Salmon Forest
David Suzuki and Sarah Ellis, Illustrated by Sheena Lott
“Take a walk in the woods with Kate and her dad. You’ll find out why the Pacific rain forest is called the salmon forest and how the salmon and the trees need each other. You’ll also meet fat slugs an squawking gulls and a bear that is hungry for some fish. And you’ll get to know Brett and his family as they fish for salmon, clean it, cook it and share a tasty meal with Kate and her dad.”
A Salmon for Simon
Betty Waterton & Ann Blades
“Simon has always longed to catch a salmon. But when his luck suddenly changes and an eagle accidentally drops one into a tidal pool, Simon is torn between sympathy for the fish and the desire to catch something of his own.”
There Was on Old Lady Who Swallowed a Trout!
Teri Sloat, Illustrated by Reynold Ruffins
“Everyone has heard about the old lady who swallowed a fly, but there is something particularly fish about this old lady…Beautiful illustrations in this story capture the scenery and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest…and jumps along as an otter, a seal, a walrus until eventually she swallows the entire sea and the trout swims free!”
The Origin of Mattole (Through the Eyes of a Salmon)
George ‘Buck’ Miner
“A tale of humor and history featuring Henrietta-a fictitious fish- as the guide on a journey up the Mattole River…in an exploration of the region’s creeks and peaks and the origins of their unique names…Join Henrietta where the big swim begins. It’s wintertime and the Mattole River is swollen bank to bank. As Henrietta zig-zags on upstream she searches for the perfect gravel…She swiftly moves upstream. So shall we.”
Swimming Salmon
Kathleen Martin-James
A Pull Ahead Book this is an excellent introduction to the salmonid life cycle for k-2 complete with EXCELLENT “real life” pictures, maps, anatomy diagram and a ‘look and find’ section.
The Magic School Bus Goes Upstream
Joanna Cole, Illustrated by Bruce Degen
“It’s time for Walker Elementary’s annual Fish Fry-and Ms. Frizzle’s class is planning to bring salmon. But there seems to be no salmon left in the sea. Where did they all go? And why? In order to fish for answers, Ms. Frizzle turns the bus into a salmon. And suddenly the gang joins a whole group of real salmon on their way to a freshwater stream.”
Swimmer
Shelley Gill, Illustrated by Shannon Cartwright
This amazing book chronicles they story of an Alaskan salmon, Swimmer, as she travels through her life cycle, from her birth in the freshwater to her adulthood in the ocean. Also included on each page are salmon facts and beautiful illustrations. This book is very highly recommended.
Discovering Salmon
Nancy Field and Sally Machlis
A nature activity book that will ‘spawn children’s curiosity’. Includes riddles, mazes, fish trivia, coloring pages and fact sheets.
Salmon Stream
Carol Reed-Jones, Illustrated by Michael S. Maydak
“Unfolds the secrets of the life cycle of salmon and the multiple threat to their survival while actually building one’s wonder and appreciation for these unique creatures…Well founded in the scientific cycle of salmon, it engages children in a positive way, showing how they can help make sure…salmon will be with us always.”
More Tree Talk
Ray Raphael
“An insightful and compelling look at how the current debate over forestry issues will affect individuals-loggers, naturalists, restoration workers, timber company executives- and the forests themselves…Through most of its pages, experienced businessmen. Loggers, foresters, hunters, scholars and hands-on conservationists speak for themselves through beautifully edited interviews.”
(MULTIPLE COPIES AVAILABLE FOR CHECK-OUT)
Gyotaku Fish Impressions (The Art of Japanese Fish Printing)
Doug Olander
A book of completed fish print pictures that includes the history of Fish Printing and an explanation of each piece. Good for ideas before you fish print.
(Available from WSP)
Produced 1995 funded by Mead and Rex Foundations
Michael Fasman and Patrick Higgins
Filled with mostly local (Humboldt Area) footage this fantastic video explores both problems that salmon populations are facing and what is being done to save them. Its formatting segments (habitat, restoration, gov’t policy etc.) make it easy to break up or show in whole. It also includes some fantastic footage of the infamous 1964 flood taking out Hwy 101. Very highly recommended.
