February 9 – Salmon: Conservation of a Beloved Keystone Species (virtual event)

Salmon are an iconic animal in the Pacific Northwest, and yet many salmon populations are in danger of extinction. Bowerman will describe some of the reasons why salmon are in trouble globally and the added challenges they face from climate change. She will explore the pros and cons of hydropower from socioeconomic and ecological perspectives, and describe some actions managers are taking to protect salmon in our local streams and rivers.

Featured Speaker:

Tracy Bowerman, Science Manager, Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board

Tracy has worked in river conservation for the past two decades. She earned a Ph.D. in Aquatic Ecology from Utah State University and has studied salmon and trout populations throughout the Pacific Northwest. She has worked as a research scientist for the University of Idaho and the U.S. Geological Survey in Hawaii. Tracy previously taught at Salish-Kootenai College in Montana and worked in natural resource outreach, education, and policy in Oregon’s high desert. Tracy loves exploring the mountains and rivers of North Central Washington with her family.


Sponsor Remarks:

Julie A. Wilson-McNerney, Counsel, Perkins Coie

Julie Wilson-McNerney assists clients with project development, permitting, and regulatory compliance matters
under local land use and state and federal environmental laws, including the National and State Environmental
Policy Acts (NEPA/SEPA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Her
experience includes counseling project sponsors through the federal and state environmental review process for
major projects.