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Each Fall anglers and hikers along the Klamath River and its
tributaries can witness one of nature's most exhilarating events--the
return of the salmon from the ocean. The salmon and steelhead
migration is a natural phenomenon on a par with the buffalo of the
great plains--a massive movement of a species that once provided
sustenance, fueled myth and inspired awe. Each year the great fish
are called from the expanse of the Pacific to an arduous journey of
hundreds of miles to the high mountain streams of their origin.
Sandy
Bar Ranch is located on the Klamath River, the sixth largest
watershed in the Pacific Northwest. The river carries water
originating high in the snow-capped Cascades past our cabins, and
brings schools of migrating salmon and steelhead up from the Pacific
to spawn in its tributaries. On any given day one can see osprey,
river otters, bald eagles, deer, fox, great blue heron or even bear
along its banks.
As
our familiarity with the river has expanded beyond the short
stretch of it that we call home, we have learned that our lives are
intimately connected with its entire length.
Located
in the Karuk Homelands, our small rural community of
Orleans, CA encompasses a diverse community of Native Americans,
organic farmers, Forest Service personnel, artisans and local
business people. Sandy Bar Ranch serves as a gateway to the trails
and rivers of the surrounding Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains, and as an
educational facility offering workshops on a variety of topics.
On
the Ranch you'll find an organic garden, a fruit tree nursery
and home crafts. We are a collective enterprise dedicated to
stewardship of the land and the sustainable management of natural
resources held in trust for future generations.
Salmon
and steelhead have always played a primary role in life
along the Klamath River. For centuries Native Americans have relied
on the salmon for sustenance, and still fish along the banks of the
Klamath with traditional dip nets. Old-timers on the river tell of
times when the salmon runs were so dense, a person could walk across
the river on the backs of the great fish. Because the Klamath River
is sparsely populated and has no major industries along its banks, it
has long been recognized for its importance as an adromous fish
habitat.
Encompassing
over 10 million acres, the Klamath River watershed is
the largest between the Columbia and the Sacramento Rivers. It is
home to four Native American tribes, and supports more than one third
of the commercial ocean fish catch between Fort Bragg, California and
Coos Bay, Oregon.
Salmon
and steelhead are indicator species. Because their life
cycle encompasses so much of the watershed, from small tributaries
all the way to the ocean, their presence and the stability of their
numbers are a barometer which tells us about the health of our
forests and rivers. The story being told now is an alarming one. We
are on the brink of losing these fish due to a number of factors,
including habitat destruction and low river flows.
But
despite the pressures and challenges, the Klamath remains one
of the wildest rivers in the Pacific Northwest. In the fall of 1995
we witnessed the salmon return in record numbers. The sight of the
mighty fish leaping through white water is truly awe-inspiring. Yet
we are reminded by the Karuk Elders that the fish are but a fraction
of their former numbers.
Pat
Higgins, a Fisheries Scientist who worked on the Long Range
Restoration Plan for the Klamath River and has led tours at Sandy Bar
Ranch, states that the Klamath holds the most promise of any of the
Pacific Northwest rivers for preservation and restoration of the
salmon and steelhead.
We
encourage you to visit this spectacular region. It is important
to experience the salmon, the forests and wild rivers for yourself.
The wilderness provides peace, adventure and inspiration for
stewardship. We at Sandy Bar Ranch can connect you with conservation
groups working to protect the Klamath region. We can also point you
in the direction of wilderness trails, arrange whitewater rafting
trips, and organize EcoTours (for groups of ten or more).
Those
of us concerned about our rivers and forests must make our
voices heard. The salmon will continue to be called back from the
oceans to spawn in the streams of their birth; it is up to us to make
sure that the waters run clean for them. If we participate in shaping
the future of our public lands and waters, then we can preserve the
natural beauty that we now enjoy for generations to come. And maybe
some day our grandchildren will walk across the river on the backs of
salmon.
For
more information on how to contribute to the effort of
Klamath River preservation, or for travel/reservation information for
Sandy Bar Ranch, see their listing under Travel &
Retreats in The Share Guide's
Holistic
Health Directory.
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