Sense of Place will feature Salmon at a Crossroads on January 17th, 2024. This event will be offered in person at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon, and via livestream. In recent years, sockeye salmon in the Columbia and Snake rivers have experienced devastating mass die-offs, because water temperatures were too hot. The Little White Salmon River and nearby tributaries in the Gorge have also experienced tragic losses.

Yakama Nation leaders, Columbia Riverkeeper, and over 40 people gathered at the mouth of the scenic Little White Salmon River to hold a Salmon Vigil. The vigil was to raise awareness about the ongoing deaths of sockeye salmon caused by hot water temperatures in the Columbia River and its tributaries.

Columbia and Snake Rivers had become “superheated” due to a combination of climate change, heatwave events, and overheating problems related to stagnant dam reservoirs. The Columbia stands at 71 degrees Fahrenheit. Fish are dying.