Click on the image above to watch the video From extinction's edge to potential recovery
I am thrilled to share that we are witnessing the promising return of one of our most culturally and environmentally significant species—our very own ‘little red fish,’ the Lake Sammamish kokanee. Only seven years after the disastrous 2017–18 run, when just 19 fish returned to spawn, biologists have reported an astonishing recovery: during the 2024–25 spawning run, 8,300 adult kokanee salmon made their way back to their spawning grounds.
This impressive rebound is the result of years of dedicated collaboration between the county and our tribal, local, and community partners. Our collective efforts included releasing record numbers of fry in 2023 and 2024, as well as implementing extensive recovery measures. These initiatives ranged from watershed restoration that reestablished access to upstream areas to habitat repairs, such as planting native vegetation to support spawning and rearing.
This triumph is a powerful reminder that, while human activity contributed to this species' decline, we also hold the power to help our ecosystems recover and heal.
Trailhead Direct, King County’s transit-to-trails service, kicks off its eighth season on Memorial Day weekend, with both routes serving the South Bellevue Light Rail Station. Operated by King County Metro in partnership with King County Parks and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), the service also receives promotional support from Amazon.
Trips to the Issaquah Alps and Mount Si trails will run on weekends and holidays, starting Saturday, May 24, and continuing through Labor Day, Monday, September 1. The 2025 season also includes service on Independence Day. This year, Trailhead Direct has doubled the frequency of trips from Metro’s Mount Baker Transit Center—via South Bellevue Station—to the Issaquah Alps, with departures every 30 minutes to Margaret’s Way, Squak Mountain, Chirico Trail–Poo Poo Point, High School Trail, and East Sunset Way. Service will also run every 30 minutes to trailheads near Mount Si, Mount Teneriffe, and Little Si, with pickups at South Bellevue Station.
This expanded Trailhead Direct service connects car-free hikers to some of the region’s most spectacular trails—eliminating the need to drive or search for parking. It’s transit at its best, providing residents and visitors with easy, weekend and holiday access to some of King County’s most breathtaking natural treasures.
|
