Earlier this week, Turkey tried to kickstart WWIII by shooting down a Russian fighter plane. In other news coming out of Eurasia, Russian President Vladimir Putin shot down a hydroelectric dam proposal on the Kamchatka peninsula’s trout-rich Zhupanova River—effectively shelving a long-dreaded project.

The Zhupanova drains the volcanic southern Kamchatka Range and regularly produces rainbow trout pushing 10+ pounds. The watershed covers more than 1.7 million acres, hosts five species of Pacific salmon, two species of char, and a thriving population of bears. It’s also an important resting place for thousands of migratory birds every fall.

“For 15 years, Wild Salmon Center has been working with Russian partners to keep this magnificent salmon stronghold intact through scientific research, conservation planning, and support for responsible commercial and sport fisheries. Scientific research began in the early 2000s with joint projects between Moscow State University, Wild Salmon Center and American scientists. Around that time, Wild Salmon Center also helped local guides establish sportfishing businesses on the river. Zhupanova guides now host fishermen from around the world.”

The Zhupanova sits adjacent to the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site with volcanoes, geysers, calderas and its own rich salmon runs. Together the two undeveloped wilderness areas total 4.5 million acres—twice the size of Yellowstone National Park.

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Tom Bie
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Tom Bie is the founder, editor, and publisher of The Drake. He started the magazine in 1998 as an annual newsprint publication based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He then moved it to Steamboat, Colorado (1999), Boulder, Colorado (2001), and San Clemente, California (2004), as he took jobs as managing editor at Paddler, Senior Editor at Skiing, and Editor-in-Chief at Powder, respectively. Tom and The Drake are now both based in Denver, Colorado, where The Drake is finally all grows up(Swingers, 1996) to a quarterly magazine.

Category: Daily Drake
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Author: Tom Bie

Tom Bie is the founder, editor, and publisher of The Drake. He started the magazine in 1998 as an annual newsprint publication based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He then moved it to Steamboat, Colorado (1999), Boulder, Colorado (2001), and San Clemente, California (2004), as he took jobs as managing editor at Paddler, Senior Editor at Skiing, and Editor-in-Chief at Powder, respectively. Tom and The Drake are now both based in Denver, Colorado, where The Drake is finally all grows up(Swingers, 1996) to a quarterly magazine.

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