The Nisqually Indian Tribal community gathered in early May to celebrate a dream that took almost a decade to come to life.
The upgraded Kalama Creek Hatchery, now better suited to climate change mitigation and caring for wild stocks of coho and chinook, celebrated completing its first phase with a ceremony and ribbon cutting.
“The light is finally starting to shine through the tunnel,” said James Slape Jr., the tribe’s natural resources manager. “The future of our fisheries starts here.”
The original facility, which opened in 1978, needed upgrades in anticipation of climate change impacts to the quality and quantity of water. Upgrades include a new water filtration system, a new type of pump that will allow the facility to use water more efficiently, a new abatement pond to remove pollutants, and an incubation room that can hold 1 million eggs.
The $9.4 million project was paid for with federal and state funding, including a rare bipartisan state legislative effort led by now-retired Rep. J.T. Wilcox, who attended the hatchery opening. Planning began in 2016.
“Because of the work that Billy Frank Jr. and the tribe have done over the decades, everyone was on the same page to help get this done,” Wilcox said.
In remarks before the ribbon cutting, Nisqually member Alan Frazier credited tribal members who stood up for their fishing rights during the Fish War era before the Boldt decision, which reaffirmed tribal treaty rights.
“It was courageous to stand up for rights,” he said. “It was brave to stand up for fishing rights when the world was against us.”
Visitors toured the facility, watched the fish being fed and learned more about future plans. While many of the completed upgrades, such as the incubation room, were geared toward younger fish, a potential second phase would boost the hatchery’s ability to spawn adult salmon.
Visitors toured the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s upgraded Kalama Creek Hatchery during a grand opening event on May 6. Above: Visitors examine circular tanks that hold young salmon. Story and photos: Trevor Pyle
