Reflections from the IRU staff trip on the Lower Salmon River
Most of IRU crew on the Lower Salmon River.
Last week seven of us (five staff, one board president, his spouse, and an elderly dog) floated down the Lower Salmon River for five days and four nights. Our trip was filled with classic river trip fun, – from running new rapids, to exploring Native American sites, listening to canyon wrens echo off the walls, thunderstorms turning to sunshine, and overall plenty of relaxation.
We were incredibly lucky and grateful to have our IRU Board President, LuVerne Grussing, along with his wife Kathy, on our trip. LuVerne was a river ranger on the Lower Salmon for over 30 years, and has run the river over 500 times….! His humble wealth of knowledge and connection were invaluable to our staff.
Our trip’s purpose was simple: you have to see, appreciate, and experience the places you fight for and protect. In order for our work to have meaning and tangible impact, trips like this are an important reminder of why we do what we do at IRU. Getting out of the office, and onto the water is also like going back to our roots and founding principles. Our crew wanted to share some images and reflections from the trip here.
For me, the big takeaway was getting to experience the river with LuVerne and hearing about all the work that went into restoring and protecting the river to exist as it does today. Especially contrasted to the lower Snake passed Cache Creek which was inundated with homes and knowing that a similar outcome would have happened on the Salmon had it not been for some of the conservation easements and protections that the BLM was able to secure. - Nick Kunath, Conservation Project Manager
Watching people experience something for the first time - whether it was the Lower Salmon stretch of the river, the first time on a river trip, or rowing a rapid for the first time. The myriad points of joy that are felt throughout are what remain so powerful to me during any trip. The interstitial moments between the rapids are what collectively make for an incredible adventure. - Nic Nelson, Executive Director
I was impressed by how varied the terrain was, particularly the transitions from dry hills to steep timbered canyons. LuVerne's knowledge was an amazing resource - I really enjoyed learning of the many sites of human history along the river. Before the trip I had envisioned the Lower Salmon as merely a migration corridor for salmon/steelhead; now I see the river for the incredible place it is in its own right. - Stephen Pfeiffer, Conservation Associate
After guiding on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon for years, I’ve never done the Lower Salmon until this trip. It was awesome to put the final link on the river system together. Being able to see a new stretch of river that deserves its own protections was amazing (while rowing my wooden boat) was a great reminder of why we believe in the power of rivers. It was an honor to learn about the history and place from LuVerne, our board president, as well.
The most powerful moment for me was arriving at the confluence with the Snake River. The river changed, and I could feel the difference between a free, flowing, wild river and a stagnant dead pool. My thoughts immediately went to salmon and steelhead. Seeing and experiencing a place first hand truly is the best way to protect it. It was all well timed as we continue to fight to free the Snake River and remove the four Lower Snake River dams. - Tess McEnroe, Communications Associate
Where to start? The entire trip was an absolute delight, and I consider myself lucky to have experienced my first river expedition with such a wonderful team. The beauty of the Lower Salmon River was captivating from start to finish. Exploring the river with LuVerne and hearing about his insights on the Lower Salmon River's history as well as learning about his 30+ year commitment to protecting it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
My favorite moments on and off the river will always be the new connections I've made with my team and the friendships we've built along the way. Each moment of this trip was a treasure, from admiring the breathtaking views of the Lower Salmon River, to "dominating" in games like Trout/Bocce, and indulging in late-night conversations under the starlit sky. Thank you Nic for planning and organizing this incredible trip! I'm already dreaming of returning to the Lower Salmon River (and our next staff river trip). - Lindsey Paynter, Membership & Volunteer Coordinator
Thank you for supporting our work at IRU, both on and off the water! Stay tuned as we continue to update our conservation community with how we are working towards permanent, federal protection for the Lower Salmon River.
