David Montgomery, author of "King of Fish: The Thousand Year Run of Salmon" and the winner of a MacArthur "Genius" grant will talk about Alaska's favorite fish in a 9 a.m. speech and 1 p.m. symposium Wednesday at the Central Mat-Su Public Safety Building. The 1 p.m. symposium is a question-and-answer session that's free and open to the public.
In a review of the book, The Economist said, "This is a fascinating and important book. It should be read by us all."
Publisher's Weekly added: "Montgomery saves his best writing for the last chapter, where he courageously outlines the scientific evidence surrounding the salmon's plight and presents a no-nonsense plan for the fish's tenuous hope for survival. "
The Mat-Su Salmon Science Symposium is organized by the Mat-Su Salmon Habitat Partnership, which includes U.S. Geological Survey, Mat-Su Borough, The Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It brings together scientists who are engaged in salmon-related research in the Mat-Su.
Montgomery is professor of geomorphology at the University of Washington. The symposium will discuss the future of salmon in the Mat-Su in the midst of urban sprawl, invasive species, and other conservation challenges.
Here's a link to the symposium agenda.