effect on black communities to Jim Crow, calls for "an antiwar movement." Fish, a psychology professor at St. John's University in Queens, NY, suggests a gradual transition to legalization, through steps like legalizing needle exchange and medical marijuana, and moving on to regulating marijuana like alcohol and tobacco, and legalizing coca leaves, psilocybin and MDMA. However, he believes the end of the Drug War will be "discontinuous"-as rapid and sudden as the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Just what the title says, an excelent analysis ........1999-06-26

Some books on drug policy reform target the heart, calling attention to the incredible suffering caused by the war on drugs but "How to Legalize Drugs" targets the brain. Jeff Fish has put together an extraordinarily complete collection of essays that covers the range of arguments bout how to reverse our drug policy. This book covers all sorts of theories about how change will occur, what sort of changes is likely, what kind is desirable, what form the transition might take, and what the result of such change might be. Historians, attorneys, pharmacologists, economists, political scientists, psychiatrists - all offer their different perspectives here. So much is discussed - from Douglas Husak's excellent analysis of the two fundamental caps of drug reformers (harm reductionists and Libertarians) to highly specific are of interest like "the impact of the War on Drugs on Puerto Ricans," that it would make a perfect text for a course in drug policy.

Book Description

Endangered ecosystem or renewable resource? How we feel about forests has to do with more than trees.

This interdisciplinary collection of essays examines the history of forestry in the United States, exploring the impact of the discipline on natural and human landscapes since the mid-nineteenth century. Through important articles that have helped define the field, it assesses the development of the forestry profession and the U.S. Forest Service, analyzes the political and scientific controversies that have marked forestry's evolution, and discloses the transformations in America's commitment to its forested estate.

American Forests highlights the intersection of the political, social, and environmental forces that have determined the use and abuse of American forests. It examines changes both in the assumptions that have defined forest management and in the scientific approach to--and political justification for--timber harvesting in our national forests. It sheds light on the ongoing debate between utilization and conservation, addressing arguments from environmentalists, the timber industry, sportsmen, and politicians while exploring the interaction between public opinion and public policy. It provides sharp insights into the most important players in the politics of forestry, from George Perkins Marsh and Berhard Fernow to Gifford Pinchot and Teddy Roosevelt. And it addresses issues as wide-ranging as budgeting, clearcutting, and the regulation of livestock grazing on national forest lands.

This multifaceted volume draws on the insights of scholars in conservation and ecology, economics, history, law, and political science to make a definitive contribution to the study and practice of forestry. By both clarifying and extending recent debate about the political purpose, scientific character, and environmental rationales of forestry in America, it will help define the place of forests in our future.

This book is part of the Development of Western Resources series.

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Central Valley Project, California. Water for Irrigation, Navigation, Flood Control, Power, Cities and Towns, Industries, Salinity Control, Fish and Wildlife, Recreation.
United States. Department of the Interior. Bureau of Reclamation. Region II.
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Checklist of the fishes and fishlike vertebrates of North and Middle America north of the southern boundary of Venezuela and Columbia,
David Starr Jordan
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Morden-Smithsonian Expedition to Dominica--the lichens (Graphidaceae) (Smithsonian contributions to botany ; no. 40)
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Morden-Smithsonian Expedition to Dominica: the lichens (Parmeliaceae) (Smithsonian contributions to botany, no. 4)
Mason E Hale
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