FY 2024 Sauk-Suiattle Fish Enforcement

The proposed project provides funding for the fisheries component for an enforcement officer employed by the Sauk Suiattle Indian Tribes (SSITs) Police Department. The project provides protection of all salmonids within the Skagit River watershed with a focus on compliance with tribal and state fishing regulations. A secondary focus of this project is to maintain an enforcement presence in this area with vigilance for illegal land use actions that can adversely affect salmonids and their habitats. An additional third task is to catalog illegal dumping sites during patrols. Additional duties will be to patrol the hatchery property.

There is a long history of poaching ( of all types) in this area. SSIT Fish Enforcement presence will reduce the potential for poaching while increasing the potential for detecting and reporting poaching incidents to the proper authorities. In addition, enforcement presence during tribal fisheries meets co-manager obligations. The fish enforcement officer will catalog illegal land use activities and illegal dump sites that may impair river and riparian habitat functions that support these stocks. Examples of the types of land use activities likely to be detected include illegal grading, stream bank armoring, timber harvest, and dumping. By identifying these illegal activity sites, agencies with jurisdiction can be contacted to implement corrective actions. The addition of SSIT Fish Enforcement personnel in this area is a great boost to the Washington Department of Fishs Habitat Protection and Enforcement programs which are currently underfunded and understaffed.