River Steward Stories is a new monthly series by Native Fish Society, where we get to know the River Stewards at the core of Native Fish Society’s conservation work building groundswell of public support for abundant wild fish, free-flowing rivers, and thriving Northwest communities.

Each month, we’ll dive deep and introduce you to a River Steward from around the Northwest, so you can learn more about what drives them, the rivers they serve, and how to connect with them. 

With no further adieu, meet 29-year-old Clackamas River Steward Ethan Livermore, from Portland Oregon. 

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Meet Ethan Livermore: NFS Clackamas River Steward

NFS (Bold) Describe your personal history/relationship with the Clackamas River?

E.L. (italics): While I had spent a little bit of time up there before them, my relationship with the Clackamas didn’t really begin until after the upper river opened up to the public after the wildfires. I had never fished it before, and was very curious to see it in the wake of the fires. When I first ventured up there it was terrifying and also inspiring to see the river and everything around it growing back. Since then it's been a place of play, a place of rest and recovery, my therapy office, and above all else a place for me to find my balance and remind myself of how I relate to a natural world that's growing alongside me. 

What does the Clackamas River mean to you?

The Clackamas means an indescribable amount to me. Whenever I step into my favorite run, or encounter a fish on a given day, the Clackamas reminds me of who I am. It connects me to something greater than myself, it connects me to my ancestors who have lived on the banks of rivers and have been in relation with them for longer than any of us can imagine. The Clackamas reminds me of balance, and when enough is enough. It reminds me how fragile things can be, and how strong they can be. I'm kinda blowing hot air here, but the Clackamas means so much to so many present, past, and future. It means fun, it means danger, it means solitude, it means community. Rivers can do that to ya. 

What does the Native Fish Society represent to you?

NFS represents energy, passion, community, history, care and respect, and a visionary outlook on our collective future. 

Why do Rivers need Stewards?

Rivers need stewards because for as long as my ancestors have been here, for as long as anyone can remember and experience, the river owes us nothing and we owe the river EVERYTHING. Rivers tell us a lot, how to live, love, grow, move, etc. but rivers and fish and ecosystems they live in can't walk into a legislators office and ask for help. They can only tell us if we listen, and stewards are a crucial part of listening to our rivers for as long as humans have been in relation with them. 

What do you find unique to the Clackamas River?

Every river is unique in its own way, right? Their bends, their pools, their trees, and their fish. The Clackamas is one of the last rivers in the region that has strong and healthy runs of wild and native anadromous fish. That's special. The diversity of the river given its proximity to the metro area is incredibly special. If you've ever fished the Clack January to December, you know what I mean. This is all the more reason to care for, protect, and be in touch with this river. I could go on and on. 

What keeps you motivated to continue your work as a River Steward on the Clackamas River

I had a friend text me a while back that he cut down all his treble hooks on his spinners to one hook, because he wanted to catch fish but didn't want to jack them up too badly. Stuff like that motivates me, the belief that we can change hearts and minds and culture to orient ourselves towards fish and rivers and watersheds. Fishing is what motivated me at first, but the potential for change, and change together is what motivates me now I think. I want to make a difference, even if it's in little ways and changing little things we do. I want to help build positive, repeatable behavior to the betterment of our rivers. 

In general, what are your conservation priorities for the Clackamas River?

The Clackamas is in a good spot nowadays. The upper river is managed well for wild and native fish, while the lower river is open for hatchery fish and other species. The water in the upper is clear and cold and beautiful, and is rebounding well from the wildfires. If anything, with the wildfires alleviating some of the human pressure up there, it's flourishing. It's a priority to me that people get more educated on the why and how of this, and that we build a culture of care and intention for how we interact with our river. It's always going to make me nervous introducing more human impact on rivers. I want us to really be educated and in touch with how our river is doing so we can enjoy it, while protecting its successes. It's a priority to me that people fall in love with this river, so we all can be stewards of it. 

More specifically, "What's working" on the Clackamas River, that you want to continue, or encourage growth in?

I really want people to interact with the river not exclusively in recreational ways. I want surveys to happen up there, I want people to have a river and fish-oriented impact to rebuilding campsites and recreational sites on the upper, I want people to get stoked on citizen science monitoring on the river. I want more involvement and funding for beefing up spawning habitats, so when fish do make it to the upper they have everything they need with ease to continue their generational instincts of spawning and thriving. I want hatcheries to be deprioritized, so the fish who have been there for centuries aren't treated by competing species and genetic stocks. That’s not to say people don't care about these things already, I just want MORE. We can do MORE. We can love a little bit MORE.

Specifically, what are the premier challenges facing the Clackamas River that you want to rectify?

As of this moment, the main thing on my mind is pressure and extraction. It's a high use river. Float tubers, jet boats, anglers (fly and conventional), white water enthusiasts, we all create a challenge for the ecosystem if we aren't educated and mindful about our impact, don't care for our surroundings, and don't understand when enough is enough. 

Also, funding agencies and organizations that can do this kind of conservation and restoration work. The federal government doesn't do enough to resource what we are talking about at NFS. In my opinion, the State of Oregon doesn't put their limited funds (we need to reform how we generate revenue, and in turn how we allocate our resources) in the right places to cultivate a more sustainable future for our rivers. They blow money on hatcheries while looking over hydroelectric projects that are destroying our watersheds. Everything we need changes, we need to change from the ground up. That's pretty high level from the scope of Clackamas, but for as big and significant as our river is, it's a challenge I'd like us to tackle together, to benefit the river. 

Describe what you see, as the benefits to your community, with a healthy, abundant, and resilient Clackamas River

We all benefit from the river in one way or another already. Guides make a living off of fishing on the river, as do the local fly shops that utilize rivers to maintain their business through selling tackle, cultivating community, and supporting recreation. Many non-anglers enjoy rivers like the Clackamas in the summer for fun, relaxing activities like floats and river days. Local towns and businesses get waves of potential customers driving to and from the river. In my mind, prioritizing the health and well being of the river can lead to all of these benefits to our community so much better. And way more enjoyable. Everyone wants to enjoy a healthy river, everyone loves a clean and cared for river. Everyone wants to relate to the river whether they want it or not. 

What's the very NEXT thing you'd encourage community members to tune in to, or to be aware of, regarding the Clackamas River? 

Stay in touch with the PDX Chapter of NFS, you'll get chances in the future or plug into some of the local happenings that we’ll have in the Portland area. Find the chapter on Instagram at nfs_pdx. Come out to events and connect. The more time we spend together talking about conversation, rivers, and fish, the better! 

I'd also say keep a watchful eye, ear, heart, and hand extended to the river. If there is something that you're seeing on the Clack that you'd like changed, hit Native Fish Society and I up and let's have a conversation. We need to build a strong and caring community of wild and native fish advocates, so if you're itching to do something, let's get organized. 

Other than that: pick up trash and pinch your barbs. 

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River Steward Stories is a monthly series, so stay tuned for more inspiring conversations with the volunteers restoring and protecting their homewaters across the Pacific Northwest.

Follow along to learn about activities and opportunities to engage with the Portland Chapter of the Native Fish Society on Instagram at @nfs_pdx

If you have questions about the River Steward program, or Native Fish Society’s conservation campaign efforts in Northern Oregon, contact Northern Oregon Coordinator Daniel Ritz at Daniel@NativeFishSociety.org.