Squaxin Island Tribe's Natural Resources

From the press release: The Squaxin Island Tribe is appealing to Gov. Chris Gregoire the decision by the state Department of Ecology to reject a petition to protect Johns Creek. ”Ecology’s inaction does further harm to our treaty-based fisheries,” said Andy Whitener, natural resources director for the Tribe. “Salmon recovery should not have to bear [...]

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From Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Website: Anderson Good Choice to lead WDFW The treaty tribes of western Washington look forward to continuing to work with Phil Anderson as director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Anderson was named the department’s permanent director Saturday by the nine-member commission….(read more at NWIFC website).

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The Squaxin Island Tribe has partnered with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to place coho salmon in Gosnell Creek, a tributary in upper Mill Creek. A total of 10,000 fish were planted in two locations known to have water cool enough for salmon to thrive throughout the summer.

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I toured the Deschutes Watershed on June 4th with 17 other members of the Deschutes Advisory Group.  The group is charged with implementing measures to address water quality issues identified in the DOE TMDL technical report. One highlight of the tour was stopping at the mouth of Huckleberry Creek not far downstream from the upper Deschutes [...]

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The Natural Resources Department at the Squaxin Island Tribe has been a pioneer in the scientific investigation of water pollution in Oakland Bay.  One of our key findings is that windy conditions stir up bacteria laden sediment at the upper end of the bay and those bacteria can close down shellfish harvest. We have always [...]

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Lower Deschutes Falls on January 8, 2009 The January Deschutes flood has some similarities and differences with the flood of record on January 9, 1990.  The total volumes of water moving through the system in 24 hours were similar, but the peaks and durations of the flood flows were quite distinct. In 1990, the peak [...]

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Native trees and shrubs along stream corridors (riparian areas) are important for healthy salmon runs. The Squaxin Island Tribe’s Natural Resources Department is doing what it can to restore riparian areas in order to protect salmon runs and create habitat for wildlife. In February of 2007 the Natural Resources Department implemented a stream bank restoration [...]

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The log jams the Squaxin Island Tribe built over the last few years in Skookum Creek provided a critical refuge for chum heading upstream to spawn during the recent floods.  When flows in Skookum Creek reached 750 cfs on Wednesday afternoon (11/12/08), a number of chum like the one visible in this picture rested in [...]

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The Squaxin Island Tribe pays USGS to operate a stream flow gage on Goldsborough Creek near downtown Shelton (see:  http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/uv/?site_no=12076800&PARAmeter_cd=00060,00065).  The stream flow from the heavy rains yesterday and today have peaked at around 900 cfs.  That qualifies as a modest flood in the Goldsborough watershed.

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The tribe is looking for places where salmon and other fish live in the saltwater: The Squaxin Island Tribe is studying tiny pocket estuaries in deep South Sound to find out how important they are to endangered juvenile chinook salmon. The research is being funded by the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board. “Anywhere a small [...]

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