Surface Water Management Division
Actions the County is Taking to Recover Salmon
A number of the County’s work areas affect salmon habitat and ultimately salmon recovery, from planning for development and permitting, to actual habitat restoration projects. As our understanding of the environment in which salmon live grows, so too do the interconnections between the County’s work areas. For example, work on urban drainage issues, such as groundwater infiltration, may have an increasingly large impact on summer flows in streams as climate change impacts snowfall runoff.
The Our Work Areas page of Surface Water Management provides a look at the wider scope of work taking place at the County level. If you wonder about how a work area impacts salmon, contact your local watershed steward below. You may also look at the County salmon recovery project highlight.
Snohomish County leads salmon recovery efforts in two watersheds and actively participates in two others. The County sponsors and is a partner with actions that range from restoring several hundred acres in the Snohomish estuary, creating projects that work for our farmers and fish, offering opportunities for hands-on community volunteers, and updating our policies and programs. The following links provide more specific information about the four watersheds.
In the Snohomish River Basin, Snohomish County provides lead staff to the Snohomish River Basin Salmon Recovery Forum, a 39-member group of citizens, businesses, tribal representatives, farmers and elected officials.
In the Stillaguamish River Watershed, Snohomish County and the Stillaguamish Tribe together provide lead staff to the Stillaguamish Implementation Review Committee (SIRC). The SIRC is comprised of 25 members representing local municipalities, tribes, state and federal government agencies, agricultural and forestry interests, flood control districts, environmental groups and citizens.
Snohomish County participates in planning efforts in the Lake Washington, Sammamish, Cedar River planning process led by King County.
Snohomish County participates in planning efforts in the Skagit River Watershed (including the Sauk River) with the Skagit Watershed Council.
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