Squaxin Island Tribe's Natural Resources

Nutrient loading and its effects on the health of the Salish Sea was a topic covered from a variety of perspectives at the recent Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference in Vancouver, BC.  The most common threat from elevated nutrients is hypoxia, or dangerously low levels of dissolved oxygen as is found at times in Hood Canal. [...]

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Last week I had the pleasure of attending the 2011 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference  in beautiful Vancouver, BC with four of my fellow Squaxin NR colleagues. Throughout the three days I sat in on a number of breakout sessions and reviewed scientific posters that ranged in topics covering Estuary Science, Marine Survival of Salmon, Marine Mammals, and Traditional Foods [...]

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The Squaxin Island Tribe and the Capitol Land Trust are hoping to purchase and protect an important piece of forestland between Henderson and Budd inlets as part of a joint effort to restore and protect habitat between the two south Sound inlets. “In total, we would protect almost 60 acres,” said John Konovsky, resource protection [...]

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Update:  Judge Paula Casey ruled in favor of the Squaxin Island Tribe to protect Johns Creek! Fish runs in Johns Creek, near Shelton, have been shrinking for years.  Wells are stealing water that should flow into Johns Creek.  Ecology has refused to stop new wells until it knows where wells can be safely drilled. So, [...]

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We have learned that the Thurston County Commission intends to support using Thurston Conservation Futures money to support “preserving” land for an urban park in downtown Olympia. This appears to fail the test of the intended use for this funding source and does nothing for conservation. If this is how money will be doled out, [...]

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Repairs are complete.  The boat ramp is now open.  Thanks!

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Proponents of keeping Capitol Lake say that if we only cleaned up the entire Deschutes River watershed, water quality problems in the dammed estuary would go away. From the Save Capitol Lake website: Broaden focus to watershed for improved water quality: The CLIPA findings support more effective management of the upper Deschutes Watershed to address [...]

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From the DNR blog Ear to the Ground: http://washingtondnr.wordpress.com/ DNR and its partners have removed 3,150 square feet of overwater docking structure — the last remaining overwater structure on Squaxin Island. Removed were 48 creosote treated wood pilings and 84.6 tons of creosote treated wood. The dock, which provided tribal members access to an old [...]

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It’s time to get your boats ready and gear mended because fishing season is just around the corner.  We are expecting to see some good returns of Fall Chinook  with approximately 19,500 expected to come back to Tumwater Falls Hatchery this year.   The coho season was a real downer last year with record low [...]

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The long-awaited reconstruction of the Arcadia Boat Ramp will begin in early July.  Fishermen and clam diggers please be aware that the ramp will be closed to all traffic during the construction period and use of the parking lot will be limited. The 2011 Tribal Canoe Journey Launching and the First Salmon Ceremony will be [...]

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