2000-2001 A Slight Road Block
From July 2000 to July 2001, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) held up our permits for the Chelatchie Creek project, which was designed to restore deep pools and spawning beds on 500 feet of channel. Finally, after much negotiation and intervention from some sympathetic elected officials, the pathway was open, and a number of new projects were permitted.

2002 - Our First Legal Battle
The next few years required a legal battle that consumed much of the organization's resources. We relied on data prepared by our scientists and hydrologist to stop gravel mining in the East Fork Lewis River flood plain. If permitted, the gravel mining would have destroyed miles of habitat and made most of our efforts irrelevant. To date we have been successful in stopping the mine, but the legal appeal processes will continue for years. We continued to raise fish in pens and distribute nutrients throughout the system.

2003 - A Breakthrough
2003 marked a major permitting breakthrough for the organization. A Section 10(a)1(A) permit was obtained from NMFS, providing a blanket permit for approximately eight different in-stream restoration treatments. This was the first permit of this type ever granted. This significantly streamlined the permitting process for in-stream restoration projects.

2004 - Our First Live Plants
In 2004, we accelerated the natural process of spawning and nutrient distribution by planting 200 pairs of wild and native Coho. The wild stock was provided by WDFW and the Lewis River Hatchery.

2005 - The Light Comes On
We discovered that non-selective harvest is the limiting factor in salmon recovery. Although, the organization was founded with a specific intent to avoid politics, it realized that non-selective harvest in the ocean, Columbia River and tributaries can only be stopped through legal and political action. Fish First is actively working on this issue with the Salmon Spawning and Recovery Alliance, and number of other organizations and government agencies, including Jim Connaughton, Chairman of the White House Council of Environmental Quality.

Current Events
Fish First is evolving. We have good report with landowners because we live and work in this community and are landowners ourselves. We cooperate with government rules and regulations, working closely with the fish and wildlife service and hatcheries. All Fish First activities have an objective of directly benefiting fish.