The Salmon – A Free Flowing River
If you’ve ever had the good fortune of being on a Canyons river trip, you’ve probably heard one – if not all – of your guides ramble on about how special it is that the Salmon River is free-flowing, and how important it is to keep it that way for future generations. Indeed, the Salmon River – and its tributaries – run freely, unimpeded by dams and diversions, for more than 400 miles from its source to the confluence with the Snake River. There’s no doubt that this is extremely uncommon: for a river of this size, in a nation as developed and industrialized as the United States, to remain free-flowing a quarter of a way into the 21st Century – a lot of people had to fight very hard to make that happen.
But just because something is uncommon does not imply that it is important. Of course, even the layman can understand that a free-flowing river provides a healthier environment for the flora and fauna that live within and alongside it than one that is obstructed by dams. From the fish, the birds, the bears, the beavers, the insects, the vegetation, to every other living thing that relies on the Salmon River – they all benefit from it running freely.
Yet I believe that the importance of a free-flowing river extends beyond its environmental value. Indeed, I believe that free-flowing rivers carry within them INTRINSIC value. In other words, it is vital that a river remains free-flowing simply because that is how nature intended rivers to exist. Water – and moving water in particular – is the life force of any environment. All living things, in way or another, rely on streams, creeks, and rivers for sustenance. It is a universal theme across all life forms, in every corner of the world. Building a dam on a river – essentially killing it – creates a major disruption in the circle of life that reverberates throughout space and time.
Water is the blood of our planet, and rivers are her arteries; would you block your arteries and not expect it to have terrible consequences? I think not. It’s why here at Canyons we are so drawn to the majesty of the Salmon River; every time I get to travel down these sacred waters, I am overcome by feelings of immense gratitude. It is a blessing to experience a river in its natural form: wild and free.
Nicky
Similar Posts by The Author:
- Off Beat Interview Series with Kami
- Snake River Dams Update
- Who is Frank Church and what is a River of No Return Wilderness?
- Off Beat Interview Series with Katy
- Off Beat Interview Series with Jessie
