Fisheries Department

Upper Skagit Tribe buys waterfront property in La Conner

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 formerly owned by the Roche Harbor-based limited liability corporation. Among the lessees are the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and two manufacturers, Alpac Components Co. and Comptex Inc. (more…)

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Port Gamble starts water quality and plankton monitoring programs

PORT GAMBLE BAY (July 9, 2008) – An upclose study of plankton in Port Gamble Bay and Hood Canal could provide telling results about the health of Puget Sound for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s fisheries department.

The tribe is monitoring plankton levels along with water quality because plankton are the most basic level of the food chain for the marine ecosystem. The study will also show biologists how the ecosystem itself is changing.

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Rain/Wind Probable Cause for Large Fish Kill in Gorst

GORST (May 25, 2006) -- Gusty winds and associated rains Tuesday evening are believed to be the cause of a major fish kill at the Gorst Creek salmon rearing facility. An estimated 1.6 million fall Chinook salmon fry were found dead at the Gorst Creek rearing ponds Wednesday morning, said Jay Zischke, Suquamish fisheries manager.

Continue ReadingRain/Wind Probable Cause for Large Fish Kill in Gorst