Search Results for: state of our watersheds

Shoreline armoring in both fresh and saltwater is one of the most pervasive and growing problems facing salmon populations in our region. Armoring techniques like riprapping – adding rocks to riverbanks to prevent erosion – cut salmon off from vital habitat. According to the recently released State of Our Watersheds Report by the treaty tribes in western Washington, the riprapping on the Hoh River has gotten worse. From the report: The mainstem Hoh River has over 3.7 miles of riprap between River Mile 1 and 37. Since 2012, there have been at least four new riprap projects as well...

The state should propose a 350 gallon per day cap on permit-exempt wells withdrawing from the Stillaguamish watershed to protect against unaccounted over-withdrawal of water. By reducing the amount of surface water, over-withdrawal can harm salmon at all stages of their life cycle. From the State of Our Watersheds Report, released last year from the NWIFC: In the 2014 Stillaguamish Water Reservations Report, Washington Department of Ecology reported that 818 wells were withdrawing 143,500 gallons of water per day from the groundwater reserve for permit-exempt wells that was established in 2005. According to Ecology, an additional 50 to 75...

Despite rough economic times and slow growth, the number of new unpermitted wells in the Nisqually watershed grew at a steady rate. That is a finding in the recently released State of Our Watersheds Report by the treaty tribes in western Washington. From the report: Between the upper and lower extents (of the watershed) is a focus area of 230 square miles with mostly flat to gently sloping land, three urban areas (Eatonville, Roy and Yelm) and 87% of the watershed’s water wells. This middle focus area of the watershed has seen the majority of water well growth in...

Declining forest cover in coastal river basins leads to fewer salmon returning, hurting both sport and tribal fishermen. That is a finding in the recently released State of Our Watersheds Report by the treaty tribes in western Washington. From the report: Between 2006 and 2011, watersheds within Olympic National Park and U.S. Forest Service lands had little (<1%) or no change in forest cover conditions while within the state and private lands, the overall trend is negative. Watersheds with the highest losses were West Fork Dickey (with a 12.1% change) and Lower Bogachiel River (9.9%). Even though these coastal watersheds generally have...