(BOISE) The Idaho Conservation League is pleased to announce Emerald LaFortune as our new Campaign Outreach Assistant for salmon and steelhead recovery. She is responsible for grassroots efforts to organize, empower and mobilize supporters to take action to bring back Idaho’s wild steelhead and salmon in ecologically significant, harvestable and sustainable numbers.
LaFortune said, “I believe caring for Idaho’s fish and rivers is a key value that often brings together otherwise different Idahoans. I’m deeply invested in ICL’s mission to recover Idaho’s fish and look forward to building bridges among all Idahoans to make this possible.”
She will travel all across the state and work remotely from Salmon, Idaho, where she lives with her partner and dog, and serves on the board of Salmon Valley Stewardship.
Born and raised in Idaho, Emerald is a steelhead angler and has been an active whitewater and fly fishing guide on the Middle Fork, Main and Lower Salmon River as well as the Hells Canyon section of the Snake. She is the outgoing executive director of the Redside Foundation, a non-profit that supports the health and strength of Idaho’s guiding community, which she has led since 2016.
She holds an Environmental Studies and Non-Profit Administration degree from the University of Montana. In addition to her non-profit and guiding experience, she has a background in freelance writing, media management and community organization.
ICL is working to save Idaho’s salmon and steelhead. Idaho’s iconic fish populations are spiraling toward extinction despite the hard work of many local communities. If Idaho loses salmon and steelhead, not only will these species perish, an integral part of Idaho’s history, culture, economy and outdoors life will also disappear. Bold action is needed now to develop solutions together that will keep communities whole and not leave Idahoans behind.
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