Life Cycle of Anadromous Salmonids (19 min)
Produced 1988 HSU & Eureka City Schools
Written by Jeff Self
Narrated by James Floss
Cycle begins in ocean with description of how fish adapt from salt to freshwater. Shows redd building and egg laying. Describes water temperature and its effect on hatching times. Describes proper conditions necessary for survival, with nice close-ups of the different stages of egg development. Discusses why populations are declining, predation and out-migration…which completes the cycle.
Salmon and Steelhead-On the Edge (30 min.)
Produced 1988 Katherine Domeny
Written by Katherine Domeny
Narrated by Bill Sibley
Oriented towards the Sacramento/San Joaquin rivers and the delta. Discusses salmon vs. people, California’s legendary salmon runs, wild stocks and what they mean to our culture and economy. Also takes a look at manmade problems and how we can reverse them, and what/why we stand to lose with the loss of salmon stocks. Discusses commercial fishing, loss of habitat, agriculture, ocean conditions, water use, hatcheries (big and small) and the efforts of citizen gropus and the Salmon Stamp Program. Discusses the life cycle briefly. (Also contains footage found in “Like Our Fathers Before Us” and “Return of the King.”
Like Our Fathers Before Us (30 min)
Produced 1987 KEET TV/ Lone Eagle Productions
Written by Mark Buckley
Narrated by Raymond Burr
Oriented toward commercial fishermen and the Salmon Stamp Program. Traces the formation of citizen groups during the late 60’s through the 80’s including the formation of the California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout and the Salmon Stamp Program. Lots of local Northcoast footage with scenes shot on the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Eel, Klamath and Scott Rivers. Discusses hatchery programs (big and small) and habitat restoration. No life cycle. Contains footage also found in “On the Edge” and the “Return of the King.”
Return of the King (30 min.)
Produced 1987 Long Star Productions
Written by Mark Buckley
Narrated by Raymond Burr
Oriented toward hatchery production of salmon. Starts with description of life cycle. Contains historical footage of logging practices. Discusses citizen groups, Salmon Stamp, hatcheries big and small and habitat restoration efforts. Contains footage also found in “On the Edge” and “Like Our Fathers Before Us.
Return of the Salmon (30 min)
Produced 1995 Oregon Sea Grant
Writer/Producer Joseph Cone
Narrator Richard Weinman
Oriented toward watershed health. Discusses what a watershed is, the water cycle, soil and human impacts. Describes what a healthy creek is. Describes the salmon life cycle. Discusses genetic integrity of salmon stocks, historical uses by and effects of man on the environment. Also looks at predators and ocean conditions. Discusses methods of solving these problems, habitat restoration, structures, road removal, exclusionary fencing and individual citizen efforts.
The Nature of Things: Salmon on the Line (46 min)
Produced 1983 Canadian Broadcast Co./PBS
Written by Mike Poole
Narrated by David Suzuki
Filmed in Oregon and Washington. Lots of mixed messages as to what can and can’t be done. Discusses different types of salmon, how they navigate and their specialized genetic differences. Has a lot of historic footage of canneries, discusses over-fishing, dams, fish ladders that don’t work, logging pollution and human impacts. Nice graphics of migration patterns in the ocean. Discusses predators including humans, scale samples and coded wire tagging, hatcheries and fish farms as well as a student-run program to restore salmon to a river.
The Eel: Life of a Threatened River (60 min)
Produced 1982 Harnish Video/KQED TV
Written and Narrated by Paul McHugh
Produced during debated over Dos Rios dam near Covelo, CA. Details the history of California’s water use plan. Good graphic depiction of water cycle. Follows the Eel through one-year cycle and its effects on the life cycle of the salmon. Discusses estuaries and their importance and has historic footage of Native American fishing techniques, early settlers, canneries, etc. Discusses current uses of Eel river delta including commercial fishing, logging and recreational uses. Goes on to compare the Eel to the problems the Trinity River faced after Lewiston Dam was built. Looks at the business of water in California including: the Peripheral Canal, the Metropolitan Water District, Southern California’s plans for North Coast water, agribusiness and how we can conserve water.
