FY 2016 Port Gamble Tribe Salmon Recovery Planning

The Natural Resource Director represented the tribe in various local, regional, and statewide salmon recovery and planning forums. The Director oversaw the implementation of the Puget Sound Chinook and Hood Canal Summer Chum Recovery Plans in collaboration with other tribes, WDFW, HCCC, NOAA and other agencies. The Director also worked closely with PGST policy and leadership to help inform relevant decision-making by the Port Gamble Tribal Council and community members as it pertains to salmon recovery issues. The project scope included the development of salmon recovery recommendations developed through various resource management processes. Involvement with watershed planning activities including coordinating habitat assessments and restoration project planning resulted in identifying and then preparing to address factors that may be constraining the recovery of healthy natural salmon production in the Tribes Usual and Accustomed (U&A) area. Special emphasis of this years project involved the Director serving on the Southern Resident Killer Whale task force, relating to the threat of lack prey (salmonid) availability.

The project will provide the opportunity for the Port Gamble SKlallam Tribe to participate in the salmon recovery planning process and to coordinate with federal, state, and local recovery planning agencies. The recovery planning process will benefit from having the Tribes expertise and technical input that can be applied to directly benefit the salmon and the habitat they occupy.