The National Fish Habitat Partnership (www.fishhabitat.org) and American Fisheries Society’s Fish Habitat Section (https://habitat.fisheries.org/) teamed up to host a film festival at the AFS/TWS 2019 Joint Conference held in Reno, Nevada. This festival included over 80 films shown during 14 showing sessions. Films showcased examples where resource practitioners and others come together to protect, restore and enhance freshwater, coastal and terrestrial habitats that support the needs of fish and wildlife. These films show how improving habitat brings other benefits like improved water quality and socio-economic returns to communities. Film categories included habitat conservation projects, on-the-ground restoration examples, and included other films that capture the dynamic landscapes and unique habitats that are home to our fish and wildlife.
At this link you can find a downloadable digital program for the films shared at the festival, including web links for most films. The films are also listed below.
Session 1 – Our Stories: The National Fish Habitat Partnership
•Our Story shared by The National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JKInLwn9Aw
•About Us from the Desert Fish Habitat Partnership (DFHP) https://vimeo.com/193083117
•The Odyssey of Lake Wichita shared by NFHP https://youtu.be/DfX3WsiVfTY
•The Restoration of Grape Creek, California shared by the California Fish Passage Forum https://youtu.be/f5o96dvbKAY
•Watershed Leaders Network 2019 Missouri Dept of Conservation, TAPI Story, NewGround Inc., Co-Nexio, Fishers & Farmers Partnership for the Upper Mississippi River Basin https://vimeo.com/312456496
•BACK FROM THE BRINK: A Muskegon Lake Film from GreatLakes Outreach Media https://youtu.be/QGj2v_Ac_JM
•Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance – Fisheries Habitat Enhancement Action from WAND TV https://youtu.be/ZWZ1lasoi1g
•FLOW: the Chipola River Story shared by NFHP https://youtu.be/5YBMhkiTiTc
•Aaron Run – A National Fish Habitat Partnership Snapshot a NFHP project through the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture https://youtu.be/hFzXdE2xKCQ
•Blueheads and Bonnevilles presented by DFHP and the Western Native Trout Initiative https://vimeo.com/193106573
•Wild Steelhead Habitat Restoration in Idaho from Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCl-tQW4d6U
•Journey of the O’opu: World Fish Migration Day (Hawai’i) shared by the Hawaii Fish Habitat Partnership https://youtu.be/0yKq02tHrcc
•Preserving Nature. Preserving Heritage. Shared by Firefly Imageworks https://vimeo.com/277546516
Session 2 – Some Like it Salty: Examples of Coastal Conservation
•Repairing the Reef: West Hawaii Focuses on Habitat shared by NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation https://youtu.be/N3nEzmT3I9M
•A NRCS Salmon Recovery Success Story: Quileute Tribe submitted by Quileute Natural Resources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0iQCXRACZU&fbclid=IwAR15d8lVX_YPYkCnT8I60AX9MeFWs4k3KdMoz9mmsqZR-JeftMcZNSYj1mg
•Sustainable Shellfish Aquaculture in Washington shared by The Nature Conservancy of Washington https://vimeo.com/325720972
•Restoring Tidal Wetlands at Winter Lake submitted by The Nature Conservancy https://youtu.be/hkZr947-VpE
•Engaging Conservation Leaders shared by Northwest Straits Foundation https://vimeo.com/225900211
•Shore Friendly: The Benefits of Natural and Restored Beaches submitted by Island County Department of Natural Resources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7np0Nxu5GU
•MRC Diaries: Protecting & Preserving Our Island Waters shared by the Island County Marine Resources Committee https://vimeo.com/284737115/42a6da3845
•Bowman Bay Restoration Project Drone Video submitted by Northwest Straits Foundation https://vimeo.com/323858924
•3 Crabs, 5 Salmon, 30 Partners shared by the North Olympic Salmon Coalition https://vimeo.com/308354966
•Dutch Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration Project submitted by California Dept. of Water Resources https://youtu.be/vdPlahmxuw8
•Yolo Flyway Farms Tidal Habitat Restoration Project submitted by California Dept. of Water Resources https://youtu.be/ZhFGzgng-Iw
•Living in the Dark shared by Greenfire Productions https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/fullmoon-livinginthedark/1012h_livinginthedark_gulfofmexico_LG.mp4
Session 3 – Rivers by Freshwaters Illustrated
This session highlighted films produced by Jeremy Monroe with Freshwaters Illustrated that focus in on vibrant rivers. UPRIVER is a ‘watershed film’ that explores the active river conservation movement taking place in Oregon’s Willamette River system. Hidden Rivers is a film capturing the little know life of Southern Appalachian Rivers. Find more details here:
https://www.freshwatersillustrated.org
Session 4 – Sharing Benefits of Collaborative Aquatic Conservation
•Restoring California’s Great Estuary shared by California Department of Water Resources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj6dj2p3GHQ
•Confluence of Purpose submitted by Tillamook Estuaries Partnership https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GkxvayuLRI&t=547s
•Collaboratively Improving Salmonid Habitats in California’s Central Valley shared by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (link not available)
