Introduction
Indian tribes have always lived in the river valleys of what is now western Washington. As part of these ecosystems, we co-evolved with the natural resources of this area, our cultures centered on fishing, gathering and hunting.
Today, the wild salmon upon which we have always depended are disappearing. More than a century of timber harvesting, dam construction, rapid population growth and other factors have destroyed and degraded important salmon spawning and rearing habitat. Past overharvest drove salmon populations lower. Salmon hatcheries designed to compensate for the loss of natural production caused by habitat destruction now threaten the genetic integrity and ability of wild salmon to compete for food.
In the spring of 1999, the National Marine Fisheries Service listed three western Washington salmon stocks – Puget Sound chinook, Hood Canal/Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca summer chum, and Lake Ozette sockeye – as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. In May 2006, protection was proposed for Puget Sound steelhead under the ESA.
While the ESA is neither the starting point nor end point for salmon recovery, it is a primary consideration when contemplating actions potentially harmful to these listed species. Wild salmon are the key indicator species in the region, reflecting the overall health of the freshwater and nearshore marine ecosystems on which they depend.
Western Washington tribes are leaders in the salmon recovery effort. No other group of people knows salmon as well, and none has a greater stake in their survival.
We know that the battle to preserve, protect and restore the salmon and other natural resources of the region cannot be fought alone. Only through cooperation can the shared vision of a better environment for future generations be assured, and available funding leveraged to provide the greatest benefit.
Balancing The Hs
Balancing the Three Hs – Harvest, Hatcheries and Habitat – is the key to salmon recovery. Efforts in each H must complement and build on efforts in the other two if we are to reach our goals.
Resources
- Quarterly Newsletter
- News Releases
- Staff Directory
- Tribal Staff Directory
- Employment
- NW Fishery Bulletin
Internal Resources
