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Ten Tips for Fish-Friendly Living

Ten Tips for Recreators

These suggestions are practical changes we can consider making in our daily lives to help salmon. This information does not substitute for any local, state or federal legal regulations. Reprinted with permission from the Oregon Governor’s Natural Resources Office at 503-378-3589.

1. Designated trails
Stay on designated trails when hiking and biking. Hiking and biking off-trail damages natural vegetation and increases erosion of sediment to streams. Sediment can smother gravel fish nests and reduce the amount of oxygen available to fish and other aquatic life.

2. Stream restrictions
Avoid hiking or swimming near areas where restrictions are posted or where you see salmon in streams. Any human disturbance can cause substantial stress to fish attempting to spawn, and may completely inhibit spawning during this vulnerable stage in the salmon lifecycle.

3. Biodegradable soaps
When camping, use biodegradable soap and rinse dishes away from streams and lakes. Non-biodegradable soaps can persist in soils and waterways for long time periods, and can harm native plant and animal life. If used away from streams and lakes, soils can serve to filter biodegradable solutions before these pollutants reach waterways.

4. Streamside vegetation
Try not to disturb plants, shrubs and trees, especially along streambanks. Streamside vegetation helps stabilize banks and shade waters, maintaining the clean and cool conditions needed by fish.

5. Garbage disposal
Use campground trash collection where available; otherwise pack your waste home for later disposal. Proper disposal of garbage when camping and hiking reduces our impact on natural areas.

6. Waste disposal
Use campground toilet facilities or carry your waste paper out for later disposal. Trash and untreated sewage pollute recreational areas, groundwater and can wash into nearby waterways.

7. Animal wastes
Tether riding stock away from wetlands, lakes and streams. Animal wastes entering streams can reduce the dissolved oxygen available to fish. If left near waterways, horses can damage streamside vegetation and trample banks, which increases erosion of sediment into the water.

8. Dogs
Keep dogs leashed when hiking and camping. If allowed to roam in streams, rivers and lakes, dogs can disturb gravel beds where fish spawn and lay eggs and can increase erosion on streambanks.

9. Vehicle pollution
Make sure your vehicles are free of oil and other fluid leaks before taking to the outdoors. Oil, gas and other chemicals can run off parking lots and roads to pollute the waterways, killing fish and other aquatic life.

10. Volunteer
Volunteer for trail restorations and clean-up days in the places you love to recreate. In these ways, Oregonians throughout the state can come together to preserve our natural resources for future generations.

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