Written by George E. Whitman

Dr. Carson Jeffres, a senior researcher at UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, appeared on NPR’s Insight this week to discuss his new initiative to recreate a Salmon Society. The interview originally aired October 23 at 12 PM on Capitol Public Radio and is available for streaming or download at https://www.capradio.org/211203.

Dr. Jeffres examined the disconnect between how the West and indigenous communities view salmon in California. For indigenous peoples, salmon are an integral part of life with cultural roots stretching back thousands of years. In contrast, that deep connection has been largely lost in modern society through over a century of impacts from gold mining, dam building, levee construction, overfishing, and climate change.

Through collaborations with indigenous groups, Jeffres recognized the need for a re-evaluation of California’s relationship with salmon. Restoring the cultural importance of salmon will take more than scientists, NGOs, and resources managers. It will require a true salmon society, which will involve everyone’s engagement. 

It will require a community where everyone, from anglers and scientists to everyday people, recognizes the intrinsic value of salmon. Most importantly, younger generations need to be active partners, because they will be the future decision makers, and any future salmon society won’t endure without them.

Further Information

Read Dr. Carson Jeffres’s article on the California Water Blog about the Salmon Society

https://californiawaterblog.com/2025/10/05/california-a-salmon-society/