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WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Project and Program Updates
Issaquah Creek Restoration Begins in Lake Sammamish State Park
The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, in partnership with Washington State Parks, is launching its most ambitious restoration project yet—rehabilitating 4,600 feet of Issaquah Creek within Lake Sammamish State Park to improve critical salmon habitat. Once a vibrant salmon stream, Issaquah Creek is home to this project which will continue significant improvements to riparian habitat degraded by development. This project builds on over 20 years of volunteer-driven work to restore natural habitat conditions and help salmon thrive.
We are thankful to all the partners and funders who’ve helped make this vital work possible. Visit the webpage for more information.
Seattle Public Utilities Acquires 20-Acre Parcel
SPU is delighted to announce the successful closing of acquisition of the 20-acre Helen Sherry property on the Cedar River. This parcel has been the subject of discussion and negotiation for acquisition with the landowner for the last 14 years. The parcel is immediately contiguous and downstream of the 16-acre Upper Royal Arch Floodplain Reconnection Project completed in 2023! A terrific agreement that provides for a life-estate for Ms. Sherry to continue to live on a small upland area on the property made acquisition possible.
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SPU will commence planning for a large floodplain reconnection and stream channel restoration project later this year. The goal is to complete that future project before the end of this decade. This acquisition was also greatly enabled by the much-appreciated award of grant funds from the King County Conservation Futures Fund, as well as two other State grants recommended by WRIA 8 and administered by the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office. Questions about this work may be directed to Seattle’s Cedar River Habitat Conservation Plan Downstream Habitat Program Manager, Brent Lackey, pictured here toasting the closing of the deal with Helen Sherry earlier this month.
From Extinction's Edge to a Promising Future: How King County and Partners Put Lake Sammamish Kokanee on a Path Toward Recovery
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 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.
Watch the full video.
Bring Your Students Outdoors with the Greenway Education Program
Give your students an unforgettable, hands-on science experience! For over 25 years, the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust’s Education Program has connected students with high-quality, outdoor learning. Our Forests and Fins program (generously supported by WRIA 8!) engages 4th-12th grade students in real-world science. After a classroom prep session, students head to Issaquah Creek with their Science Journals to investigate water quality, macroinvertebrates, stream habitat, and riparian plants—just like professional ecologists! Free to low-income schools, with some bus transportation support available. Spots fill fast! Sign up today for the 2025-26 school year at mtsgreenway.org/education.
Lake Washington Ship Canal Natural Resource Management section took part in WDFW's School Co-operative Program
The Lake Washington Ship Canal (LWSC) Natural Resource Management section took part in WDFW's School Co-operative Program for the first time. This program connects local fish hatcheries with educational organizations to raise and release salmon eggs with the intention of spreading environmental awareness to the public and boosting salmon populations in the wild. Staff prepared an aquarium for the fish eggs in the LWSC Visitor Center, and in January, 250 coho salmon eggs travelled from Issaquah Fish Hatchery to their new home. Visitors enjoyed the ability to see salmon during our off season when salmon are not migrating past the Fish Ladder viewing windows. Fry were released in May.
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Salmon Friendly Lakes Program and Reducing Artificial Light Impacts
The Salmon Friendly Lakes Program seeks to inspire behavior change among lakeshore residents on Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish through education and outreach opportunities, free technical assistance site visits, as well as impact-reduction and restoration guidance.
This program is also a part of the Lake Sammamish Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) Abatement efforts, which are intended to better understand and reduce the impacts of artificial light on salmon in the lakes. See links to two webinars below focused on the effort to address the impacts of artificial light at night on salmon.
Updates from Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH)
At Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH), the off-site education and outreach program, Salmon Science Tables, included 30 volunteers staffing 27 school and community events from Auburn to Shoreline to teach about salmon and watershed stewardship.
Visit the webpage to learn more about this program.
Friendly Village Reach 6 Restoration Designs (Bear Creek)
Adopt A Stream Foundation recently completed conceptual designs to restore 1,055 linear feet of Bear Creek, 2.5 acres of associated riparian buffer, and replace two undersized culverts at the Friendly Village Mobile Home Park in Redmond. The floodplain, instream, and riparian restoration directly address habitat-limiting factors outlined in the WRIA 8 Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan. These include improving floodplain connectivity, enhancing riparian vegetation, and increasing in-stream channel complexity. Adopt A Stream Foundation applied for and received funding during WRIA 8’s 2025 grant round to support advancing project designs and securing permits.
Located in the Lower Bear Creek subarea, Reach 6 is a priority in the WRIA 8 Plan. The proposed work specifically advances the design phase for restoration. The overarching restoration goals of the project are to:
- Reduce fine sediment inputs
- Install large woody debris (LWD)
- Restore native riparian conditions
- Reduce channel confinement
Salmon in the News
Engage, Educate, and Discover at Mapes Creek.
Read the full article.
Snorkeler Counts Chinook Salmon in Lake Washington at Night – Here’s Why.
Read the full article.
Upcoming Events
Restore Habitat at the Montlake and Fremont Cuts
Join the Army Corps of Engineers for volunteer restoration events. Tools and gloves provided, all ages welcome.
- Every 2nd Saturday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Contact LockVolunteer@usace.army.mil for more details
Grant Opportunities
Apply now! $1M Lake Sammamish Dock and Shoreline Grants Program
The King County Flood Control District recently announced the availability of $1M in grant funding to reduce risk of flooding damages to Lake Sammamish docks and other shoreline structures, while providing erosion control and salmon habitat improvements. Eligible recipients are Lake Sammamish shoreline, single-family homeowners. Learn more at an informational session, July 8 and 14. Applications are due August 15. Learn more and apply.
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