Well, I think there is enough interest for something to happen. Just not sure what though!! Rodney has a few good points, thanks Rod.
The reasons I was thinking the Vedder would be a good benefactor of a fundraiser are simple. First, it is the most heavily fished river in BC and takes one heck of a beating. The Vedder also has the biggest run of Steelhead in BC. So, being that I love my steelheading and I know there are tons more guys out there that feel the same way, I was hoping that we could do something to help. This I figured would mean a lot to the community and the tourism that the river brings in. The damage that the siltation could and more that likely will do is something that could hurt the future cycles of migrating salmon for years to come. As I stated earlier, in the first post, I know this work would cost more that what one fundraiser could ever hope come up with, and that there are funds in place to help out with what ever work needs to be done, but to me any more could be a big help. Other ideas perhaps, what about using this as an opportunity to raise money for the Hatchery, perhaps to do more in the enhancement of the lack of Coho returning to our rivers, not just the Vedder. I may be a bit biased, mainly because for some reason I love the Vedder and want to see it return to what it was even 4-5 years ago when I started fishing it, when I as a fairly new fisherman to bc, couldn't keep the Coho the end of my line. Next to the Steelhead, the Coho for me, is the Salmon of choice.
I know that there are other rivers out there that need help, and perhaps we should set up other fundraisers for those specifically, but since I have been on the Vedder hundreds of days, and have seen first hand how it has been going down the tubes quickly, this is the River that I wanted to help. I may be on my own in this opinion, but the Vedder is to me, my home river and needs our help.
I know that I am just rambling on right now, and probably have lost a lot of you already, but the Vedder is still a prime river for now, and I would like to help keep it that way before it falls even more. So, yes let's do what we can for all of our rivers. But at this point in time, for me anyways, the Vedder is the one that I feel needs the help. So many people and businesses depend on this river. So many people look to this river for great memories and peace and relaxation.
A great thanks go out to all that do what they can for the rivers they love. I am sure we all want our rivers to still be there for our future generations, so every little bit we can do, for whatever river we choose to help is a big step in the right direction.
In saying all that, what says we get something like this going? The money raised to go to what is needed most. Like I said, I will help out where ever I can. This was just an idea, anyone can feel free to run with it and see what we come up with.