Annual Fall Creek Festival showcases research center

The Oregon Hatchery Research Center will hold its annual Fall Creek Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 1,

A free lunch will be provided during the family friendly festival that includes a number of children’s activities and workshops.

Workshops begin at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., on topics such as fish-printing, watercolor painting, wire wrap jewelry-making, salmon cycle jewelry, bird-house building and stamping.

The center, which is jointly operated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, is 13 miles west of Alsea on Highway 34, the route from Philomath to Waldport.

“There has been a strong run of salmon this year throughout the Northwest, and festival participants should have an opportunity to view a number of fish,” said David Noakes, a professor of fisheries at Oregon State and the science director for the center.

The event is free and all are welcome, but registration is required because of limited space. Call (541) 487-5512 or email oregonhatchery.researchcenter@state.or.us

The center is a research site for studying similarities and differences between hatchery-raised and wild salmon and steelhead. It is located at the former site of the state’s Fall Creek Hatchery on the tributary of the Alsea River.

“There has been a strong run of salmon this year throughout the Northwest, and festival participants should have an opportunity to view a number of fish,” said David Noakes, a professor of fisheries at Oregon State and the science director for the center.

You can check out the research center online at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/OHRC/