Winter 2026
President’s Letter: Hope in Challenging Times
Miracles can happen. This October, after a century, salmon returned to spawn up the newly undammed Klamath River.
Their return is the result of decades of hard work, determination, and faith by people committed to restoring the river, their heritage, and our shared natural foundation. Across cultures, interests, and generations, those dedicated to reviving the Klamath and its iconic salmon finally succeeded—with help, of course, from the salmon themselves. What once seemed impossible became reality, thanks to enduring partnerships and the quiet persistence of many unnamed leaders.
Even as this miracle of renewal unfolded, we lost one of conservation’s great leaders, Bill Hutton. A founding Board member of PFT, Bill was an extraordinary person: at once an idealist and a curmudgeon, a tax attorney devoted to conservation and fishing. At the height of his career, he met with Connie Best and me to hear our audacious idea of founding an organization that would conserve private forestlands through an innovative approach to Conservation Easements on working forests — one that guided management, not simply stripping development — and new approaches to financing conservation. Conservation easements were his specialty, and though our proposal was unconventional, he generously shared his wisdom to help PFT launch. Bill took a chance on us because he saw the potential to make a difference.
Many of us feel we are swimming against the tide now, just as salmon must to get upstream. The climate crises we face and the loss of our natural heritage — fish, wildlife, forests—can feel daunting. But with determination, passion, persistence, and the wisdom of many partners, we can prevail. With the inspiration of the salmon, and Bill’s example, we will.
