Geographic Information System Archives - Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

Tribes Release Watersheds Report

Post author:Bryan Bougher
Post published:January 31, 2005
Post category:NWIFC Blog

OLYMPIA (January 24, 2005) – The treaty Indian tribes in western Washington, in cooperation with the state of Washington, have produced the most comprehensive report to date on the status of salmon habitat in the region. “State of Our Watersheds” compiles decades of data collected by tribes, and state and federal agencies, painting a picture of watersheds across western Washington.

“Tribes have always lived on watersheds, along the rivers,” said Billy Frank Jr., chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. “We have always had a watershed perspective, and this report tells the story of salmon habitat from our perspective.”

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Fish Restoration Efforts Get Boost From Improved Monitoring Capabilities

Post author:Bryan Bougher
Post published:August 22, 2003
Post category:NWIFC Blog

FORKS (August 20, 2003) – The waters of Owl Creek muddy up immediately when Jill Silver, biologist for the Hoh Tribe, uses her hand to swirl the gray clay lining the river bottom. The gooey mud is washing into the creek from a large deposit of clay on the bank and Silver suspects it is harming fish. Tracking and monitoring sites where clay is moving into streams is part of a pilot watershed monitoring program the Hoh Tribe is beginning this year.

While the tribe has actively monitored many aspects of salmon and salmon recovery over the years, the new program will merge all the different layers of information into one computer database linked to a new Geographic Information System (GIS). The new tool will help analyze complex habitat and water questions based on thousands of hours of past and current research.

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