Nature Matters presents Dr. Kris Homel and Derek Wiley: The History of Chum Salmon in the Columbia River: collapsed populations on the long road to recovery.

In this presentation, Dr. Kris Homel, chum reintroduction coordinator with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), will describe historical and contemporary limiting factors and efforts to recover chum salmon. Derek Wiley, chum reintroduction assistant project leader with ODFW, will show a short film on Oregon Chum, including underwater spawning footage and broodstock collection.

The 7 p.m. presentation takes place Jan. 9 at the Fort George Lovell Showroom, 1483 Duane Street, Astoria. This free event is open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m. to purchase dinner or beverages at the Fort George Brewery before the event.

Historically, chum salmon represented a significant portion of the annual returns of salmon and steelhead to the lower Columbia River, with peak returns estimated at over a million chum in 1928. Beginning in the 1940s, chum returns declined rapidly to fewer than several thousand adults. In 1999, chum were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Nature Matters, a lively conversation about the intersection of nature and culture, takes place on the second Thursday of each month from October through May. Nature Matters is hosted by Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in partnership with the North Coast Watershed Association, the Lewis & Clark National Park Association, and the Fort George Brewery + Public House.

For more information, call the park at (503) 861-2471 or check out http://www.nps.gov/lewi, follow Lewis and Clark National Historical Park on Facebook and @LewisandClarkNHP on Instagram.