I have had the tremendously positive experience of collaborating with people from different economic and political backgrounds as we focus our efforts on a common goal: educating the public about rivers and their salmon and motivating people to protect these vital resources. SalmonAID creates fun festivals and educational events and working within this coalition is as fun as it is challenging and exciting.

I am working on behalf of Food & Water Watch to raise awareness about the plight of California salmon populations which have been devastated by poor water management in recent years. We are working with many other great organizations in the Bay Area to put together a successful month-long California salmon awareness event in September of 2010. So far the experience has been very worthwhile!

SalmonAid is a strong organization led by a creative collective of salmon stakeholders. The group continues to make significant advances in uniting and mobilizing environmental organizations, government agencies, fishermen, tribal groups, and the general public in the name of restored salmon runs.

SalmonAid continues to push positive change through increased diversity of member organizations and collaboration. The 2009 event will raise awareness within the SF Bay area and encourage festival patrons to push for sustainable salmon policy.

The true definition of grass roots resides in SalmonAid. As a participant in last year's SalmonAid event, I was stunned by and impressed with the terrific number of supporters this group was able to gather. SalmonAid gives a voice the West's struggling fishing industry, and the coastal and inriver challenges faced by salmon in California, Oregon, and throughout the West.