Here's where you can really get involved. The conservation of salmon and other anadromous fishes isn't a job for the legislature or environmental groups. The bulk of salmon conservation is carried out every day by anyone who cares. Here's a list of 10 things you can do to help not only the salmon but also your community and the environment.

1. Conserve water - The water we use is water taken from lakes, rivers and streams. Salmon and other anadromous fishes need water to reach their home streams and then spawn. The water we divert from salmon habitats is returned through sewers, storm drains and as runoff carrying soil and pollutants with it. You can conserve a lot of water with very little effort.

   • Turn of the water when you're brushing your teeth or washing dishes.

   • Take shorter showers or, better yet, take baths.

   • Install low flow devices. They will save you money and cut back dramatically on the amount of water you use . Water-efficient appliances are also available.

   • Fix leaky faucets and pipes.

   • Water your lawn sparingly. Always water in the mornings or evenings to prevent evaporation. Put an empty tuna can on your lawn--when it's full, you're done.

   • Sweep your driveways and sidewalks instead of hosing them.

2. Conserve energy - We must unavoidably use natural resources to generate energy. When we save energy in our homes and businesses, we are conserving natural resources. In the Pacific Northwest, we get 70 percent of our energy from hydroelectric dams. Hydroelectric power takes a toll on salmon runs. When we lower our demand for power, we save ourselves money and maybe save a few salmon.

   • Turn the lights out after you leave a room.

   • Keep your thermostat low (put on a sweater).

   • Run dishwashers and laundry machines only when full (this conserves water, too).

   • Insulate pipes with R-3 pipe insulation and water heaters with an R-11 blanket.

   • Read your appliance manuals for information on how to operate them at peak efficiency.

   • Make sure your home is well insulated, including your attic, doors and windows.

3. Reduce, recycle and reuse - Try to think of the concept of recycling as more than cashing in pop cans. It starts with evaluating what your really need to consume and cutting back. It also involves getting more use out of the things that you buy--using tin foil more than once, opting for rags or towels instead of paper napkins. Here are some recycling links for the young and old (and the not so young but that old, either):

   • http://www.obviously.com/recycle/

   • http://www.ringleader.com/quest/welcome.html - an adventure recycling game

   • http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/ - The EPA's site for young recyclers

4. Leave no trace - By all means, enjoy the outdoors, but be sensitive to the animal and plant habitats and homes that you're visiting. Check out this site from the Bureau of Land Management on responsible outdoor hiking, camping and recreation:

   • http://www-a.blm.gov/education/lnt/

5. Use chemicals wisely and dispose of them properly - Chemicals and fertilizers used on your yard, car or in your home often find their way into lakes, rivers, streams and eventually the ocean. Chemicals can have obvious detrimental effects on the environment. As little as one quart of used motor oil conveniently poured down a nearby storm drain can contaminate 2 million gallons of river or stream water. With a little extra effort, potentially harmful chemicals can be disposed of properly:

   • Never pour chemicals or used motor oil down storm drains. Storm drains are not part of the sewer system and empty directly into local rivers and streams.

   • Don't use unnecessary chemicals or fertilizers on your lawn. Use organic alternatives whenever possible.

   • If you do feel the need to use herbicides or pesticides, follow the directions carefully and use only as much as needed. Avoid spilling onto driveways or other hard surfaces that may lead to storm drains.

   • You can recycle motor oil at most filling stations or at a local recycling station.

   • Use automatic carwashes that recycle their water. If you want to wash your own car, do it on the grass, where excess water can be absorbed by the ground. Try to use a phosphate-free soap or try pressure washing with water only.

   • Check out this site for fish-friendly "recipes" for fertilizer, weed control, etc.: http://www.4sos.org/howhelp/recipes2.html

6. Help control water runoff and stream bed erosion - Even if you don't live near a stream or river (though most people do), there are many little things you can do to help prevent too much water and soil run-off from contaminating streams and rivers where anadromous fishes live:

   • Keep your lawn vegetated. Roots help hold soil and even absorb chemicals before they can wash into a storm drain or stream.

   • If you have a stream on your property, maintain a buffer of vegetation around it to protect it from runoff and to maintain the integrity of its banks.

   • Consider an oyster shell or gravel driveway instead of pavement.

   • Consider a wooden deck instead of a concrete patio.

   • Use mulch to help prevent soil loss and runoff.

   • Keep your grass between two and three inches tall. This provides shade for the root of the plant and reduces mowing and watering.

7. Volunteer your time - Streams don't restore themselves, and people aren't born with knowledge about anadromous fishes and their habitats.

   • Join a watershed council or similar organization in your area. Everyone lives in a watershed, and more and more watersheds have organizations looking out for them. They do stream restoration work, public education, lobbying and more. No matter what your special skills, it's likely your local watershed group can take advantage of them.

   • Volunteer at a museum, zoo or aquarium. Much of environmental education is carried out by enthusiastic volunteers. The more people know, the better decisions they make.

   • Motivate your class, workplace or family to volunteer for stream restoration or storm drain stenciling projects.

8. Make a donation - Even a small donation to an organization concerned about anadromous fishes and their habitat can go a long way. But do your research. Make sure that the group to which you choose to donate shares your priorities and will spend your donation responsibly.

   • Consider: The group Native Salmon Forever points out that a gift as small as $10 could buy 20 small trees that might spend the next 100 years absorbing chemicals, providing oxygen, holding soil, shading streams and providing habitat.

9. Learn more about salmon and anadromous fishes - They say knowledge is power, so that must mean learning is empowering. People make their best decisions when they are armed with knowledge.

10. Share what you have learned - It doesn't do anybody any good to go out and learn a whole bunch of new stuff and then keep it to themselves. People aren't born with knowledge about anadromous fishes; they learn it through their own experiences and the experiences of others--namely, yours.