The Sol Duc River on the northwestern Olympic Peninsula runs at its lowest and warmest when summer chinook return to its waters every year. Despite being in one of the world’s greatest temperate rain forests, near-drought conditions often occur in late summer before the fall rains begin in earnest. “These fish are survivors,” said Roger […]
The Skagit Valley Herald: The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe recently purchased 6 acres on the La Conner waterfront, including a warehouse and small pier, for $6.8 million. The land, acquired from La Conner Pier LLC, is directly across the Swinomish Channel from the Swinomish Indian Reservation. About a half-dozen organizations lease property on the land […]
WDFW released the following press release about the Wiley Slough restoration project, in partnership with the Skagit River System Cooperative, the natural resources management arm of the Swinomish and Sauk-Suiattle tribes: OLYMPIA – Beginning July 15, the 175-acre Headquarters Unit of the Skagit Wildlife Area will be closed to public access as crews resume work […]
Tom Davis, legislative liaison with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, has a piece in the Orting News about the initial work to repair Voights Creek hatchery on the Carbon River (a tributary to the Puyallup): The process for restoring Voights Creek Hatchery to a partially functioning facility began in early June. This process […]
In a few years, fishermen might be able to hit the water for chinook in Sinclair Inlet a month earlier than they can now. Hatchery chinook generally return to the inlet near Gorst in August and September. An effort to expand the run timing would have fish swimming into Sinclair Inlet in July. (more…)
From the Centralia Chronicle: The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife has prescribed a solution for controlling the so-called South Rainier elk herd, considered a blessing by some in the East Lewis County area and burden by others. … The recommendation drew the ire of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, one of four tribes […]
Crews have begun the next phase of construction on the Wiley Slough restoration project, which will return tidal flow to a former estuary in the Skagit River delta. The Skagit River System Cooperative (SRSC) — the natural resources arm of the Swinomish and Sauk-Suiattle tribes — is working on the project with the Washington Department […]
Cooperative natural resources co-management at its best was displayed during this year’s North of Falcon process for setting Indian and non-Indian salmon fishing seasons in western Washington. The results were protection of weak wild stocks and more fishing opportunity for everyone. We were able to once again fairly share the burden of conserving weak stocks […]
From Joe Turner at the News Tribune: Reader points out to me that the no fish hatcheries will close is misleading too. The budget says (on Page 397): “During the 2007-09 biennium, the department shall not make a permanent closure of any hatchery facility currently in operation.” So, reader wonders, “if that means that since […]
OLYMPIA – State and tribal salmon co-managers have crafted a conservation-based package of fisheries for 2009 that will protect weak wild runs while providing limited harvest for treaty tribal and state sport and commercial fisheries. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the annual cooperative season-setting process known as North of Falcon. The name refers […]
