River Poets Film Focuses on Bristol Bay Fishing Resources

Marysville native and former Helena resident Tyson O'Connell has filmed "River Poets," a DVD documenting the invaluable natural resources of Bristol Bay, Alaska.

"The film stresses the importance of salmon fish to the Bristol Bay ecosystem and economy, and focuses on the threat of a proposed open-pit copper and gold mine, the Pebble Mine, in the heart of the world's largest salmon spawning ground," reads the video's jacket introduction.O'Connell, who is studying law at the University of Montana, has been a lifelong outdoors enthusiast.

He attended Capital High School from 1994-98, where he played quarterback for the Bruins and was a standout American Legion baseball player for the Helena Senators. After graduating from Macalester College, O'Connell spent five summers as a fishing guide in Alaska - four of those seasons on the rivers of Bristol Bay.

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/02/21/weekly_features/outdoors/100ot_080221_documentary.txt