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The Pacific Northwest Salmon Center (PNWSC) vision was created by a motivated public dedicated to protecting the Wild Salmon as essential to the environment and culture of the Pacific Northwest.
“The Pacific Northwest Salmon Center provides a springboard for the preservation and understanding of our entire ecosystem. In order to leave a fundamentally sound legacy for children, their children and all future generations we need a forum in which to educate the citizenry to the importance of wild salmon. The Pacific Northwest Salmon is an exciting innovative way in which to accomplish this,” said Neil W. Werner, Executive Director of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) and Secretary of the PNWSC.
The proposed Center will provide a place for education, interpretation, and discussion about wild salmon and ecosystem health. By becoming a focal point for illustrating the biological, spiritual, and economic facets of the salmon story, from the ancient to the present, it will play a vital role in educating future generations.
“The Pacific NW Salmon Center’s ecosystem approach to education and research will help demonstrate the undeniable link between people and wild salmon,” explained Sue Patnude of Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW), former President of the PNWSC board.
With plans to expand the visitors experience with passive recreation opportunities and a wildlife refuge, the center will partner with the WDFW to preserve and protect the lower Union River estuary and forested areas bordering the future site of the center.
“In the spring of 2006, a thrilling event occurred: the Pacific Northwest Salmon Center obtained an option to buy the 90 acre Johnson farm at the end of the Hood Canal in Belfair, WA. When the Salmon Center owns the property, it will have acquired a natural treasure that will become the basis for an educational, scientific, and environmental legacy that will benefit generations to come,” said Muffy Pickel, President of the PNWSC board.
The WDFW and HCSEG, partners in the PNWSC, will seek grants through the state’s IAC’s Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) under the Urban Wildlife and Riparian Protection categories to acquire the properties. The group will be considering additional grants, possibly through the Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) for additional funding in order to acquire adjacent properties.
State Senator Phil Rockefeller and House Representative Sherry Appleton reviewed the proposals and plans for the properties on April 17.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for the center and a good investment for our state’s lands,” commented Rockefeller.
“I really hope that we can see some collaboration between these important educational programs, focusing on salmon, and our Marine Science Center in Poulsbo,” added Appleton, who surveyed the Johnson farm site and met with staff at the HCSEG and PNWSC offices.
“The Mason-Kitsap Community will rejoice with pride when the PNWSC becomes a reality. In phases, the campus will resemble a small college; multiple educational sites, research stations, bountiful and beautiful artworks, viewing of wild salmon spawning, seminar and meeting rooms, a world class wild salmon museum display, an outdoor theater where Wild Salmon reigns, an evolving new salt water wetlands and more trails to join with existing Theler Trails. It will be a great day for the community and for the Wild Salmon of the Pacific Northwest!” said the group’s very passionate founder, Al Adams.
Rockefeller and Appleton were recently enlisted to form a new public/private group called the Puget Sound Partnership to develop an aggressive 15-year plan to solve Puget Sound’s most vexing problems. The Partnership has 14 members and four legislative liaisons and is co-chaired by the Governor; Billy Frank, Jr., Chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission; and Bill Ruckelshaus, Chair of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board.
The Wild Salmon Hall of Fame is an integral part of the Salmon Center, slated to begin operation in 2008. Nominations are now being sought for the Sept. 23 celebration in Bremerton.
The selection committee members include Congressman Norm Dicks; Salmon Recovery Funding Board Chair, Bill Ruckelshaus; Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Chair, Billy Frank Jr.; WDFW Director, Jeff Koenings; and Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife Fisheries Program Manager, Charles Corrarino.
Nomination forms for the Award can be obtained by contacting the PNWSC Administrative Manager Tori Dulemba at (360) 275-2763, or visiting www.pnwsalmoncenter.org/wshf.xml. | 
