Last of the Lamprey

As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey.

Section:Gallery

Tue., Aug. 2, 2011

In this photo taken July 8, 2011, shows tribal fishermen at the bottom of Willamette Falls during the annual lamprey harvest, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
In this photo taken July 8, 2011, shows Kanim Moses Conner, left, and his brother Jonas Moses Conner with a lamprey at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
In this photo taken July 8, 2011, shows a lamprey at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
In this photo taken July 8, 2011, shows a lamprey at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
In this photo taken July 8, 2011, shows a tribal member tossing a lamprey, at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
A photo taken July 8, 2011, shows a tribal fishermen searching for lamprey at the bottom of the Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey, one where the majestic roar of Willamette Falls is framed by a power plant and an abandoned paper mill.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
In this photo taken July 17, 2011, Sterling Little Bull, of the Yakama Nation, floats in a pool at the bottom of Willamette Falls during the annual harvest of lampreys, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
In this photo taken July 8, 2011, shows tribal harvesters searching lamprey at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
A photo taken July 8, 2011, shows lamprey caught by tribal harvesters, at Willamette Falls in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
In this photo taken July 8, 2011, shows tribal youth stuffing a lamprey in a net, at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
A photo taken July 8, 2011, shows Cheyenne Wahnetah, left, Tasheena George, center and Kecia Florendo, all of Warm Springs, Ore., searching for lamprey at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food. But in the decades since dozens of hydroelectric dams have harnessed the power of the Columbia, Willamette and Snake rivers to make electricity, this jawless fish popularly known as an eel has steadily declined until Columbia Basin tribes have just a few places left to go for lamprey.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
In this photo taken July 8, 2011, a lamprey hangs from rocks at Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press
A photo taken July 8, 2011 shows Jeremy Red Star Wolf, of the Umatilla Tribe, as he surfaces with a lamprey from the base of Willamette Falls, in Oregon City, Ore. As long as Indians have lived in the Northwest, they have looked to lamprey for food.

Rick Bowmer Associated Press