Salmon Habitat Conservation
Local partners working together to conserve and restore salmon habitat.
New and Popular Links
Synthesis of Best Available science: Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Conditions in the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Impacts on Salmon by Lauren Urgenson, WRIA 8 Technical Coordinator; Josh Kubo and Curtis DeGasperi, King County.
2021 Salmon Recovery Conference DEI Presentation
WRIA 8 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee Co-coordinators, Lauren Urgenson and Carla Nelson presented the body of work developed by the DEI Subcommittee at the Salmon Recovery Conference on Thursday, April 29, 2021 under the Human Dimensions Session.
This is full session includes:
Water-Sustainable Food: How We Can Eat Our Way to Healthier Streams, Equitable Agriculture & Climate Resilient Communities by Emily Dick from Washington Water Trust.
Building a Movement for Local Conservation Corps Jobs in Restoration by Jill Silver from 10,000 Years Institute.
This 2020 WRIA 8 Progress Report provides the status of the watershed’s two Chinook populations (Cedar River and Sammamish River) since 2005 and documents the baseline conditions for new habitat restoration goals established as part of the 2017 update to the WRIA 8 Plan.
2021 Legislative Priorities for Puget Sound Watershed Health and Salmon Recovery
- WRIA 8 State Legislative Priorities (in higher resolution for printing)
- WRIA 8 Federal Legislative Priorities (in higher resolution for printing)
WATCH: Virtual Tour for Legislators of Cedar River Floodplain Restoration
SEE salmon safely in King County in 2020!
It's Salmon SEEson again! Safely stop by or virtually visit our suggested salmon viewing sites this fall to catch sight of salmon returning home to spawn. Please remember to recreate responsibly!
- 2020 Special Technical Committee Memo on Artificial Light
- Puget Sound's resident orca population is in trouble. Here are some actions you can take to help salmon and the orcas that rely on them!
- Looking for salmon at the Ballard Locks? Their new website provides up to date information on viewing and renovations.
- 2017 WRIA 8 Chinook Conservation Plan Update
- Watershed Management for Salmon Recovery: A Reference Guide (Sound Salmon Solutions)
- Salmon, Stormwater and You: Seattle Times salmon education insert
- WATCH THE VIDEO: Chinook Recovery Hits 10-Year Mark (King 5 News)
- WATCH THE VIDEO: Rainbow Bend Levee Setback and Floodplain Restoration Project (Vimeo link)
- KPLU series Swimming Upstream follows one Chinook run from the ocean to the Cedar River:
- Part 1: Adult Chinook In The Pacific Ocean Prepare For Long Journey Home
- Part 2: Returning Chinook Exposed To Bathtub Of Contaminants In Puget Sound
- Part 3: Ballard Locks Pose Triple Threat to Returning Chinook
- Part 4: Back In Lake Washington, Chinook Stop Feeding, Rely On Smells To Find Way Home
- Part 5: On The Cedar River, Restored Habitat Provides Ideal Spawning Conditions For Returning Chinook
- Part 6: Threatened Chinook Face Final Obstacle at Landsburg Dam Before Reaching "Shangri-La"
- WATCH THE VIDEO: Spawning Season on the Cedar River (Vimeo link)
- WATCH THE VIDEO: "State of Salmon: Restoring a Washington Icon" (You Tube link)
- Green Shorelines for Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish
Photo courtesy of Dr. Brandon Southall, NMFS/OPR
Salmon and People Living Together
Adapting to Change in our Watershed
Implementation Progress Report 2006-2015
Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammmamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan
Web version provides additional content
About the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8)
Chinook salmon (also known as king salmon) are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. In WRIA 8, citizens, scientists, businesses, environmentalists and governments are cooperating on protection and restoration projects and have developed a science-based plan to conserve salmon today and for future generations. Funding for the salmon conservation plan is provided by 28 local governments in the watershed.
Salmon recovery in WRIA 8 is organized around the needs of two distinct chinook populations - Cedar River and Sammamish River - as well as the migratory and rearing corridors used by those populations. While particular actions may differ among those recovery areas, certain theme hold true throughout the watershed. For example, watershed-wide priorities include protecting forests, reducing impervious surfaces, managing stormwater flows, protecting and improving water quality, conserving water and protecting and restoring vegetation along streambanks.
Watershed Map Showing Land Use
Related Information
- Habitat Work Schedule Database of Protection and Restoration Projects
- Puget Sound Partnership
- Puget Sound Starts Here
- Salmon and Trout
- Watersheds, Rivers and Streams
Partner Governments
- Town of Beaux Arts Village
- City of Bellevue
- City of Bothell
- City of Clyde Hill
- City of Edmonds
- Town of Hunts Point
- City of Issaquah
- City of Kenmore
- City of Kent
- King County
- City of Kirkland
- City of Lake Forest Park
- City of Maple Valley
- City of Medina
- City of Mercer Island
- City of Mill Creek
- City of Mountlake Terrace
- City of Mukilteo
- City of Newcastle
- City of Redmond
- City of Renton
- City of Sammamish
- City of Seattle
- City of Shoreline
- Snohomish County
- City of Woodinville
- Town of Woodway
- Town of Yarrow Point