P R E S S  R E L E A S E

 

Karuk Tribe

 

For Immediate Release: March 4, 2013

 

For More Information:  Crispen McAllister, 530-598-5670 or cmcallister@karuk.us

 

KARUK ULTRAMARATHONER RUNS TO BRING THE SALMON HOME

Run through Karuk Homeland aims to raise awareness and support for efforts to

Bring the Salmon Home

 

Orleans, CA - In celebration of the International Day of Action for Rivers, Retired Veteran, Karuk Tribal Councilman and ultra-marathoner Crispen McAllister will run over 50 miles through the heart of Karuk Ancestral Territory on Thursday March 14th. Crispen’s goal is to raise awareness and support for restoring the Klamath River.  Crispen will have members of the community and local primary school students join him along the way.

 

"It's doing my part to help get the word out that the fight to restore the health of the Klamath River is far from over. There's still much to do in order to Bring the Salmon Home and create a healthy running river and healthy salmon runs." says Crispen.

 

For decades, Tribes, fishermen, farmers, and dam owner PacifiCorp fought over limited water resources and the fate of an aging complex of hydroelectric dams.  In 2010, these assorted parties signed a pair of agreements, the Klamath Settlement Agreements, which aim to balance water use, increase water storage in Upper Klamath Lake, and remove dams that block salmon runs. The Agreements, signed by a diverse array of Tribes, conservation groups, irrigation districts, fishermen, California and Oregon, require approval by Congress before they can be fully implemented.

 

“The salmon have sustained the People of the Klamath River since the beginning of time, supplying a diet ideal for optimal health,”explains Crispen. “It’s our responsibility to ensure that the salmon have a clean healthy river to come home to each year. I run upstream following the salmon’s path through Karuk territory in hopes that I can inspire others to do whatever they can to support salmon restoration.”

 

The 50 mile run is expected to take Crispen several hours but, he may have some company along the way: Children from Somes Bar School and other members of the community plan to join in for short stretches.

 

“Running long distances is a form of healing for me: the running, the salmon, the river are all connected,” confesses Crispen. “Running helps me get in the spirit of the river and promotes a healthy active life. The health of the river depends on people doing their part.”

 

Crispen urges supporters of the Karuk Tribe’s Bring the Salmon Home Campaign to donate to fund support for Klamath River Restoration and write their local congressmen asking them to support legislation to implement the Klamath Agreements.

 

Crispen’s run begins at the Bluff Creek Bridge on Highway 96 at 7am Thursday, March 14th. He hopes to finish at Karuk Tribal Administration Parking Lot in Happy Camp hopefully before 3pm (53 miles total). 

 

To learn more about events around the world commemorating the International Day of Action for Rivers, go to www.internationalrivers.org

Learn more about the Klamath Restoration Agreements at www.klamathrestoration.org

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