Born to Be Wild: A Talk by Russ Thurow

History, Status, and Recovery

of Wild Chinook Salmon in Central Idaho”

Featuring Russ Thurow, Fisheries Research Scientist

Tuesday, May 24, 2016, 6  pm

The Community Library

415 N. Spruce Street

Ketchum, ID

For more info: (208) 726-3493

Russ Thurow is a Fisheries Research Scientist with the U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station in Boise, Idaho.  His research focuses on understanding ecosystem function and aquatic species responses and on development of conservation and restoration strategies for native aquatic species. Russ has been investigating anadromous salmonids for more than 30 years. He is very familiar with Central Idaho’s Middle Fork Salmon River basin and the ecology of its threatened, wild Chinook salmon and steelhead.

Historically, the Columbia River basin (including the Snake and Salmon Rivers) was the most productive Chinook salmon habitat in the world. By 1995, fewer than 1,200 wild Chinook salmon returned and today all Snake River populations are at risk and federally listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The “four H’s” (harvest, habitat degradation, hatchery practices, and hydro) are considered primary causes of these declines. Thurow will discuss his research conducted relative to the Chinook and other data  that serves to critically inform the development of effective salmon recovery strategies.  Admission is free.