By Tom VanderPlaat and Leroy Schultz

Jeffrey was one of the many fish released these last couple weeks by the students at Rood Bridge Park in Washington County as part of the “Fish Eggs to Fry Program” managed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW)  Salmon Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) and supported by The Association of Northwest Steelheaders

“Fish Eggs to Fry” provides classroom aquariums and fish eggs for numerous schools across the state of Oregon. In late October, volunteers of Tualatin Valley(TV) Chapter of Northwest Steelheaders gathered to deliver Spring Chinook Salmon Eggs to 46 tanks in the Washington County Area.  After the volunteers deliver the eggs to each tank, they turn the responsibility for the fish over to the teachers and students.  Each classroom aquarium assembly has a 20-gallon tank and a small chiller unit to maintain a cold-water environment.  Schools typically have several classrooms that monitor the tank and fish.  The eggs will grow and hatch out into alevin, then mature to fry.  During the hatching process the students are tracking data and learning about their fish.  After about 40-50 days, the fish are ready for release into the Tualatin River. 

Fish Eggs to Fry Assembly

This is where Jeffrey and his many fish buddies start the big journey of their salmon life cycle.   In preparation for the fish release, the teachers transfer the fish from the tank to a bucket. Students bring their fish on a field trip to Rood Bridge or Cook Parks where Jeffrey and his fish friends are released into the Tualatin River.   Upon arrival at the Park, the students participate in several activities including the fish release, nature walk, a salmon life cycle game and a aquatic species (bugs) identification.

Before the fish release, the students will begin with a quick lesson on the fish’s big adventure starting that day.  Tualatin Valley Chapter volunteers coordinate the fish release by transferring the fish from the bucket to the cups and hand the cups to the students.  Each student will take the cup to the river and release their fish.  Naming their fish and saying good bye are important memories for the students.  Good Bye Jeffrey and friends! See you in about four years! 

We have to recognize all the wonderful work of our teachers and students to raise these fish, and to learn about their key role in our region’s ecosystems.  There are numerous tanks around the state, and for Washington County Area schools, we had over 1,300 students (55 classes) release over 9,000  Spring Chinook Salmon during the second and third week of December.   These students will have a lifetime memory of this wonderful event – not just my granddaughter that named her fish Jeffrey.

Fish Eggs to Fry TV Chapter Volunteers

Thanks to the partnerships with ODFW STEP Program, National Wildlife Federation, Clean Water Services, Hillsboro Parks and Recreation, Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation, US Fish and Wildlife Services and our wonderful teachers for helping our students learn about the life cycle of salmon and other key natural resources challenges for our rivers. 

By Bob Oleson

Each session is unique, but this one is special because it is the first time the Democrats have had a super majority in both chambers. Legislators from metro areas will have more influence and funding decisions could be advanced unilaterally. Natural resource agencies such as ODFW have not been given a high fiscal priority by the Governor, and stakeholders of these agencies will be working hard at the legislature to maintain existing programs and establishing new conservation programs will be very difficult.

Proposed bills are beginning to be posted to the Oregon legislature website and we will be reviewing bills with our partner organizations and sharing reports with ANWS members as we develop a sense of the policy threats and opportunities.

We know legislative committees will consider changes affecting the interests of anglers and other outdoor sportspeople including fee increases and proposals on controlling predators, poachers, invasive species, climate change, and problems with stream flows and surface water quality.

By early March, ODFW is expected to release a report that will lead legislators in making changes in our hatchery system. We believe it is important to maintain facilities and fish production. It is my experience that legislators are the ones who usually determine how well fishing and hunting license buyers will be treated in our state, and how the funding they provide will be utilized.

We will be joining several partner organizations in consulting with legislative leaders as they examine specific items that could end up in the final ODFW budget. A policy option package (POP) important to us is POP 120, which contains hatchery resiliency infrastructure funding of $20 million. Additional proposals of interest are POP 122 for fish and wildlife passage infrastructure funding of about $13 million, POP 126 to address aquatic invasive species, POP 101 to address water rights conflicts, POP 108 for natural climate solutions and POP 112 to address marine entanglement solutions.

Most legislators pay close attention to their constituents. You can use this page to find your legislators and their contact information. You are encouraged to contact your local legislators, or their staff, and make them aware of your general interest in fish and habitat legislation. Be sure to ask some questions about how they can be helpful, and mention topics, POPs or bills that are important to you, or you would like to know more about.

Feel free to email me if you have questions, comments, or helpful news from political contacts. Working together for good public policy, we can have an ongoing impact.

James will manage the Association’s communications program, including the monthly newsletter, social media content and event promotion. James will also support our advocacy efforts and work to grow our membership and participation in our events. Please reach out to James if there is anything you would like to highlight. See below for an introductory message from James.

“I could not be more excited to step into this role with the Association of Northwest Steelheaders. A good friend encouraged me to attend one of the Sandy River Chapter meetings almost two years ago. At that meeting, it was immediately clear that the Steelheaders had much to offer a novice angler such as myself. Beyond the sage advice given on life and chasing fish, the Steelheaders offer a community for anyone passionate about the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

I was born and raised in Salem and grew up fishing for trout with my dad on Detroit lake. Occasionally, my uncle would take us fishing for salmon and steelhead on the North Coast in his drift boat. These days, I am a outdoor generalist. If it is legal and ethical to hunt or fish, I am interested in learning how to do it.

I have accrued more than a decade of experience leading government and public relations at associations and nonprofits across the Pacific Northwest. When I heard there was an opportunity to support the association’s work, I knew I had to pursue it. In this new role, I will apply my experience to ensure that there is a place to fish and fish to catch, now and for future generations.

In 2025, we are hitting the ground running with a long legislative session and an Association wide membership drive this winter. I hope you were able to join us at the first ever Steelheaders Film Fest. I look forward to meeting as many members as I can at chapter meetings across the State in the next few months.

Want to connect? Reach me at my email or LinkedIn."

January 19  
Sandy River Fish Along: All anglers welcome. This is a great opportunity to learn something or share your knowledge with a new angler. Use this link to register

February 12-16
NW Sportsmen’s Show: We still have some shifts available and would love your help to fill them. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow outdoor enthusiasts, share our mission, and showcase the impactful work of the Association. Please use this form to register as a volunteer. Registration by January 17 would be helpful for planning purposes.

February 22-23
Steelhead 101 on the Sandy River: Have you ever wanted to try steelhead fishing but weren’t sure how? ODFW partners with the Sandy Chapter of the Association of Northwest Steelheaders (ANWS) to give you all the knowledge you need to get started. All ages welcome. Price includes one year ANWS membership. Save the date now, registration coming soon. 

March 21-23
Tualatin Valley Fish Along – Tillamook Area All anglers welcome. Two days of fishing the many tributaries of the Tillamook bay. This is a great opportunity to fish prime Steelhead and Salmon waters with experienced anglers and you might even get a seat in a boat. Use this link to register.

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 Association of Northwest Steelheaders
P.O. Box 55400
Portland, OR 97238
United States