Swinomish

Elk “Alive and Kicking” After Tribes’ Transfer

TOUTLE (June 9, 2005) – The second round in an ongoing tribal effort to bolster a weak population of elk in the North Cascades was highly successful, tribal officials said. All ten of the elk transferred from the Mt. St. Helens area near Toutle, where elk are plentiful, survived their relocation to the North Sound region.

This year’s transfer adds to the 41 animals the tribes and the state worked together to transfer to the dwindling bands of the Nooksack elk herd.

“We’re happy and proud that all of the animals we brought north have survived,” said Todd Wilbur, Swinomish, chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission’s inter-tribal wildlife committee. “Now, 10 more elk are alive and kicking in core habitat for the Nooksack elk herd.”

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Tribal Pocket Estuary Research Benefits Endangered Chinook

LA CONNER (July 30, 2004) – The key to big salmon runs may lie in small sections of habitat, scientists at the Skagit River System Cooperative are finding.

According to the tribal consortium’s research, pocket estuaries are exceptionally important for the imperiled Skagit River chinook salmon.

“Our research is designed to reach one goal: the recovery of Skagit River chinook salmon,” said Lorraine Loomis, fisheries manager with the Swinomish Tribe. Skagit River chinook are listed as “threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act. “This pocket estuary work has a lot of promise, and could help us toward that goal.”

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