Plans, Studies and Reports

Snoqualmie habitat and watershed conditions

Snoqualmie River Chinook Salmon Conceptual Model
This technical memo compiles existing knowledge about Chinook salmon in the Snoqualmie Basin into one place. The memo details each life history stage and its limiting factors. Most importantly, the memo parses out what we know versus our as-yet untested assumptions—what we *think* we know—versus questions that still need to be determined.

Water Temperature Conditions in the Snohomish Basin
This white paper is the first in a series of papers that will examine different water quality parameters in WRIA7 and how they impact salmon in our basin. Integrating water quality, including water temperature, into salmon recovery is an important component of updating the WRIA7 Salmon Recovery Plan.

Snoqualmie River Project Effectiveness Evaluation – Aquatic Habitat and Juvenile Salmonid Observations
Improving mainstem edge habitats has been the focus of several large river projects across the lower Snoqualmie River. With the large investments in these projects, it is imperative to know if and how projects improve habitat conditions and if juvenile salmonids have responded. This report summarizes project effectiveness monitoring information from three restoration projects and two enhanced bank stabilization projects. Improvements to mainstem edge habitats are summarized across projects and juvenile salmonid responses are evaluated using a meta-analysis.

Aquatic Habitat Conditions in the Lower Snoqualmie, Tolt, and Raging Rivers
This report summarizes the efforts to evaluate habitat conditions for the lower Snoqualmie, Tolt, and Raging rivers and compare current (2017) conditions with those evaluated prior to the 2005 Snohomish River Basin Salmon Conservation Plan.

Snoqualmie River Juvenile Chinook with Extended Freshwater Rearing
Snoqualmie River juvenile Chinook display multiple life histories, including yearling Chinook, which remain in freshwater habitats for an entire year prior to outmigration. This 2019-2020 study evaluated the ecology and behavior of juvenile yearling Chinook in the Snoqualmie River.

2016 Snoqualmie River Water Temperature Study
This report summarizes temperature work done on the Snoqualmie River during the summer of 2016. This study looks at how groundwater and hyporheic flow may be influcencing temperatures in the Fall City to Carnation reach of the Snoqualmie River.

WRIA 7 Climate Change Impacts to Salmon Issue Paper
This report summarizes current climate science and the ways it is expected to influence salmon and their habitat in the Snohomish Basin. The report sets forward key actions which are recommendations for restoration priorities that could build resilience for both salmon and the larger Snohomish Basin ecosystem.

Hot Water and Low Flow: The Summer of 2015 in the Snoqualmie River Watershed
This report summarizes water temperatures measured during the summer of 2015 in the Snoqualmie River watershed. Temperatures were considerably higher than normal and flows were at a record low across the watershed. This work emphasizes the value of addressing water temperature issues at a site- and basin-scale to build watershed resiliency for salmon.

South Fork Skykomish River Basin Restoration Feasibility Project – Restoration Opportunity Report: April 2013
This report identifies habitat restoration opportunities in the South Fork Skykomish River basin and its tributaries, located in eastern King and Snohomish Counties, Washington. The report builds on a three phase assessment including gathering existing natural resource information, conducting targeted assessments, and prioritizing restoration opportunities.

Snoqualmie at Fall City Reach Restoration Assessment 2011 (19 MB .pdf)

Snoqualmie Watershed Water Quality Synthesis Report - January 2009
This report synthesizes information about water quality in the Snoqualmie River Watershed, located in eastern King County, Washington. The report brings together available water quality information in each of the key tributaries and mainstem areas to help identify priorities for on-the-ground actions.

Snoqualmie Watershed Aquatic Habitat Conditions Report: Summary of 1999 - 2001 Conditions
This report summarizes and interprets data collected in the field from 1999-2001 about habitat conditions for multiple species of salmonids and other aquatic biota in aquatic ecosystems of the Snoqualmie Watershed, including the mainstem Snoqualmie River and several of its tributaries. PDF version.

Snoqualmie Watershed Geology Report: An Overview of the Geology and Geomorphology of the Snoqualmie River Watershed

Historic Habitat Conditions in the Snoqualmie River Valley [Collins and Sheikh, 2002] Archival materials, including maps and field notes from the General Land Office from 1871-1873 and aerial photographs from 1936, were entered into a geographic information system. In combination with a digital elevation model, these materials were used to map the channel, wetland, forest, and oxbow ponds in the Snoqualmie River valley prior to Euro-American settlement, or about 1870. To evaluate subsequent change, conditions were also mapped from 1936 and 2000 aerial photos.

Department of Ecology TMDL Effectiveness Monitoring Report

WRIA 7 Salmon Recovery Plan and related documents

Snohomish River Basin Sub-basin Strategy Groups (April 2020)

Snohomish River Basin Salmon Conservation Plan: Status and Trends - 2019.
To ensure the continued stewardship of the Salmon Plan and the species it strives to protect, it is essential that we periodically reflect on progress, challenges, and new directions. This report addresses key questions about the status of Salmon Plan goals and the watershed.

"Snoqualmie Watershed Forum Ten-Year Status Report (2005-2015). Real Progress, Real Challenges: Working Toward Salmon Recovery and Watershed Health"

Snohomish Basin Protection Plan - 2015.

Snoqualmie Watershed Forum - Salmon Plan 5-Year Status Report (2005-2010) (26 MB .pdf).

Snohomish Basin Steelhead State of the Knowledge Report (2008)
Steelhead populations are declining throughout the Northwest. In June 2007, the Federal Government listed steelhead, the anadromous form of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), as a “threatened” species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) within the Puget Sound DPS. This report was prepared as a first step in the development of a steelhead plan, as an addendum to the Snohomish River Basin Salmon Conservation Plan.

Snohomish River Basin Salmon Conservation Plan - June 2005.
This plan guides actions to protect and restore salmon runs in the Snohomish River Basin and responds to recent listings of Puget Sound Chinook salmon and bull trout as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Snohomish River Basin Ecological Analysis for Salmonid Conservation (EASC) was developed by the Snohomish River Basin Salmonid Recovery Technical Committee as the technical foundation for the Snohomish Basin Salmon Recovery Forum’s Salmon Conservation Plan.

Snoqualmie policy and strategy documents

Snoqualmie 2015: Building for Salmon Recovery and Watershed Health - February 2006
This report covers a 10-year vision for safeguarding the Snoqualmie watershed's remaining natural resources and restoring habitat for salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Salmon Conservation in the Snoqualmie Watershed: Snoqualmie Watershed Forum Strategy and Workplan 2001 [Adobe 905 KB]
This document provides background on federal and state drivers for salmon conservation planning, as well as local progress to date on technical assessments, watershed planning, and early action projects.

Best Available Science Issue Paper: Snoqualmie Watershed Near Term Action Agenda Implementation Project - March 2004 [Adobe, 3.5 MB] An overview of the "best available science" (BAS) for managing critical areas and protecting salmonid habitat in the Snoqualmie River watershed. Prepared by Adolfson Associates.

King County Critical Areas Ordinance - Best Available Science

Model Code for Critical Areas - July 2004 [Adobe 583 KB]
This model code for critical areas is designed to be used, and adapted as needed, by the four Snoqualmie Watershed cities (Duvall, Carnation, Snoqualmie and North Bend) to comply with Growth Management Act requirements.