A Night for the River: Duke’s, Train, and a $700K Commitment to Saving Wild Salmon

On a crisp evening in May, the waterfront at Dockside at Duke’s Seafood shimmered with more than just sunset reflections—it was alive with purpose, music, and momentum. On May 6, 2025, nearly $700,000 was raised to help rescue one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic yet endangered species: wild salmon.

At the heart of the event was the Duke’s Damsel on a Train Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed in 2022 with one simple yet urgent mission: to fund the restoration and preservation of wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest. The Foundation brought together local business leaders, environmental advocates, wine lovers, and music fans under one roof—and one river-loving cause.

The evening’s emotional and financial crescendo came in the form of a private, intimate concert by multi–Grammy Award-winning band Train, whose frontman Pat Monahan is not only a passionate conservationist but also one of the Foundation’s founding board members. Guests enjoyed fine seafood, sipped salmon-saving wines, and gave generously—all while surrounded by panoramic views of the water salmon once filled in abundance.

The event marked the latest milestone in a growing movement led by a remarkable collaboration:

• Duke Moscrip and John Moscrip, the father-son duo behind Duke’s Seafood

• Pat Monahan, lead singer of Train

• Heather Andersen and Mike Cowden, co-owners of Damsel Cellars

Together, they’ve created a mission-driven force for ecological change through the Duke’s Damsel on a Train Foundation. Their approach is multi-pronged and entrepreneurial: raising funds through signature events like this one, donating proceeds from their Up River Red® and Up River White® wines, and encouraging year-round charitable giving.

The Foundation supports carefully vetted nonprofit partners that lead habitat recovery, hatchery reform, dam impact studies, and more—including organizations like Save Our Wild Salmon, Long Live the Kings, and Wild Fish Conservancy.

The need is dire. In the Columbia River Basin alone, wild salmon populations have plummeted from historic levels of 12–16 million to just over 300,000 today. Pollution, habitat destruction, dam construction, and warming waters have pushed many native salmon species to the brink of extinction. The ripple effect is vast: wild salmon are a keystone species, sustaining everything from orcas and bears to forests and Indigenous cultures.

“Salmon are the soul of this region,” says Duke Moscrip. “Their decline isn’t just an ecological loss—it’s cultural, spiritual, economic. We’re committed to doing something about it, and doing it now.”

The Foundation’s message is clear: salmon can’t wait. And neither can we.

The $700,000 raised on May 6 is more than just a number—it’s a signal that people across the Pacific Northwest still believe in wild salmon’s future. It’s a testament to what can happen when food, wine, music, and purpose converge around a shared love for place.

To learn more or support the cause, visit www.dukesdamselonatrain.com.

Together, we can keep the rivers flowing with life—for the salmon, and for all of us.