Join Blue Mountain Land Trust and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) natural resource staff for a tour of the ˀImtwaha Fish Hatchery, with expert insights from hatchery staff!

Blue Mountain Land Trust (BMLT) is offering a special opportunity to visit the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) ˀImtwaha Fish Hatchery. On Saturday February 14, come out to learn how the Tribes are exercising their Treaty rights by rearing chinook salmon and steelhead trout for reintroduction into the Walla Walla and Umatilla River systems.

The CTUIR’s department of natural resources is charged with providing sustainable harvest opportunities for aquatic species of the First Food order by protecting, conserving, and restoring native aquatic populations and their habitats. To aid in this mission, the Tribes rear chinook and steelhead from eggs to adulthood, to reintroduce the fish into our rivers.

For the past two decades, the Tribes have successfully re-established spring chinook salmon in the Walla Walla River, which were extirpated in the 1950s. The ˀImtwaha Fish Hatchery plays a vital role in this important work and you’ll learn all about it during the tour, led by CTUIR Natural Resource staff members.

For background information on the ˀImtwaha Fish Hatchery, please click here.

Questions? Get in touch with Andrew Addessi, BMLT Stewardship and Restoration Director at andrew@bmlt.org.

Trip Details:

• What you will learn:

  The Tour will be led by the CTUIR Department of Natural Resources and facilitated by Blue Mountain Land Trust.

  Topics Include:

  • Tribal history of the Walla Walla and Umatilla River Basins

  • Importance of Salmon as a First Food to the CTUIR

  • Mission of CTUIR’s Department of Natural Resources

  • Salmon and steelhead restoration need

  • The importance of Tribal fish hatcheries in ensuring the persistence and success of salmon and steelhead

  • How salmon are raised from eggs to adults

• What's included:

  • Unique guided tour of a complex and highly impactful fish hatchery that has returned hundreds of thousands of fish to our rivers!

• Meeting Location

  We will at the ˀImtwaha Fish Hatchery, which is a short drive from Milton-Freewater, OR.

  Specific directions will be provided upon registration.

• Schedule:

  10:00 am - 10:15 am: Arrive at Hatchery

  10:15 am - 10:30 am: Welcome and Introduction

  CTUIR: Natural Resource Staff Introduction:

  • Purpose of hatchery and its connections to CTUIR First Foods Mission/River Vision

  • Impact to date

  BMLT Introduction

  • Introduction to conservation easements and BMLT’s work with CTUIR

  10:30 am - 11:30 am: Tour of Hatchery, led by CTUIR Natural Resource Staff

  11:30 am - 12:00 pm: End of tour debrief, take aways, and questions

• Age & Experience level:

  Who should join?

  • Open to ages 12+ with parent or legal guardian.

  Experience Level:

  • Involves walking and standing for extended periods of time

• What to bring & wear:

  • Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing (prepare for winter weather this time of year, some portions of the tour will be outside.)

  • Water

  • Snacks

• Notes:

  • Phone service is spotty in and around the hatchery. Please plan accordingly and download directions to the property prior to departure.

  • Registration closes on February 11, 2026

  • We’re currently following CDC guidelines for all BMLT sponsored events. Please stay home if you are feeling unwell.

  • For more information about this event, please get in touch with Andrew, andrew@bmlt.org

• Contact:

  Please email Andrew Addessi, BMLT Stewardship and Restoration Director if you have questions, andrew@bmlt.org

Presented in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.