|
WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Project and Program Updates
Salmon Day at the Ballard Locks
On Saturday August 15th WRIA 8 joined partners from Cedar River Salmon Stewards, Bats Northwest, Tilth Alliance, King County Wastewater Treatment Division, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Seattle Aquarium, and Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery for the annual Salmon Day at the Ballard Locks! It was an amazing opportunity to connect with and educate the public about salmon and watershed health. WRIA 8 would like to the thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their work in putting this event together annually and providing a perfect setting for sharing information about our work!
Salmon SEEson Program Kicks Off!
The WRIA 8-led Salmon SEEson program has begun, coordinating with program partners to highlight and promote opportunities for the public to see salmon in local streams and rivers when they return this summer and fall. The Salmon SEEson website provides a map and details for several self-guided viewing locations as well as in-person interpretive viewing opportunities.
As of mid-August, more than 30,000 sockeye have passed through the Ballard Locks. While this is still well below long-term averages, it does represent an improvement compared to the last three years. Unfortunately, sockeye counts have declined significantly since 2006, when over 400,000 fish made their way back to Lake Washington.
Chinook began their return through the Ballard Locks in late July and their numbers typically peak in mid to late August. As of August 11th, biologists estimate over 2,300 Chinook have passed through the Locks. Coho are expected to begin their return in early September.
Read the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife preliminary Lake Washington salmon counts online. It’s important to note that, in recent years, numbers of salmon predicted by the Ballard Locks counts have been much higher than the numbers of salmon observed reaching the hatcheries and spawning grounds.
Learn more about Salmon SEEson in King County’s Field Notes!
Salmon SEEson is coordinated by WRIA 8 with additional sponsorship support from the Saving Water Partnership, the Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed (WRIA 9), the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum, the Hazardous Waste Management Program and King County.
Orcas at Ballard Locks could reinforce progress we’re making upstream for salmon recovery
To the delight of both locals and tourists at the Ballard Locks, Biggs killer whales – known as transient orcas – are patrolling the Seattle Ship Canal to enjoy a late summer feast.
Learn more in King County's Field Notes!
2026 Community Action Training School
Applications are now open for Mid Sound's Community Action Training School (CATS) taking place September 30th - November 14th. CATS is a continuing education program for residents 18+ that explores the restoration movement working to create healthy watersheds, and the importance of community building to save a critical keystone species: the Pacific salmon. Through 7 virtual classroom sessions, 4 in-person field experiences, and a 32-hour stewardship project, you’ll be able to take what you learn and put it into action. Apply here today!
Updates from Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery
Issaquah Salmon Hatchery Tours
The hatchery is starting to spin up for Salmon Viewing Season. The hatchery offers August public tours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturday and Sunday 11 am and 1 pm. Register here.
Become a Volunteer Tour Guide at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery
Help inspire the next generation of salmon stewards! As a volunteer tour guide, you'll be on the front lines of salmon recovery and environmental education, welcoming thousands of visitors during Fall to Washington's most iconic salmon hatchery. Share the incredible story of the Pacific Northwest's salmon, lead engaging tours for schools and community groups, and connect people of all ages to the importance of healthy watersheds and conservation through the lens of salmon. If you enjoy meeting people, public speaking, and making a lasting impact in your community, we'd love to have you join our team. Volunteer with FISH.
Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group’s 2026 Salmon Shindig
Save the date for a festive evening of appetizers, drinks, and good cheer to celebrate salmon habitat restoration wins in our watersheds!
- Thursday October 15, 6 to 9 pm, Leif Erikson Lodge, Seattle
Your ticket purchase supports our projects and programs and includes appetizers and a hosted bar. Raise your paddle for salmon and bid on original art and other items in a silent auction and/or raffle. Visit the website for more information and tickets.
Regional Open Space Conservation Plan
Trails, parks, forests, farms and other open spaces help make the Puget Sound region a wonderful place to live, work and explore. To support these important places, the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is updating the Regional Open Space Conservation Plan.
How can you help?
-
Take the community survey and share how you access parks and open spaces, what you value most, and what improvements would make these places more accessible.
-
Join the I Love Open Spaces Photo Challenge and share your favorite outdoor photo for a chance to win a Washington State Discover Pass and have your image featured in the new Regional Open Space Conservation Plan.
- Share your thoughts at a community event: September 2: Columbia City Farmers Market
Contact Erika Harris, eharris@psrc.org, with any questions.
King County’s Septic System Maintenance Rebate Program Supports Homeowners
Maintaining a septic system regularly can help homeowners catch issues earlier and save money. This rebate program offers up to $500 to pay for septic system inspection, pumping, or riser installation. Septic property owners can plan for routine maintenance activities with the rebate program. A rebate is offered once per property starting April 13th, 2026 until July 2027, or until the funding is exhausted.
Salmon in the News
Orca Sighting at Ballard Locks is Great News for Salmon.
Read the full article.
Approaching the Funding Cliff: What Happens When BIL Expires? Featuring Waynita Creek.
Read the full article.
Grant Opportunities
Water Quality Combined Funding Program Now Accepting Applications
Applications for the State Fiscal Year 2028 Water Quality Combined Funding Program are being accepted now through Sept. 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. Funding guidelines are now available.
Puget Sound Stewardship and Mitigation Fund
The Puget Sound Stewardship and Mitigation Fund is enabled by court-ordered environmental mitigation payments related to Clean Water Act settlements by Puget Soundkeeper Alliance (Soundkeeper), Waste Action Project and other citizen enforcement groups. The Fund’s goal is to improve the surface water quality of Puget Sound and mitigate past pollution runoff by supporting water projects related to conservation, restoration, community science, and environmental justice. The Fund has two grant cycles per year, and the specific parts of the Sound where we may have funds for projects can vary from cycle to cycle depending on the requirements of individual settlements.
Apply here. Applications due Friday September 29 at 5 pm PST.
|
