Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries

TO ENSURE THE FUTURE OF SALMON IN THE STILLAGUAMISH, SNOHOMISH AND ISLAND COUNTY WATERSHEDS.

HABITAT PROGRAM: IN 2022, SOUND SALMON SOLUTIONS WORKED ON 16 HABITAT RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE SNOHOMISH, STILLAGUAMISH, AND ISLAND WATERSHEDS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND SALMON HABITAT. WITH THE HELP OF STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, INTERNS, AND STUDENTS, SOUND SALMON SOLUTIONS CONTROLLED 64.51 ACRES OF INVASIVE VEGETATION, PLANTED 20,350 NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS ON 33.5 ACRES, AND CONDUCTED 4.2 ACRES OF KNOTWEED SURVEY ON THE UPPER WEST FORK OF WOODS CREEK.

EDUCATION AND HATCHERY PROGRAMS:IN 2022 SSS ENGAGED YOUTH AND ADULTS IN LESSONS THAT FORGED A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND SALMON RECOVERY WHILE EMPOWERING PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES FOR THE FUTURE OF PACIFIC SALMON. OUR SALMON IN SCHOOLS PROGRAM BROUGHT COHO SALMON TO 8 SCHOOLS WHERE STUDENTS RAISED THEM FROM THE EGG TO FRY STAGE WHILE LEARNING THE IMPORTANCE OF SALMON TO OUR ECOSYSTEM, ECONOMY, AND CULTURE IN WASHINGTON. STUDENTS THEN JOINED SSS EDUCATORS ON A FIELD TRIP WHERE THEY RELEASED THEIR SALMON INTO A LOCAL STREAM. SSS PARTNERED WITH THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY JUVENILE COURT TO PROVIDE THE YOUTH EXPLORING STREAM SCIENCE (YESS) PROGRAM. YESS ENGAGES YOUTH FROM THE SCJC'S DIVERSION PROGRAM IN MEANINGFUL AND HANDS-ON WATERSHED SCIENCE EXPERIENCES. YOUTH WHO QUALIFY FOR DIVERSION PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME AND SENTENCED TO DETENTION, HOWEVER, DUE TO THE LOW RISK OF RE-OFFENSE, HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPTION TO COMPLETE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE LEARNING WITH SSS. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL SUCCESS AS WE HAVE SEEN STUDENTS WHO HAD THE "TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL" PERSONA BLOSSOM INTO BUDDING SCIENTISTS, FULL OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SALMON AND THEIR HABITAT.OUR COMMUNITY ACTION TRAINING SCHOOL (CATS) PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDSOUND FISHERIES ENHANCEMENT GROUP OFFERED AN ADULT TRAINING PROGRAM TO RESIDENTS OF WRIAS 7 AND 8 WHERE PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN HANDS-ON LEARNING TO CREATE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TO CREATE CHANGE AS LEADERS WITHIN THEIR WATERSHED.OUR HATCHERY LOCATED AT THE WILLOW CREEK SALMON AND WATERSHED EDUCATION CENTER RAISED 80,000 COHO SALMON WHICH WERE THEN RELEASED INTO 4 LOCAL TRIBUTARIES WITHIN THE LAKE WASHINGTON WATERSHED.

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM:OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS ENGAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO SALMON RECOVERY THROUGH OUR HABITAT AND HATCHERY PROGRAMS. VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED WITH EVERY STAGE OF RAISING 80,000 COHO SALMON, REMOVED INVASIVE VEGETATION, AND PLANTED NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS TO BOOST SALMON POPULATIONS AND AID IN HABITAT RESTORATION. IN ADDITION, SSS MANAGES THE EDMONDS STEWARDS PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF EDMONDS TO TRAIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BECOME LEADERS IN STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORING CITY OF EDMONDS PARKS.