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WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Updates
Salmon Recolonization of the Upper Cedar River
A recent 18-year study by Peter Kiffney at NOAA and collaborators shows salmon recolonization of the Upper Cedar River following removal of the fish passage barrier at Landsburg dam in 2003. (Photo credit: Thefishingwire.com)
Read the full article.
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Regional Stormwater Summit Brings Together Leaders and Stormwater Management Practitioners to Discuss Regional Goals and Solutions to Stormwater Management
On May 31, King County convened a summit engaging leadership and frontline staff from cities, tribes, counties, research institutions, state and federal agencies, and community organizations working on stormwater management. The Summit focused on regional stormwater goals and potential actions regional partners can take together to achieve desired water quality objectives, like improved conditions for salmon. The Summit highlighted regional collaborative approaches that serve as a model for how to approach stormwater management, such as watershed-based salmon recovery.
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View recording of the Summit and presentations presented.
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Read the press release summarizing the Summit.
Recent Documented Presence of Nonnative Fish Species in the Watershed
Seahawks Rookies and Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Canoe on Lake Washington
Read the full article.
(Photo credit: Rod Mar/Seattle Seahawks)
Salmon in the News
Summer Chinook Fishing on Premier Washington Rivers Called off as Salmon Struggle
Read the full article.
Scene in Edmonds: Juvenile Salmon Released in Shell Creek
Read the full article.
Scene in Edmonds: Students Helping Restore Salmon.
Read the full article.
Salmon Fry Released into Local Creeks.
Read the full article.
Project and Program Updates
PNW Artists' Work Evokes Salmon to Educate, Inspire Change
Northwest Artists Against Extinction exhibit “Honor: People and Salmon” featured at the Kittredge Gallery on the University of Puget Sound campus draws inspiration from salmon and hopes their work will help inspire change. Read more about the exhibit.
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Kokanee Education Day
On May 18th, three classes of 4th graders from Blackwell Elementary enjoyed a fun, hands-on day of learning all about kokanee in Issaquah’s Confluence Park. Kokanee Education Day is an annual, engaging, and creative event that cultivates stewardship of kokanee in the Lake Sammamish watershed; increases awareness of actions residents and youth can take to support existing recovery efforts in their community; and celebrates new and ongoing contributions of the community and stakeholders toward the recovery of Lake Sammamish Kokanee. As of this year, over 500 students have participated in Kokanee Education Day! A big thank you to Trout Unlimited, Mountains to Sound Greenway, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, City of Sammamish, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Triangle Associates, Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, the Lake Sammamish Kokanee Work Group and other partners for your invaluable contributions that continue to make this event such a positive and uplifting experience for all.
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What is at the End of that Drain?
The City of Bellevue Stream Team created this short stormwater story to help people learn about stormwater and what you can do to help keep it clean.
View Protect Our Storm Drains on YouTube.
Upcoming Events
June is Orca Action Month
Celebrate the Lasting Legacies of Southern Resident orcas and the Endangered Species Act throughout the month of June. Choose from events and activities – coordinated by the Orca Salmon Alliance and our partners – that bring together researchers, conservation organizations, orca and salmon lovers, and elected officials. View events and activities.
Cleaning up Lake Sammamish with the Urban Wildlife Regional Partnership
King County Healthy Communities and Parks Fund provides support for the Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Regional Partnership (UWRP) to host clean up events at public lands around the UWRP area this summer. Trout Unlimited is organizing these events and aims to have at least 10 clean up events around the watershed between now and the end of September. View a list of confirmed and tentative events.
The first clean up event on June 3rd will kick off Orca Action Month in partnership with the Salish Sea School, who will be providing a presentation on orcas prior to the event held at the Lake Sammamish State Park. Learn more and register here.
For any other questions please contact Alix Lee-Tigner (she/her) 406-868-1902.
Register for June Workshop about Flooding and Ways to Reduce Flood Risk
Flooding is our region’s most common natural disaster and part of life in King County. Want to learn how your family can be better prepared for and respond to floods? Want to share your ideas to shape the King County plan that works to reduce flood risks? King County is hosting this community workshop as part of developing the next King County Flood Management Plan.
This event will be hosted online Tuesday June 27, 6:30-8 p.m. Register here.
If you have questions about the flood plan or how to get involved, contact Chrys Bertolotto, Flood Plan Engagement Coordinator, at 206-263-2677.
Indian Country 101 Training
This training was created in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Whitener Group, a Squaxin Island tribal member-owned consulting firm, to help natural resource practitioners engage with Native American tribes and other Indigenous Peoples in a respectful and meaningful way.
The training is free and self-paced. The first half of the training is focused on a national overview and the second half on Washington State. Several WRIA 8 staff recently had an opportunity to participate in a tribal engagement training session with The Whitener Group organized by Floodplains by Design. We highly recommend the online training, please feel free to reach out to WRIA 8 staff if you are interested in discussing the on-line training or associated resources.
Learn more and register here.
Sammamish River Capital Investment Strategy
King County has launched the Sammamish River Capital Investment Strategy (Sammamish River CIS). The Sammamish River CIS will bring river management practices up to date with current regulations, plan for future conditions and potentially help some improvement projects get started early. The strategy will guide future projects to reduce flood risks and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout the river corridor.
You are invited to participate in the Sammamish River CIS Online Open House and Survey, which is open now through July 10. Your contribution is important, so please take the time to participate and have your voice heard. We encourage you to share this information with your community, neighbors, and friends as well.
There will be additional opportunities to provide your input in the coming months. More information about this work is available on the Sammamish River CIS project website.
Funding Opportunities
Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants
FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Rounds
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will announce the opening of their application period for the FY2023 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant programs later this summer. EMD is designated to administer and oversee these programs for the State, including the application process for all eligible entities with the State (Federally recognized Tribes may apply directly to FEMA or through the State). Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be provided on this site when it is announced.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program round
A new Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) round is now available in Washington state through federal Major Disaster Declaration DR-4682-WA, which was declared on Jan. 12, 2023, for severe storms, strait-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred in November 2022. HMGP grants are not intended for response or recovery actions. Instead, they fund activities that reduce the long-term, future impacts of natural disasters. The Washington Emergency Management Division (WA EMD) is responsible for coordinating with FEMA to administer this grant round. View more information on the DR-4682-WA HMGP grant round.
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