•Root River Field to Stream Partnership: Lessons Learned presented by Minnesota Department of Agriculture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTkMf9joXgA
•A Dam Problem produced by Wahoo Films https://vimeo.com/133390240
•Fish-Friendly Floodgates shared by Whatcom Family Farmers https://youtu.be/7em46jHRXVw
•Hamilton Creek submitted by LKE Corporation and Dancing Wolf Pictures https://vimeo.com/325490900
•Floodplains for the Future produced by Wahoo Films https://vimeo.com/255789893/3cc9f04b1d
•Floodplains by Design submitted by The Nature Conservancy of Washington https://vimeo.com/182606740
•Náimuni: Connecting Oxbow Conservation Area produced by Wahoo Films https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UrjqRDk57A&feature=youtu.be
Session 5 – Beavers as Water Guardians & Habitat Managers
•Beavers on Working Lands submitted by the Habitat Program of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission https://youtu.be/eulioYwyr2c
•The Relationship Between Beavers & Salmon: It’s Complicated shared by the US Fish & Wildlife Service Alaska Region https://www.facebook.com/USFWS.AK.Fisheries.Habitat/videos/932909770389900/
•The Beaver Believers produced by Tensegrity Productions https://www.thebeaverbelievers.com/
Session 6 – Following the Fish, Part 1
•Love Flows submitted by the World Fish Migration Foundation and directed by Francisco Campos-Lopes, with Zeb Hogan, Kathy Hoverman, Bob Irvin, and Jasper Pääkkönen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tBtz2uv8fI
•Undamming the Hudson River shared by River Keeper https://youtu.be/Sg2wxsYtzOs
•Herring River Estuary: Restoring on Ecological Treasure submitted by Friends of Herring River https://vimeo.com/327075967
•Cold Water Connection shared by the Wild Salmon Center https://vimeo.com/326387618
Session 7 – A River Runs Through It: Stories of River Restoration
•The Ottaway – A River Reborn submitted by Into the Outdoors Education Network https://vimeo.com/338697957
•Rebuilding Tincup Creek shared by Trout Unlimited https://vimeo.com/296515761
•Clackamas Complete: A Return of Bull Trout produced by Freshwaters Illustrated https://vimeo.com/98076000
•Restoring Oxbow Lakes Along the Boone River submitted by The Nature Conservancy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhxwxVWaDrY&feature=youtu.be
•Restoration from Above produced by Wahoo Films https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78lcwwfhskc&feature=youtu.be
•Saving the Deschutes River produced by Wahoo Films https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMThGVhzNFw&feature=youtu.be
•Return of Whychus Creek produced by Wahoo Films https://vimeo.com/306232166/7079082e6d
•Water & Wood produced by Freshwaters Illustrated https://vimeo.com/58400710
•Replenishing a River shared by FISHBIO https://fishbio.com
•A Natural Balance – Partners in Restoration submitted by the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40aA6RHS61I
Session 8 – For the Fish: Examples of Species Specific Collaborative Conservation, Part 1
•Pulse: A Story of River Restoration submitted by the Lower Clark Fork Watershed Group https://vimeo.com/266048034
•Return & Restore – The NOAA/CCC Veterans Corps Program shared by NOAA Restoration Center https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/habitat-conservation/north-south-training-veterans-habitat-restoration-across-california
•Humpback Chub submitted by Grand Canyon National Park https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/fish-humpback-chub.htm
•Gila Trout – A Native Trout Conservation Story shared by USFWS Southwest Region https://youtu.be/3IVzWsOIB3I
•Fishes’ Brew submitted by Nebraska’s PBS & NPR Station https://vimeo.com/327308396
•The Super Salmon produced by Alaskanist Stories https://vimeo.com/169336239
Session 9 – Follow the Fish, Part 2
•The Salmon Forest, submitted by the USFS Alaska Region, Tongass National Forest (in collaboration with Sitka Conservation Society and Pioneer Studios) http://salmonforest.com
•The Salmon’s Journey shared by Cedar Grove Composting https://vimeo.com/336086393
•Fremont Weir Adult Fish Passage Project submitted by California Department of Water Resources https://youtu.be/WtEpdaE8HMY
•Letting the Rivers Flow shared by North and South Rivers Watershed Association https://vimeo.com/275839285
Session 10 – Wildlife and Water
•How Wolves Change Rivers, Submitted by NFHP (produced by Sustainable Man) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysa5OBhXz-Q&feature=youtu.be
•Horse Rich & Dirt Poor a Wildlife Society film by Charles Post, Phillip Baribeau and Ben Masters and produced by Fin and Fur Films https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6h242vy_q8
•The Curlew submitted by Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust, US Forest Service, NRCS, & Tight Line https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0hqmy1DH8s
•Bear, Fish, Creek shared by Gold Country Images https://vimeo.com/325453703
•Crabb Ranch produced by The Conservation Fund & Sprout Films https://vimeo.com/311002368
Session 11 – Legacies & Landscapes Through the Human Eye
•Conserving Wild Trout: The Legacy of Dr. Robert Benhnkeshared by Freshwaters Illustrated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZzcTJdD0yI
