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? 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. We Are Proud Members of the 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 Evergreen Fly Fishing Club Pilchuck Tree Farm Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians City of Granite Falls Washington Department of Ecology Snohomish County Surface Water Management Sound Salmon Solutions Snohomish County Council Snohomish Conservation District The Nature Conservancy Tulalip Tribes Stillaguamish Clean Water District Advisory Board Washington Farm Forestry Association Warm Beach Christian Camp & Conference Center WSU Snohomish County Extension City of Stanwood Citizens of the Stillaguamish www.stillaguamishwatershed.org 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. 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. WATERSHED Council tillaguamish S