By Gale K. Vick, Fairbanks Fish & Game Advisory Committee Member
The phrase “gravel-to-gravel” is becoming more important in managing salmon as their populations decline in Alaska, particularly in the AYK (Arctic-Yukon-Kuskokwim) region.
The Department of the Interior recently explained “gravel-to-gravel” as the cyclical journey of salmon. This journey begins with their birth and continues as they return each year from the sea to spawn in the very gravel beds where they were hatched. These gravel nests serve as crucial incubators for their eggs, providing a place where they hope their eggs survive natural challenges. These gravel beds represent home, marking the beginning and end of the salmon’s life cycle. As the gravel beds move with the river’s flow, the salmon’s habitat is replenished with each passing current.
But “gravel-to-gravel” isn’t just about salmon; it’s a plan for everyone to understand salmon in all their life stages, starting from the headwaters of each stream. The U.S. Department of the Interior / Bureau of Land Management (BLM) highlights the importance of headwaters, the source stream for our river systems, where changes like mining can impact waterways, affecting salmon downstream.
“Maintaining healthy and productive habitats begins with a comprehensive understanding of resource conditions and how they are changing over time,” the BLM report states.
But data is lacking. Identifying salmon-bearing streams and conditions in the AYK watershed is a huge task, requiring actions like restoring streams and monitoring salmon health.
Government agencies can’t do this alone. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management are working with Tribes and others to sustain salmon and natural resources, using both traditional knowledge and science.
But salmon conservation isn’t just about rivers; it’s about their entire life cycle, including marine journeys and return trips. International agreements and research, like the Yukon River Agreement and the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force, are emphasizing the need for attention to every part of a salmon’s life.
This effort involves multiple groups and will take years to see results. The future of wild salmon depends on our commitment to “gravel-to-gravel” conservation.