FY 2019 Implementation and Monitoring of Skagit Salmon Recovery Goals: Planning

The Skagit River System Cooperative used project funds to provide funding support for two tribal staffers the Environmental Services Manager and the Environmental Protection Ecologist to: 1) review permit applications (e.g., USACOE 404 permits, state permits, local permits); 2) participate in local technical and advisory groups (e.g., local stakeholder groups, Lead Entities) to ensure actions implemented in the Skagit River subbasin and North Puget Sound marine waters are consistent with the Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan; and 3) Provide comments on regulatory and program changes to minimize impacts to salmonids.

The net effect of providing comments on projects and regulations was to reduce impacts that affect fish habitat. Project reviews included suggesting permit conditions, ways to better incorporate the best available science, providing alternatives to reduce impacts to salmonids, and suggesting appropriate measures for impacts that cannot be avoided.

The project will have direct and tangible benefit to salmon and steelhead by averting potential impacts to habitat via design and permit review, examination of flood control and other policies, and by requiring appropriate mitigation in cases where impacts are unavoidable. Finally, participation in and providing technical support to local stakeholder groups will help ensure that goals related to salmon recovery are incorporated into environmental solutions, while project evaluations will provide important information and planning to guide future projects.
This work will improve the prioritization and sequencing of habitat restoration and protection projects at the local watershed (lead entity) and link action done at the local watershed scale to actions done at the Puget Sound ESU.