Shadadxw (cha-da-duch) Salmon (30 min)
Produced 1987 USDA Forest Service, Region 5
Narrated by James Burke
The Name ‘Shadadxw’ is a Northcoast Indian name for salmon. Excellent photography and a very dramatic presentation of salmon and the problems they face. Filmed from Alaska down to the north coast of California. Discusses Native Americans and fishing with nice shots of traditional methods being used. Filmed in the Humboldt Bay it also looks at commercial fishing and the problems it faces. Discusses dams, hatcheries and the problems of wild and hatchery stocks mixing. Looks at habitat improvement projects including the blasting of entire trees to create large woody debris in creeks, floating creeks to count fish, tagging fish, spawning a salmon and replacing spawning gravel removed by miners. No discussion of the life cycle.
Nature: The Miracle of the Scarlet Salmon (60 min)
Produced 1988 Time Life Video/BBC
Narrated by George Page
Excellent film showing life cycle of sockeye salmon from the perspective of the salmon with great underwater photography. Starts with eggs being laid, hatching, out-migration, life at sea and ends with the return to spawn and die. In-depth discussion of predators: bears, birds, seals, sea lions, whales and man. Discusses pollution, logging practices, commercial fishing and methods of monitoring fish passage.
Bio-Fish TV (30 min)
Produced 1999 Chris Irwin and Paloma Galindo
This is a wonderful collection of salmon footage from various sources and put to music. The vides takes the viewer along a dramatic tour through the salmon life cycle, from the delicate eggs found in small creeks, to the large adult spawners trying to battle their way past many challenges both naturally and human caused. A very entraining look at the wondrous fish found on the West Coast without narration.
The Waters of these Mountains (30 min)
Produced Emelia Berol
Documents the history of the Trinity River and its present condition after humans have greatly interrupted the natural flows. Good footage and narration of how one of the critical species, Salmonids, has been decimated by poor habitat conditions.
Salmon (30 min)
Produced Discovery Channel
A TV documentary that looks at both Pacific and Atlantic salmon
AmeriCorps WSP Video (same tape as Bio-Fish)
Produced 1999 Chris Irwin/Paloma Galindo
Interview of WSP members and mentors explaining why the project is important and what it offers. A fun, internal look at whom the project attracts and what they gained from the experience. The second section is an “un-edited” version of after hours.
Thinking Like a Watershed (27 min)
Produced 1999 Johan Carlisle This entertaining and educational documentary, based on/in the Mattole watershed, shows how any group of citizens can restore the ecological health of their watershed and in the process improve the quality of their community.
The Water Cycle (11:48 min)
Produced CA Dept of Water Resources This video, based for grades 4-6, talks in depth about various water cycle topics including: How the water cycle works, How water is cleaned and purified, and How water is delivered to homes. The video also includes three “exciting experiments” that show” How water is stored underground, How heat from the sun makes the water cycle work and How gravel and sand can help clean water.
Water, Who Needs It? (14 min)
Produced CA Dept of Water Resources
A fun-filled learning and activity based video for kids K-6. Learn about the importance of water to living things, how fresh water is used and how you can protect and conserve water resources. Hands on activities from the video to teach in class include how polluted and salt water affect plants, how plants need fresh water to grow and how to conserve water while brushing your teeth.
Salmon on the Backs of Buffalo (DVD)
Produced Klamath-Salmon Media Collaborative
Ranging from the Boardrooms of Scotland to remote Northern California this documentary explores the struggle of 4 Native American Tribes on the Klamath River to protect their local rivers and salmon from habitat loss, dams, etc. As the DVD shows not only are the salmon and rivers at risk, but the physical health, the spiritual well-being and cultural survival of the Klamath Basin’s original inhabitants as well.
