Nisqually River key to salmon recovery

Waterway makes list of best remaining habitat in region

N.S. NOKKENTVED, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published July 11, 2001

OLYMPIA -- The Nisqually River is among the 10 most important rivers in Puget Sound for recovery of the region's endangered salmon, a conservation group says.

The Skagit River tops the list of the best remaining intact freshwater salmon habitat. The Nisqually is eighth.

The Trust for Public Land released a study Tuesday that underscores the importance to endangered salmon populations of a number of Puget Sound streams and rivers, including portions of the Nisqually River basin and a number of smaller South Sound streams.

David Troutt, natural resource director for the Nisqually Indian Tribe, agreed with ranking the Nisqually River as one of the most important to salmon.

"From the Nisqually tribe's perspective, it's the most important river," Troutt said.

And he agreed with the study's premise of identifying the best remaining salmon habitat. It's much cheaper to acquire and protect existing good habitat than it is to restore habitat once it's degraded, he said. The tribe has put a lot of effort into protecting habitat and restoring salmon populations.

The Nisqually River has the largest undeveloped delta in Puget Sound with populations of pink and winter run chum salmon. Though mostly intact, the watershed had been affected by logging and several dams, the study says.

Below Tacoma Power's La Grande Dam, 67 percent of the river is protected under some sort of permanent designation, including the Nisqually Indian Reservation, Fort Lewis Military Reservation and the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. The Nisqually River Basin Land Trust has been buying land for conservation since 1990.

"We already knew that salmon were in grave trouble. Now, with this study, we have a blueprint to begin working to bring wild salmon back," said Roger Hoesterey, regional director of the Trust for Public Land.

The study points out the best remaining salmon habitat.

"Let's focus our conservation resources there," Hoesterey said.

One of the most important steps to protect and restore salmon is to protect rivers, streams and wetlands that are in good condition and support natural populations of salmon, the group said. The study evaluates every basin in Puget Sound and provides a way for public and private conservation organizations to share priorities and work together.

"In developing the report, we found that by acting decisively now to protect the watersheds around these rivers, we can take an enormous step toward saving our wild salmon," said Chris Frissell of the University of Montana, who helped direct the scientific research. "This study provides an important, scientific foundation for our politicians and our communities to develop a strategy to act together."

The Trust for Public Land hopes the study will help government agencies, conservation groups and major landowners in salmon conservation efforts. But it only points to the best habitat, it doesn't recommend any specific land uses or changes to keep it that way.

That would be up to the land managers or owners, Hoesterey said.

N.S. Nokkentved covers the outdoors for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5445.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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