•Water from the Mountain – Agua de El Yungue shared by Freshwaters Illustrated https://vimeo.com/247903869
•A Deeper Creek: The Watchable Waters of Appalachia, shared by Freshwaters Illustrated https://vimeo.com/103358996
•The Little Tennessee Native Fish Conservation Area shared by Freshwaters Illustrated https://ncwf.org/conservation-priorities/little-tennessee-river-native-fish-conservation-area/
•Game Changer – A Watershed Moment shared by NFHP (produced by Blue Forest Films) https://vimeo.com/321106573
•Sharing Water by Wahoo Films https://vimeo.com/251398449
•Wild Possibilities shared by the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0oaQ03n2IE&feature=youtu.be
Session 12 – For the Fish: Examples of Species Specific Collaborative Conservation, Part 2
•Saving Grayling submitted by USFWS https://vimeo.com/308233822/e18a60e17a
•The Lost Fish – The Struggle to Save Pacific Lamprey by Freshwaters Illustrated https://vimeo.com/116177956
•Saving Brook Trout in the Smokies by Freshwaters Illustrated https://vimeo.com/297297998
•Bringing Back the Brooks: A Revival of the South’s Troutby Freshwaters Illustrated https://vimeo.com/89307424
•Treasuring the Choptank: Residents & Scientists Envision a Healthier Chesapeake Bay shared by NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation https://youtu.be/LXzouwBb0OE
•Back from the Brink: The Oregon Chub Story by Freshwaters Illustrated https://vimeo.com/278750047
Session 13 – Stories of Lake and River Restoration
•Muskegon Lake Habitat Restoration submitted by Great Lakes Outreach Media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWC-pKvG9Tc&feature=youtu.be
•A Creek Once More shared by USFWS https://vimeo.com/234839614
•Shasta Water Association & Arauja Dam Restoration Projects submitted by North Coast Resources Partnership https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A2I5kF4sjk&feature=sharer%3D1
•West Branch White River Restoration shared by US Forest Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDGhM72GF3k&feature=youtu.be
•What We Have In Its Place: Dam Removal, River Revival shared by Exeter TV – Town of Exeter https://vimeo.com/273924077
Session 14 – Conservation in the West
This is a special session dedicated to the films that capture examples of collaborative conservation taking place in the West. These films were included in other sessions but are captured here as a thank you to all the folks in the West that have helped to pull together this amazing conference! Thank you AFS and TWS meeting organizers!!!!
•Our Story by The National Fish Habitat Partnership https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JKInLwn9Aw
•About Us by Desert Fish Habitat Partnership (DFHP) https://vimeo.com/193083117
•Blueheads and Bonnevilles presented by DFHP and the Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI) https://vimeo.com/193106573
•The Restoration of Grape Creek, California shared by the California Fish Passage Forum https://youtu.be/f5o96dvbKAY
•Shasta Water Association and Arauja Dam Restoration Projects submitted by North Coast Resource Partnership https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A2I5kF4sjk&feature=sharer%3D1
•Horse Rich & Dirt Poor a Wildlife Society film by Charles Post, Philip Baribeau, and Ben Masters and produced by Fin and Fur Films https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6h242vy_q8
•Collaboratively Improving Salmonid Habitats in California’s Central Valley shared by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (link not available)
•Fremont Weir Adult Fish Passage Project submitted by California Department of Water Resources https://youtu.be/WtEpdaE8HMY
•Replenishing a River shared by FISHBIO https://fishbio.com
•Beavers on Working Lands submitted by the Habitat Program of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission https://youtu.be/eulioYwyr2c
•Humpback Chub submitted by Grand Canyon National Park https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/fish-humpback-chub.htm
•Gila Trout – A Native Trout Conservation Story shared by USFWS Southwest Region https://youtu.be/3IVzWsOIB3I
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR HELPERS!
Film Festival Organizers: Tom Lang, AFS Fish Habitat Section; Stephanie Vail-Muse, Desert Fish Habitat Partnership; Therese Thompson, Western Native Trout Initiative; Alicia Marrs, California Fish Passage Forum; Joan Drinkwin, Pacific Marine Estuarine Partnership; Jessica Speed, Mat-Su Salmon Habitat Partnership; Deborah Hart, Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership; Heidi Keuler, Fishers and Farmers Partnership; Rick Westerhof, Great Lakes Basin Partnership; Jessica Johnson and Gillian O’Doherty, Alaska Department of Fish and Game; Ryan Roberts and Alex Atkinson, National Fish Habitat Partnership
Logo Designer: Maddie Murray, AFS Quebec Student Subunit
Poster Designer: Ryan Roberts, National Fish Habitat Partnership
Film Trailer: Sarah Koenigsberg, Tensegrity Productions, Director for the film The Beaver Believers
Film Curator: Amber Butler, Cooper Curl Productions
AFS Organizing Support: Todd Pearsons, Vice-President, Western Division and Laurie Earley, Past-President Program Co-Chair, AFS/TWS 2019 Meeting California-Nevada Chapter