For the first time in 111 years, summer chinook are swimming in the Little Spokane River

For the first time in 111 years, summer chinook are swimming in the Little Spokane River.

Section:Gallery

Sat., Aug. 7, 2021

Conor Giorgi, Anadromous Program Manager at the Spokane Tribe of Indians, coaxes one of 51 Chinook salmon into the Little Spokane River, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Spokane Tribe of Indians, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy released the adult Chinook salmon from the Wells Salmon Hatchery into the river. Salmon have not been in the Little Spokane in 111 years. This is part of a larger effort to reintroduce sustainable salmon populations above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams.

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Emma Sell and Josh Abrahamson snatch one of 51 chinook salmon from a Wells Salmon Hatchery truck and load them into a rubber bladder before releasing them into the Little Spokane River on Friday. It’s part of a larger effort to reintroduce sustainable salmon populations above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams.

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Spokane Tribal Elder Pat Moses gets a splash as he releases one of 51 chinook salmon Friday in the Little Spokane River.

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Conor Giorgi, Anadromous Program Manager at the Spokane Tribe of Indians, releases the first of 51 Chinook salmon into the Little Spokane River, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Spokane Tribe of Indians, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy released the adult fish from the Wells Salmon Hatchery into the river. Salmon have not been in the Little Spokane in 111 years. This is part of a larger effort to reintroduce sustainable salmon populations above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams.

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A large group of peopled gather to watch as 51 adult Chinook salmon are released into the Little Spokane River, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021.

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Emma Sell and Josh Abrahamson snatch one of 51 Chinook salmon from the hatchery truck and load them into a rubber bladder before the release into the Little Spokane River, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Spokane Tribe of Indians, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy released the adult fish from the Wells Salmon Hatchery into the River. Salmon have not been in the Little Spokane in 111 years. This is part of a larger effort to reintroduce sustainable salmon populations above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams.

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Volunteers in the crowd form a line and hand down a rubber bladder holding one of 51 Chinook salmon, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. Spokane Tribe of Indians, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy released the adult fish from the Wells Salmon Hatchery into the Little Spokane River. Salmon have not been in the Little Spokane in 111 years. This is part of a larger effort to reintroduce sustainable salmon populations above Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams.

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A large group of people gather to listen to speaker before the release of 51 adult Chinook salmon into the Little Spokane River, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021.

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Isaac Tonasket sings a song from his ancestors before the release of 51 adult Chinook salmon into the Little Spokane River, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021.

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