08/03/2026
On July 16, a major glacial outburst from Summit Lake flooded the Salmon River, rerouting it into Fish Creek. In addition to being one of the most important salmon spawning habitats in the region, Fish Creek is the backbone of the tourism economy for Stewart, BC and Hyder, Alaska. The flooding destroyed the spawning habitat and roughly 100 feet of boardwalk at the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site. This posed an imminent threat to both the ecology and economy of the region.
The community of Hyder mobilized, and we joined them alongside the State of Alaska and the U.S. Forest Service, working together to repair the ruptured levee and reroute the Salmon River out of the creek. Within hours of the fix, the first salmon returned, followed shortly by the first bears.
Efforts continue, and it will be some time before the boardwalk is repaired, but the spawning channel has been restored in time for the returning salmon. We are deeply moved by the collective efforts of all involved, and we could not be more proud of what we have all accomplished together as a community.
