David Herasimtschuk
Coho Salmon in a Log Structure
Coho Salmon and fry, USA, 2023
Category - Into the Forest
In the Pacific Northwest the relationship between fish and forests embodies a sense of connection that seems almost mystical. Delivering a pulse of nutrients, returning adult salmon nourish some of the largest trees in the world, and in return, these ancient guardians provide a foundation for the complex conditions that salmon and trout rely upon. Historically, large trees were removed from rivers and surrounding forests as part of logging practices and efforts to clear waterways for navigation, fishing, and land development. This disrupted entire ecosystems. Today, conservation groups are working to restore this natural balance: the trees and roots in this photo were added to this stream as part of a restoration project organised by the Scott River Watershed Council, in collaboration with Karuk Tribe, to improve the habitat of the federally protected Coho salmon, which have experienced significant declines in populations throughout the Klamath River Basin in Northern California.
28 mm f/2 Lens - 1/60 sec at f/6.3 ISO 3200