According to a report by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, some salmon species are "on the brink of extinction." The decline is attributed to a combination of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, climate change, and the impact of dams on salmon migration routes. These factors have led to a significant reduction in salmon populations, threatening the ecological balance and the livelihoods of communities dependent on salmon fishing.
The name "Skykomish" comes from the Northern Lushootseed word /sq'íxʷəbš/, meaning "upriver people", from /q'íxʷ/, "upstream." You may also know the river as Skykomish or "Sky River" as many people in the Pacific Northwest are fond of calling it. It is a river of heritage and history, and the home to Chinook, Coho, Pink, and Chum Salmon, as well as Steelhead and Bull Trout.
However, the Skykomish River needs our help. It has been featured on the endangered rivers list twice. In the 1980s, the Skykomish was devastated by mining, logging, and dam construction. Today it faces new challenges from climate change, urban development, and habitat degradation.
Here at Northwest River Restoration, our goal is to leverage the best-in-class habitat restoration and brood stocking techniques to bring the steelhead and salmon back to the Skykomish River.
