Don Chapman, Idaho’s respected fish scientist, is constantly thinking deeply, broadly and ahead

ABOVE: Don Chapman at work in Kelly Creek in 1971. (Courtesy of Steve Pettit)

By Pat Ford | Idaho Capital Sun

Don Chapman and Bill Platts are Idahoans whose careers in science have built our shared understanding and caretaking of fish and rivers. Both men are now in their middle 90s. Don resides in McCall, Bill in Boise. Here I write about Don; Bill Platts will follow, in a month or so.

In saluting these two men, I also salute their trade, and those who follow it: the close observation of salmon, trout and their waters. In classroom, field and well-rifled filing cabinets, scientists who could be their grandchildren now build from their work. Conversations with another such observer, Bert Bowler, spurred me in this respect among others.

The knowledge and long experience of these two men also matters to a collective choice now before our state and region: Will we allow wild steelhead and salmon to disappear from Idaho and eastern Oregon, or change our course? Will we keep the Salmon River for tomorrow’s Idaho, or hand down, as our legacy, the Salmonless River? The extinction of Snake River salmon, which began with white settlement, is now in its endgame, in our time and before our eyes. Chapman and Platts offer evidence, and example, to we who will make the human part of the choice. Salmon will have a part too, and we can have faith the fish will do their part if we do ours… (continue reading)

Don Chapman holds up a smallmouth bass caught at the Cascade Reservoir in 2014.  (Courtesy of Dave Burns)