WWCC Water & Environmental Center

04/27/2025

We're only three weeks away! Come join in on the fun!

🐟🌊 Return to the River Salmon Festival is BACK! 🌊🐟

Join us Saturday, May 18 from 11 AM–3 PM at WWCC (near the ballfields on Tausick Way) for a FREE community celebration of salmon returning to the Walla Walla River Basin!

🎨 Hands-on family activities
🏃‍♀️ Obstacle courses & relay races
🎣 Water testing & interactive displays
🐟 Live native fish + lamprey viewing
🐟 Salmon fingerling releases at 12:30 PM & 2 PM
🛍️ 40+ local vendors

Hosted by WWCC’s Water & Environmental Center + the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

📍 Free parking at the main campus lot
📧 Want to volunteer? Email: [email protected]
📞 Questions? Call: 509-527-4250

Let’s celebrate conservation, community, and the return of the salmon! 🐟❤️

04/21/2025

Come celebrate our natural resources and everyone who works to protect them in our region!

Saturday, May 17th from 11am-3pm by the Walla Walla Community College ball fields on Tausick Way. See you there!

Beyond observing native fish species up close and watching the release of salmon fingerlings into the river, attendees can participate in hands-on activities throughout the event.

09/17/2024

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) are partnering to improve fish and wildlife habitat on McNary National Wildlife Refuge - Wallula Unit. They would like to share the conceptual designs with you!

The restoration conceptual designs address floodplain reconnection and in-stream fish and wildlife habitat enhancement within the McNary Refuge. The project consists of a combination of floodplain, wetland, and in-stream actions to enhance fish habitat, waterfowl habitat, and riparian resources and enhance recreation opportunities and enjoyment of the Walúula Unit.

Come to one of our public meetings to learn more about the project.

For questions, contact Ethan Green (CTUIR Project Leader, [email protected], 541-429-7555) or Steve Kahl (USFWS Project Leader, [email protected], 208-252-0805).

05/17/2024

Countdown to the Return to the River Salmon Festival: 1 day!

Can you believe it?! Return to the River is TOMORROW! If you haven't made weekend plans yet, consider coming down to Walla Walla Community College to celebrate our natural resources and all the wonderful organizations dedicated to protecting and conserving chinook salmon in the Walla Walla River Basin and beyond! Your participation is your support! Learn a little about these organizations do and consider sharing it wiCan you believe it?! Return to the River is TOMORROW! If you haven't made weekend plans yet, consider coming down to Walla Walla Community College to celebrate our natural resources and all the wonderful organizations dedicated to protecting and conserving chinook salmon in the Walla Walla River Basin and beyond! Your participation is your support! Learn a little about these organizations do and consider sharing it with others!

When: Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 11am - 3pm

Where: By the WWCC ballfields along Tausick Way (parking is available on campus with a short walk to the festival site or on the road...please be careful of traffic).

What: Activities will include: Salmon releases at 12:30pm and 2pm; lamprey and native fish on display; Hands-on activities; fish printing; relay races; obstacle course; demonstrations; displays; equipment to explore; free face painting; & more!

WWCC's Wine County Culinary Institute food truck will be on site!

Presented by: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Water & Environmental Center

Tell your friends; tell your neighbors! We hope to see you there!

05/16/2024

Countdown to the Return to the River Salmon Festival: 3 days!

The excitement continues to build and we are eager to have everyone out celebrating our natural resources and all the organizations dedicated to protecting and conserving chinook salmon in the Walla Walla River Basin and beyond! Come support them by learning a little about what they do and sharing it with others!

When: Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 11am - 3pm

Where: By the WWCC ballfields along Tausick Way (parking is available on campus with a short walk to the festival site). The Onionman Triathlon is also occurring on May 18th, so be cautious of the bike route that follows Tausick Way and Campus Loop! Follow the appropriate signage and please be careful of traffic.

