Surface Water Management Division
Snohomish River Salmon Recovery
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Watershed Overview
Covering an area of approximately 1,856 square miles in both King and Snohomish Counties, the Snohomish River Basin contains about 2,718 miles in stream length, making it the second largest basin draining into Puget Sound. The Skykomish and Snoqualmie Rivers originate in the Cascade Mountains and flow along chains of rural communities and state highways (2 and 203) to join near the City of Monroe where they become the Snohomish River. The Snohomish River flows into the estuary near the City of Snohomish and finally joins Puget Sound between the urban centers of Everett and Marysville.
Nine salmonid species use these fresh waters for spawning and rearing: Chinook, coho, chum, pink, and sockeye salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, bull trout and mountain whitefish. There are two populations of threatened Chinook salmon: Skykomish and Snoqualmie—both are below 10% of their estimated historic population levels. The four listed bull trout populations – North Fork Skykomish, Troublesome Creek, Salmon Creek, and South Fork Skykomish – have populations estimated at less than 100. The basin produces between 25-50% of coho salmon in Puget Sound.
Map of the Snohomish River Basin (pdf)
Cooperative recovery planning efforts in the basin date back to the mid-1990s. The 41-member Snohomish River Basin Salmon Recovery Forum includes members from Snohomish and King Counties, Tulalip Tribes, 14 cities, many special purpose districts, interest groups ranging from conservation to farming and business, and citizens. The group set the recovery priorities for the basin in the Snohomish River Basin Salmon Conservation Plan. The Forum promotes and monitors Plan implementation and will adjust priorities over time. The Forum is also a place to coordinate and exchange ideas and communicate about watershed issues. It is assisted by a Policy Development Committee and the Snohomish Basin Salmonid Recovery Technical Committee. The Forum has actively participated in regional recovery efforts.
The Forum chair is Terry Williams, The Tulalip Tribes, and the Vice-chair is Jim Miller, City of Everett. Snohomish County provides the lead staff.
Quarterly Watershed Activities Highlights (updated quarterly)
Partner Highlight
As a quarterly feature on the Snohomish Salmon Recovery web page, we will be highlighting a different partner who is working on recovering salmon in the Snohomish Watershed. These features will provide information on the partner and what role they place in the watershed.
Feature for this quarter: Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force. See more details (pdf) on the role of the Task Force.
Project Highlight
The project highlight page provides quarterly information on salmon recovery projects that are taking place throughout the Snohomish Watershed. Projects highlighted are either in the planning and design phase, under construction or have been completed. For more information, contact either Snohomish County staff or the project sponsor.
Feature for this quarter: The Tolt Levee Setback Project
More Activities
- For more information on partner activities, contact Snohomish County’s watershed steward, Cindy Flint, or Perry Falcone in King County, or continue to the Links and Resources page for individual partners contact information and websites.
- For more information on projects, continue to the Habitat Work Schedule (external link).
Publications
View publications for either Marine Resources or Salmon Recovery within the County and individual watersheds. Marine Resources publications deal with nearshore marine resources, such as Dungeness crab conservation and derelict fishing gear removal. Salmon Recovery publications are related to planning documents, such as the Stillaguamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan, or technical documents that support planning or project implementation by the County.
Many of the documents above are in pdf format. To read these files you'll need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.