Conclusion
Implementation Progress Report 2006-2015

After 10 years of coordinated implementation, the commitment to salmon recovery remains strong in WRIA 8. Much progress has been made but significant challenges remain. For our efforts to continue toward the ultimate goal of achieving sustainable and harvestable salmon runs, maintaining and strengthening the WRIA 8 partnership among local governments and stakeholders is of paramount importance. As we reflect on the first 10 years of implementing recovery actions and consider priorities for the next decade and beyond, we know that telling the salmon recovery story is critical. Raising public awareness as the region's population grows and nurturing political will to stay the course as decision-makers come and go is essential. We must build on existing partnerships and foster new ones to coordinate messaging and leverage the collective capacity of our watershed coalition.

Salmon are the canary in our coal mine. As Billy Frank, Jr., member of the Nisqually Tribe, long time Chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, and recent winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, said, "Salmon are the measuring stick of well-being in the Pacific Northwest." In recovering salmon, we save ourselves. In how and where we build our communities, in the choices we make about what products to buy and use, and the ways we manage our impacts on the land, streams, rivers, and lakes, we determine whether salmon can return. If we don't choose wisely, salmon may eventually be only a memory in a place they once defined. WRIA 8 partners remain hopeful and committed to recovering salmon. If we succeed, our watershed will continue to be both a place of natural beauty and a home for thriving, sustainable human communities.

Salmon and People - Living Together

Financial support to coordinate implementation of
The Lake Washington/ Cedar / Sammamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan
is provided by the following local governments and the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board:

Town of Beaux Arts VillageCity of BellevueCity of BothellCity of Clyde HillCity of EdmondsTown of Hunts PointCity of IssaqhahCity of KenmoreKent, WashingtonKing CountyCity of KirklandCity of Lake Forest ParkCity of Maple ValleyCity of MedinaCity of Mercer IslandCity of Mill CreekMountlake TerraceCity of MukilteoCity of NewcastlePuget Sound Acquisition and RestorationCity of RedmondCity of RentonCity of SammamishCity of SeattleCity of ShorelineSnohomish CountyCity of WoodinvilleWashington State Salmon Recovery Funding BoardTown of WoodswayTown of Yarrow Point

Printed copies available

For printed copies of this report, please contact Polly Freeman at  polly.freeman@kingcounty.gov. You may also download a copy of the printed report in Acrobat pdf.

For more information

Jason Mulvihill-KuntzJason Mulvihill-Kuntz
Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed Salmon Recovery Manager
206-477-4780
jason.mulvihill-kuntz@kingcounty.gov

Credits

WRIA 8 Coordination Team

Jason Mulvihill-Kuntz
Salmon Recovery Manager

Jason Wilkinson
Actions and Funding Coordinator

Scott Stolnack
Technical Coordinator

Polly Freeman
Communication Specialist

Linda Grob
Administrative Coordinator

Report preparation

Contributors:
Jason Mulvihill-Kuntz,
ScottStolnack,
Jason Wilkinson,
Polly Freeman and
Sarah Brandt (Enviroissues)

Photos:
Ned Ahrens
Kate Akyuz
John Barker
Hans Berge
Lorraine Day
Jon Hansen
Jerry Klein
Ray Lapine
Josh Latterell
Katherine Lynch
Kerry Ritland
Roger Tabor
Jason Wilkinson
WCC Crew
The cities of Redmond and Seattle, and King County

Graphic design & cartography:
Megann Devine