There has been a large decline in the populations of Wild Steelhead on the West Coast of the United States. Our project will tag and track Kelts (re returning steelhead), using cutting edge satellite tags, along Oregon's coastal rivers. This will allow scientists insights into the life cycles of these fish, giving us a better understanding of what we can do to protect them.

 We aim to answer the following questions with this study: Where do Steelhead migrate off the Oregon coast? What proportion of Steelhead are dying before the return to Oregon streams to spawn? Are climate change and Ocean Dead Zones affecting steelhead migration and mortality?

This cutting edge satellite technology is expensive and labor intensive to enact, and that’s where you come in. You can help us with our journey of scientific discovery by donating to this project. If we can raise funds in the next month, we will be in a position to tag fish in the spring of 2025 and beyond. In other words, by helping to fund this project you can help provide critical information regarding this culturally and economically important species.

The Wilderness Calling Conservation Initiative (TWCCI) is a conservation organization rooted in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. We are dedicated to preserving wild fish populations and safeguarding critical habitats in Oregon’s Northwest Coast Zone and beyond. We are united by a shared mission to research, protect, and advocate for the creatures that inhabit our watersheds. Our team includes expertise across fields including guiding, fishing, and fisheries biology. Driven by a deep commitment to education, preservation, and legacy, we aim to inspire lasting change to benefit all life within these vital ecosystems.

 TWCCI is a program of the Charitable Partnership Fund, an Oregon tax exempt public benefit corporation, EIN 93-1267966.