By Scott Hamelburg, Coleman National Fish Hatchery
A record  60 exhibitors and 15,400 visitors to the 17th Return of the Salmon Festival at Coleman National Fish Hatchery marked this years annual event.  One of the visitors that I spoke with came up for the festival all the way from Los Angeles. He indicated his family's attendance at the Festival was a direct result of seeing coverage of last year's festival on California Public Television's Huell Howser program. 

A big "Thank You" to all who worked at or had staff present at our 17th Annual Return of the Salmon Festival. Please be sure that all those participating from your respective offices/programs are acknowledged for their participation.

Putting the Festival together is a huge amount of work and planning and organization was especially challenging this year. However, all and all, we could not have hoped for a better weather situation, visitor turn out was great and we all had plenty of opportunity to deliver messages related to fish and wildlife management, resource use and conservation, etc, to children and adults in fun and festive atmosphere. Media coverage of the event was on par with other years with coverage provided by no less than two newspapers and two TV stations.