Friends,
Salmon are part of our way of life, especially in the 10th District. The Skagit River is the only river in our region which is home to five species of salmon: Chinook, Coho, Pink, Sockeye, and Chum. We fish for salmon, inland animals depend on salmon runs for nourishment, and resident orcas rely on them for food.
Unfortunately, salmon runs are not what they once were. We need to support our salmon populations and improve habitat.
October is the middle of salmon season and a great time to talk about the work the legislature has done to help recover salmon populations. Last session, the legislature invested $585 million from the state Capital Budget for orca recovery efforts, salmon habitat restoration, and water quality projects around the state. We also invested another $85 million for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, portions of which also go to habitat improvements statewide.
Of those investments, over $17 million went to salmon recovery projects right here in the 10th District.
Fish Barrier Removal
We know that barriers like culverts prevent salmon from reaching their spawning beds and hurt salmon populations. The legislature funded projects to remove these barriers, helping our salmon reach their spawning grounds. This year we funded three such projects in the 10th District.
- Kristoferson Creek fish barrier removal
- Planning of barrier removal at Fisher Creek and Starbird Creek
Salmon Habitat Improvements
Our rivers and estuaries must be in good condition for our salmon populations to thrive. These are the habitats where salmon hunt, and where forage fish live and spawn. Healthy rivers and estuaries mean more salmon. This session’s Capital Budget funded projects to:
- Improve the estuary at Leque Island
- Remove the shoreline armor at Similk Bay, which is important for forage fish populations
- Test the effectiveness of large wood placement to improve estuary conditions near the Skagit River Delta
- Manage the floodplain of the Stillaguamish River near Stanwood, improving salmon habitat
Sammish Hatchery
Chinook are an important food source for orcas and one of Washington’s iconic fish species. Chinook numbers are down, and we need to support our Chinook populations and bolster native fish populations. The legislature allocated over $7.5 million to rebuild the Samish River intake at Samish Hatchery and improve the population of native fish throughout the Samish River basin.
Find out more about Capital Budget investments in the 10th District at http://fiscal.wa.gov/BudgetCProjDetailL.aspx.
As always, please contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions. I appreciate your feedback.
Thanks again,
Rep. Dave Paul
(360) 786-7914