Where Water is Gold: Life and Livelihood in Alaska's Bristol Bay

CHANGING PERSPECTIVES

H A N G I N G P Eimprint R S P E C of TIV ES BRAIDED RIVER, theCconservation Mountaineers Books, combines photography and writing to bring a fresh perspective to key environmental issues facing western North America’s wildest places. Our books reach beyond the printed page as we take these distinctive voices and vision to a wider audience through lectures, exhibits, and multimedia events. Our goal is to build public support for wilderness preservation campaigns, and inspire public action. This work is made possible through the book sales and contributions made to Braided River, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Please visit BraidedRiver.org for more information on events, exhibits, speakers, and how to contribute to this work.

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First edition, 2016 All essays ©2016 by the contributors All essays on pages 38, 73, 74, 100, 113, 124, 150, 153, 156, and 160 © Carl Johnson All photos © Carl Johnson unless credited otherwise Photos on pages 36-37 © Pat Clayton Cover photo: Unnamed river delta in Kukak Bay, Katmai National Park and Preserve. Frontispiece: Golden light from a nearby bluff reflects with the green waters of Kulukak Bay. Page 2: The colors of autumn surround the braided Kvichak River. Page 3: A cow moose trots to shore after swimming from an island in Lake Clark. Page 4: A commercial fishing tender awaits the day’s delivery after sunset. Page 5: Evening light catches a gill net being hauled into the bow of a drift boat. Page 6: Rick Delkittie, a resident of the village of Nondalton, looks out onto the frozen Sixmile Lake near his village.

Page 7: An old wooden boat rests alongside the road in the village of Naknek.

Page 8: A Dena’ina Athabascan elder sorts through cranberries for twigs and leaves. Page 9: A Bristol Bay snack of salmon strips, Sailor Boy Pilot Bread, and sugar for black tea. Page 10: A group of Sockeye salmon, red and ready to spawn, swim up a creek near Iliamna Lake. Page 12-13: A sea of lily pads cover a lake at the headwaters of Silver Salmon Creek in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Page 176: Hundreds of attendees at Salmonstock (now Salmonfest) join together to form a piece of living art designed by Mavis Muller. Back cover photo: The crew of the F/V Chulyen tosses out the first buoy during a commercial Sockeye salmon opener in the Ugashik District.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Publisher: Helen Cherullo Project Manager: Mary Metz Acquisitions and Developmental Editor: Deb Easter Content and Copy Editor: Amy Smith Bell Cover and Book Designer: Jane Jeszeck, www.jigsawdesign.com Development and Communications: Lace Thornberg Cartographer: Ani Rucki Scientific Advisor: Jack A. Stanford A catalog record for this book is available at the Library of Congress ISBN: 978-1-59485-773-7