What: Activities will include: Salmon releases at 12:30pm and 2pm; lamprey and native fish on display; Hands-on activities; fish printing; relay races; obstacle course; demonstrations; displays; equipment to explore; free face painting; & more!

WWCC's Wine County Culinary Institute food truck will be on site!

Presented by: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Water & Environmental Center

Tell your friends; tell your neighbors! We hope to see you there!

05/13/2024

Put the Return to the River Salmon Festival on your calendar! It's only one week away now and we are getting excited to have everyone out celebrating our natural resources!

When: Saturday, May 13th, 2023 from 11am - 3pm

Where: By the WWCC ballfields along Tausick Way (parking is available on campus with a short walk to the festival site). The Onionman Triathlon is also occurring on May 18th, so be cautious of the bike route that follows Tausick Way and Campus Loop! Follow the appropriate signage and please be careful of traffic.

What: Activities will include: Salmon releases at 12:30pm and 2pm; lamprey and native fish on display; Hands-on activities; fish printing; relay races; obstacle course; demonstrations; displays; equipment to explore; free face painting; & more!

WWCC's Wine County Culinary Institute food truck will be on site!

Presented by: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Water & Environmental Center

Tell your friends; tell your neighbors! We hope to see you there!

05/11/2024

Join the Sustainable Living Center & former Director of the WWCC Water & Environmental Center, Dave Stockdale, who will present on how to design a low water landscape. You will get to tour a low water garden to explore design strategies, and have your draft design reviewed in a follow-up workshop.

Registration at: www.slcww.org

05/09/2024

Did you know that Smokey the Bear is going to be at the Return to the River Salmon Festival on May 18th?! Come meet him!

With the temperatures rising and the snow melting, this is the time of year that hibernating animals are starting to wake up, including the American black bear.

After spending the last 5 or so months in dens/caves in the mountains and living off their fat reserves, bears are starting to emerge and forage for food. They often seek easy sources of food, meaning they may wander down out of the mountains and explore around unsecured garbage cans and compost piles. If you see a bear, be sure to keep your distance and make yourself look bigger by standing tall, raising your arms, and using your best outdoor voice to calmly usher the bear away. Chances are the bear will run off pretty quickly as they are significantly more scared of us than we are of them, but an easy meal could change this behavior.

If a bear is becoming a repetitive nuisance (continually digging in garbage cans and hanging around residential areas), make sure you call the proper authorities and do not attempt to take matters into your own hands. For more information about who you should call, visit the following website: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species.../species/ursus-americanus

05/06/2024

Are you starting to plan out your weekends in anticipation of summer? If so, put the Return to the River Salmon Festival on your schedule! It's only two weeks away!

When: Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 11am - 3pm

Where: By the WWCC ballfields along Tausick Way (parking is available on campus with a short walk to the festival site or on the road...please be careful of traffic).

What: Fun events for the whole family (more details to come)!

We hope to see you there!

05/03/2024

Are you interested in volunteering to assist with the Return to the River Salmon Festival?

If so, scan the QR Code or email: [email protected]

Volunteers of any age or size are welcome!

Multiple jobs are available!

05/02/2024

Did you know that behind the Water & Environmental Center we have some beautiful pollinator habitat gardens, raised beds full or herbs and vegetables, and a pasture used to demonstrate regenerative agriculture practices? It's all a part of what we like to call "Warrior Acres," a collaboration with the Agriculture and Culinary Departments on campus!

Part of the regenerative agriculture process is grazing, which means we currently have a few cattle in our small pasture doing what they do best...chewing! Come check them out and maybe take a selfie, but please make sure to give them their space and not spook them. While they may not be true "wildlife," they are an important specie in what goes on here at WWCC and for many cattle ranchers throughout our country.

04/29/2024

Mark your calendars!

The Return to the River Salmon Festival is three weeks away!

Saturday, May 18th, 2024 from 11am - 3pm

More details to come! Hope to see you there!