Chinook Salmon Recovery Projects

About this measure: In 1999 Chinook salmon were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In 2005, the Puget Sound Region, including King County and all its partners, completed a comprehensive science-based Salmon Recovery Plan. The Plan outlines the necessary actions to achieve the delisting of Chinook salmon and benefit other salmonids including coho, and (the now ESA-listed) steelhead.

This KingStat measure reflects King County's completion of Salmon Recovery Plan capital restoration projects and land acquisitions across three watersheds, Snoqualmie, Cedar, and Green in a ten-year period 2006-2015. A total of 136 projects have been identified in the unincorporated portions of King County for which King County is the implementing agency. The completion of these projects is critical for the region's efforts to restore runs of threatened Chinook salmon.

2008 Results: 6 projects completed in 2008

• 1 reach scale acquisition (Rainbow Bend)
• 3 large restoration (Camp Gilead, Newaukum Ck, Cedar Rapids), and
• 2 series of small habitat restoration projects (Snoqualmie and Green)

Cumulative project completion from 2006-2008: 15 projects

2008 Target: Implementing 40 projects between 2006-2008 would be required to keep pace toward completion of 10-year list by 2015.

2009 Target: 8 projects are scheduled for completion in 2009

Completing 54 total projects during 2006-2009 would keep pace toward accomplishing the 10-year list by 2015.

Influencing Factors: King County's ability to meet our target is primarily hampered by a lack of dedicated funding for salmon recovery capital actions. The majority of dollars to support our success to date come from external grant sources. The reliance on these grant sources results in inconsistency in annual funding amounts and substantial administrative burden to apply for and track these dollars.

Strategies Going Forward: King County continues to work strategically to prioritize and sequence its efforts to ensure most important projects are implemented first. The county is actively pursuing acquisitions and capital design and construction projects across all watersheds. We work closely with our regional partners to identify leveraging opportunities and other partnerships to facilitate the implementation of on-the-ground work. We will continue to pursue a more stable funding mechanism for salmon recovery and watershed protection efforts.

Technical Notes: Projects are only listed as complete once construction is completed or all acquisitions have occurred based on a planned protection area. Therefore this measure does not reflect the current progress in design/permitting, nor does it reflect the list of individual acquisitions for watershed protection in a given year.

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