On a Friday June 20th, Mark Miller (a Methow descendant) and John Crandall (an aquatic ecologist with Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation) led the release of about a hundred adult Pacific lamprey into the cold waters of the Methow River. Approximately 30 to 40 members of the public, mostly kids, gathered at Homestream Park in Winthrop to release these ancient fish into the river with hope that their offspring will return one day. The lamprey were provided by the Yakama Nation's Fisheries Program, who also provided a wonderful educational talk on this enigmatic species. Homestream Park sits within the traditional territory of the Methow tribe which is now part of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Yakama Nation's Fisheries Program engages in numerous efforts to restore anadromous fish including lamprey and several salmon species. Until recently lamprey have been largely ignored by salmon restoration efforts, but are culturally important to Methow People like Mark Miller and are an integral part of our riverine ecosystems. Releasing lamprey into the Methow River is an act of ecological and cultural restoration that we are proud to be a part of. To watch children and adults alike excitedly releasing lamprey into the river, made for a memorable day. Our hope is to make this an annual event and to continue to honor and celebrate Pacific lamprey and the native cultures who have been in relationship with this ancient species since time immemorial.

Watch this inspiring film about Tribal efforts to bring lamprey back!