In 1989 when she graduated, the Department of Fish and Game was actively recruiting women for its programs. Anna took a job at the Moccasin Hatchery near Yosemite. From there she transferred to the San Joaquin Hatchery as a fish culturist. As a woman in a man's world she took her share of prejudice, but her hard work and dedication proved that she could do the job. In 1997 her hard work was acknowledged, and she was offered the job of Assistant Hatchery Manager to Pat Overton the Manager of the Feather River Hatchery. Throughout the years, she also took college courses in her off hours and is about one class short of her AA Degree at this time. She hopes to someday receive a four year degree from Butte College in Management. I asked Anna if she ever felt that she was the token woman, just a statistic to make the Department look good. She replied that she honestly felt that if that was the case she would never have been promoted so far so fast. When you sit across from her you can feel the drive and the confidence that comes from both practical experience and knowledge. There is no doubt that she has paid her dues.

The Feather River Fish Hatchery was built in 1967. When the Oroville Dam was constructed the river was altered and some spawning and nursery grounds lost. The hatchery was cooperatively planned by the Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Water Resources as a mitigated hatchery with the sole purpose of keeping salmon and steelhead in the river. Anna's primary work at the hatchery is focused on the perpetuation of the salmon and steelhead populations. The fish ladder has recently opened, and the fish are leaping and swimming their way to the holding tanks. There they will be humanely killed and their eggs fertilized and reared to be returned to the system. Since they will die anyway, the hatchery rearing will protect the eggs from disease and natural predators and result in approximately 2 1/2 million smolts being released in the Delta and San Francisco Bay. This amounts to approximately 20 percent of the ocean sport and commercial catch. Each year, approximately 9,000 salmon and 2,000 steelhead are artificially spawned, producing 18 to 30 million eggs. The fish that are killed are turned over the Gleaners and the Native Americans to distribute. Fish that die naturally during the process are sold to processing plants, for fertilizer, etc., so nothing is wasted.

Anna is also actively concerned with educating people about the river eco-system. The hatchery is open year round. Visiting hours are from 8am to sundown. It is located at 5 Table Mountain Blvd, Oroville. Tours are given by John Ford of the Dept. of Water Resources for school children. The children will learn about the salmon and get to feed the fish. There is also a program for kids called the "Incubator in the Classroom". The hatchery provides eggs and the children can watch them develop, learning about the salmon and trout life cycles. Once we get to know a creature, as was the case of the whale, the more protective we become.

Even in her off hours she is working toward familiarizing people with this resource. This year Anna is ramroding the 4th Annual Salmon Festival. This event will occur on Saturday, September 26, 1998, 10am to 6pm at various locations, including the Feather River Nature Center, the Hatchery, and at Harrison Stadium. Admission is free and will include river walks, hatchery tours, craft and vendor booths, live entertainment, fishing demonstrations, food booths, and Maidu Indian demonstrations and exhibits. "The purpose of the Oroville Salmon Festival is to increase public awareness, appreciation and conservation of the Feather River, it's salmon, and our communities heritage." The hatchery will also be hosting a Salmon Derby on festival day and fishing will be free on the river, so no licenses will be required. The prize will be drawn from people who bring in their fish and fill out entry forms, not on the biggest fish caught. There will be a 10K run as well. For the children special programs will be provided to teach them about fish and how to catch them, as well as how to be a courteous fisherman.

The Maidu Indian Pow Wow will emphasize the cultural heritage of the river; demonstrating basket weaving, acorn cooking, native dances, and rituals. The site of the Nature Center was once an Indian fishing camp.

If you have Saturday, September 26th open, this would be a wonderful family event. If not, try to visit the hatchery while the fish ladder is open and you can view the salmon up close and personal.

While talking with Anna, I could not help feeling the excitement and sense of purpose she has. After I took her picture in front of the windows of the fish ladder, she turned and looked through the glass and said "They are so beautiful", and there was no doubt she loved them.

For further information about the Salmon Festival or the Hatchery, you can call (530) 538-2222.

Columnist Joan Carter co-owns, with her husband, Dan Carter's Guide Service.