The Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative (PLCI) announced the launch of a new interactive StoryMap titled Pacific Lamprey, Our Ancient Friend showcasing Tribal stewardship: Keeping our oldest river relative on the landscape with the PLCI, offering an immersive look at the cultural, ecological, and collaborative efforts underway to conserve Pacific Lamprey across their native range.

The StoryMap highlights the cultural relationships that Tribal Nations have with lamprey, as well as the partnerships and projects working to restore the species amid widespread habitat degradation/fragmentation, water quality declines, and climate-related changes. Through maps, photos, stories, and on‑the‑ground examples, the StoryMap provides a compelling and accessible introduction to how communities across the region are working to bring lamprey home.

Centering Tribal Leadership and Knowledge - Pacific Lamprey hold cultural, spiritual, and subsistence significance for Tribal Nations who have stewarded the species since time immemorial. The StoryMap uplifts and centers Tribal perspectives and showcases how Indigenous knowledge, cultural monitoring practices, and sovereignty-led restoration are shaping lamprey recovery across the Northwest. These stories highlight not only ecological restoration, but also community healing, youth engagement, and long-term cultural continuity.

Across the Pacific Northwest, a wide range of partners are implementing passage improvements, reducing barriers, collecting data, and supporting lamprey-friendly water management practices. The StoryMap illustrates how these efforts are reconnecting habitats and improving conditions for lamprey and other native species.

The StoryMap also provides access to PLCI’s practitioner-focused tools and resources, including:
• The Pacific Lamprey Assessment and Conservation Agreement
• Tribal engagement and co-stewardship guidance
• Funding pathways available to PLCI partners

These resources support partners at all levels, from new collaborators to experienced restoration practitioners.

The release of this StoryMap comes as PLCI and its partners join the broader National Fish Habitat Partnership network in marking the 20th anniversary of NFHP in 2026—celebrating two decades of collaborative, locally driven conservation across the United States.

About the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative

The Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative is a collaborative effort among Tribal Nations, federal and state agencies, universities, and nonprofit partners working to restore Pacific Lamprey throughout their historical range. PLCI partners support culturally grounded conservation, coordinated restoration, and science-based planning across the West. More information is available at https://www.pacificlamprey.org.

About the National Fish Habitat Partnership
Since 2006, NFHP has supported over 1,700 projects and invested more than $600 million in on-the-ground efforts that benefit fish habitat across all 50 states. NFHP leverages federal, state, Tribal, and private funding to support high‑priority conservation projects among 20 regional Fish Habitat Partnerships. In 2020, NFHP was formally recognized by Congress through the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act and was reauthorized in 2024. NFHP guidance and policies are developed in conjunction with our partnerships and National Fish Habitat Board. For more information, visit: https://fishhabitat.org.