1. We Are Proud Members of the
Stillaguamish
WATERSHED
Council
Integrating ecosystem protection with restoration
The Stillaguamish Watershed Council combines both protection and restoration of
important habitat in the Stillaguamish watershed. Healthy ecosystems provide vital
natural resources for humans and wildlife; clean water, sustainable forests and food.
Photo by Jessica Newley
Harvest is the number of fish caught each year. About 25% of the Stillaguamish
Chinook run are caught each year through commercial and sport fishing between
Alaska and Washington. Scientific research tells us this is a sustainable harvest
number, so why aren’t salmon runs improving?
Protecting Salmon and Streams
Founded in 1990, the Stillaguamish Watershed Council was formed in
response to declining water quality conditions and salmon populations.
The mission of the SWC is to maintain a healthy, functioning Stillaguamish
Watershed by providing a local forum in which agencies, organizations,
communities, and the public can engage in a collaborative watershed
based process of decision making and coordination.
Healthy salmon habitat requires complexity, such as, pools to hide from predators, resting
spots and gravel for salmon redds (nests). Log jams provide these important characteristics by
creating deep pools in front of the jam and gravel for redds behind the jam. Engineered log
jams supplement the loss of large trees from historical logging activities. In time, as trees grow
larger, this natural process will resume and engineered log jams will no longer be needed.
Riverside Habitat, known as the riparian zone, is very important for salmon. The
vegetation alongside a river provides large woody debris for log jams, shade to cool water,
filters pollutants and prevents erosion. By protecting and restoring riparian zones the SWC
helps to enhance and restore aquatic ecosystems, improve water quality, and provide
healthy habitat for salmon.
City of Arlington
US Forest Service, Darrington Ranger District
Wild Fish Conservancy
Pilchuck Audubon Society
Stillaguamish Flood Control District
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Sound Salmon Solutions
Snohomish County Council
Snohomish Conservation District
The Nature Conservancy
Tulalip Tribes
Stillaguamish Clean Water District Advisory Board
Habitat is a main factor for the decreases in the number of returning
salmon. SWC partners work hard every day to protect and restore
freshwater and estuary habitats that are in decline due to increased
development in these critical areas.
Hatcheries help ensure populations of Chinook salmon do not go extinct.
Until salmon habitat is significantly improved it is necessary to supplement runs
with hatchery juveniles. They are currently releasing about 250,000 Chinook
juveniles each year to help boost the numbers of returning salmon.
Evergreen Fly Fishing Club
Pilchuck Tree Farm
Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
City of Granite Falls
Washington Department of Ecology
Snohomish County Surface Water Management
www.stillaguamishwatershed.org
Washington Farm Forestry Association
Warm Beach Christian Camp & Conference Center
WSU Snohomish County Extension
City of Stanwood
Citizens of the Stillaguamish