Third Annual Wild Salmon Hall of Fame Gala

Wendy Scherrer, executive director of the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, was named to the Wild Salmon Hall of Fame during a celebration event held Saturday night at the Kitsap Conference Center. The event, sponsored by Pacific Northwest Salmon Center, recognizes outstanding individuals who have promoted efforts to restore, protect and conserve wild salmon populations

Wendy has had an impressive 30+ year career professionally and personally of dedicated service protecting, restoring and enhancing Wild Salmon recovery. To that end, her numerous and diverse accomplishments include her position as the Executive Director of the Nooksak Salmon Enhancement Association since 1999. She was also an Education Director for the North Cascades Institute, Adjunct Environmental Educator at Western Washington, workshop consultant for Adopt-a Stream Foundation, and an Environmental Planner for Whatcom, Skagit and King Counties.

Wendy has had numerous appointments as a board member including; the Nooksak Recovery Team, Happy Valley Neighborhood Association, Ferndale Community Advisory Board, Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Commission, WA Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Nooksak/Samish Regional Fisheries Enhancement Council. Moreover, Wendy is the founder and Executive Board member of the Environmental Education Task Force. She has facilitated and coordinated copious seminars and education forums for educators and students alike and has published several educational resources for other environmental educators. Awards she has received from state agencies and other institutions compliment the caliber of her many achievements. When it comes to Wild Salmon, Ms. Scherrer has kept the pulse of salmon recovery efforts close to her heart.

Scherrer was among six nominees for the award from throughout the Northwest. Others nominated for the Wild Salmon Hall of Fame this year were:

Fredrick Olney had a 35 year career in Wild Salmon recovery efforts while employed as a fisheries biologist and senior staff scientist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Fisheries Program in Portland, Oregon. He worked with the Tribes as a technical advisor providing advice on scientific matters helping to resolve conflicts during the Boldt Decision; a landmark ruling that changed the fisheries management practices in the Pacific Northwest as it relates to the allocation of fishery resources between the Tribes and non-Indian fishers. He has also worked extensively on the Columbia River establishing a "normative" spill for the river as opposed to barging juvenile salmon downstream.  Though controversial, the spill is still practiced today and is considered a cornerstone of operations on the Columbia River.

 The late Willy O'Neil was known as an avid fisherman, conservationist and political advocate dedicated to the recovery of our Pacific Northwest Wild Salmon runs. As an Environmental Affairs Manager for Associated General Contractors he developed ordinances for local governments including development of non-residential energy codes for Washington. Willy helped in creating and funding the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the Transportation Permit Efficiency and Accountability Committee. He also worked diligently with legislators and multiple stakeholders to pass the Salmon Recovery Act, which he believed would be the framework for our State's efforts to recover threatened and endangered salmon stocks.

Dick Goin is an avid educator and historian of Wild Salmon and watershed issues. He has written numerous reports for technical review groups and has been a source of information for regional Tribes, WRIA and Lead Entity groups. Dick has played important roles in many salmon habitat recovery projects in Washington including East Twin and Deep Creek restoration and watershed monitoring, Siebert Creek protection, Salt Creek assessment, Ennis Creek restoration, Morse Creek assessment and Elwha River restoration. Dick was one of the founders of the North Olympic Salmon Coalition RFEG, served as technical advisor for the Governors Salmon Review Program and is a current representative for the North Olympic Peninsula Lead entity.

Dr. Robin Waples has had a 20 year career of dedicated service in Wild Salmon recovery efforts while employed with the National Marine Fisheries Service. His career positions include; NMFSC Salmon Senior Scientist, Division Director, Program Manager, Endangered Species Project Manager, Geneticist, National Research Council Research Associate, Conservation Biology Project Manager, NWFSC and Biology Instructor; in addition he has had numerous awards, presentations and scientific review publications.  Dr. Waples' work includes genetic research and refining genetic methods used to assess stock composition in mixed stock harvests by using analytical and numerical (computer simulation) methods. Recently his work has led to understanding and estimating effective population sizes and population genetics.

Mark Sollitto & Terry Williams led the forum creating the Snohomish Basin Conservation Plan.  Terry Williams served as the Tulalip Tribes Fisheries and Natural Resources Commissioner and as Commissioner to the NW Indian Fisheries Commission. He was also a representative for Pacific Fisheries Management; Chair of Pacific Salmon Commission and was appointed as the United Nations Delegate by Dept. of Interior for the Untied Nations Conference on Biodiversity; moreover, Terry is a chair and or board member to other organizations including Timber Fish and Wildlife, Puget Sound Water Authority, Northwest Straits Commission, Center of Streamside Studies, Adopt-a-Stream Foundation, Salmon Homecoming Alliance and People of Puget Sound.

Mark Sollitto's accomplishments include being a Chair of Snoqualmie Watershed Forum and council member for the City of North Bend helping to protect the regions' natural resources. In King County, Mark has advocated for parks and worked to develop and implement land use policies preserving over 91,500 acres in King County.

The Pacific Northwest Salmon Center, based in Belfair, was established to promote the construction of a world-class research and educational facility. Hall of Fame winners are featured in a special exhibit presently housed at the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group offices in Belfair.