Skagit River System Cooperative Salmon Monitoring
The Skagit River System Cooperative — a joint fisheries management body formed by the Skagit-area tribes and the State — conducts long-term salmon escapement monitoring, habitat assessments, and recovery planning across the Skagit basin.
Project Overview
The Skagit River System Cooperative (SSC) was established in 1976 in the wake of the Boldt Decision, which reaffirmed the treaty fishing rights of Washington tribes and required co-management of shared salmon resources. The SSC coordinates the fisheries management responsibilities of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, and Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, working alongside WDFW to implement the Skagit River Salmon Management Plan.
SSC biologists conduct annual spawner surveys across the Skagit, Sauk, Suiattle, and Cascade rivers using both weir counts and redd (nest) surveys. This long-term dataset spans nearly 50 years and is among the most comprehensive salmon population records in the Pacific Northwest. The data informs annual pre-season harvest forecasts, harvest quota negotiations between tribes and the state, and long-term recovery planning decisions.
In addition to population monitoring, the SSC manages hatchery programs for Skagit Chinook and coho, funds habitat restoration projects in priority subbasins, and participates in recovery planning under the Endangered Species Act. The Skagit watershed supports some of the largest remaining wild Chinook runs in Puget Sound, making this cooperative monitoring effort foundational to regional recovery efforts.
Project Details
1976
Year Started
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, WDFW
Partner Organizations
active
Project Status
Watershed Data
This project operates in the Skagit River watershed (North Sound). View current salmon health indicators and environmental conditions.