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Gratitude to J. Michelle Swope as NFS Sunsets the Washington Coordinator Role

By
Mark Sherwood
Posted:

Gratitude to J. Michelle Swope as NFS Sunsets the Washington Coordinator Role

As of this week, Native Fish Society will no longer staff a full-time coordinator position in Washington state. We’re grateful to J. Michelle Swope for her service to wild, native fish and your homewaters over the past 5 years. Her passion for connecting with people and encouraging them to volunteer and learn new skills has left a lasting impression on so many of our new and old friends in Washington state. 

In particular, we want to acknowledge J. Michelle’s dedicated work coordinating salmon and steelhead spawning surveys. The White Salmon Spawning Survey Project has seen numerous successes over the past three seasons, and we are delighted to highlight some key achievements:

  • Volunteers diligently surveyed three White Salmon River tributaries—Mill, Spring, and Buck Creeks—every 10-14 days from September through the end of May, contributing to three years of comprehensive surveys coordinated by J. Michelle Swope.

  • Over 100 volunteers dedicated more than 1000 hours to training and conducting surveys, covering extensive river miles as part of the White Salmon Spawning Survey Project.

  • Valuable relationships were established with local organizations and experienced individuals in the field.

  • The project provided a meaningful and enriching volunteer opportunity, fostering collaboration among local advocates to contribute to the narrative of wild fish recovery on the White Salmon River!

At present, Native Fish Society is focusing more intently on our conservation programs and campaigns in Oregon and northern California. While we’re no longer staffing a full-time coordinator position in the state of Washington, we will continue to partner with Washington-based organizations and individuals who share our vision for abundant wild fish, free-flowing rivers, and thriving local communities. 

We appreciate your support and encourage you to wish J. Michelle the best in her future endeavors. 


If you have any questions, please contact Executive Director Mark Sherwood at mark@nativefishsociety.org.