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 Seven years after a catastrophic decline in the number of adult kokanee salmon returning from Lake Sammamish put the native species on the brink of extinction, a partnership coordinated by King County is reporting a potential breakthrough for a sustainable recovery.
Biologists reported that more than 8,300 adult kokanee salmon returned to their spawning grounds during the 2024-25 spawning run, a stunning improvement over the 2017-18 run when just 19 returned. It was the second-highest return since King County began monitoring in 1996.
The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks has been working with the Lake Sammamish Kokanee Recovery Work Group to enact emergency and long-range actions to ensure the survival of the unique salmon population that is important to the region’s habitat and history.
“The promising signs of a sustainable recovery for native kokanee salmon reflect the incredible work of our employees and partners – and it inspires real hope for the natural environment of our region,” said King County Executive Shannon Braddock. “While there is still more work to do, the progress we have made demonstrates what we can accomplish when we mobilize resources and unify efforts to achieve common goals.”
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