Northwest River Restoration is a nonprofit conservation organization headquartered in Washington State focused on restoring the Skykomish River's steelhead and salmon population through best-in-class habitat restoration and brood stocking techniques.
To revive the Skykomish River's steelhead & salmon population and its natural ecosystem by hatching a new future with best-in-class habitat restoration and brood stocking techniques.
The decline in salmon will heavily affect the food chain in coastal ecosystems. If the salmon were to go extinct then the population of their prey (insects, plankton) would explode while the populations of their predators (orcas, bears, eagles) would plummet.
Salmon are an extremely important creature both to the lifestyle and spirituality of many Native American cultures, especially the tribes of the Northwest Coast such as the Tulalip, Snoqualmie, Snohomish, and Skykomish peoples.
Salmon support approximately 23,000 jobs, $1.6 billion in commercial sales and over $100 million in recreational fishing tourism. An estimated 824,000 anglers participate in salmon fishing in the Pacific Northwest annually.
Salmon are one of the healthiest proteins, rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Keeping salmon numbers up helps keep salmon in our diet. Salmon also benefit river ecosystems by returning marine-derived nutrients to freshwater habitats.
The devastating effects of planetary climate cycles and deteriorating habitats have pushed several species of salmon in the Pacific Northwest to what many researchers are calling an existential crisis.
While some species of salmon in Washington are approaching their recovery goals, we continue to see restrictions on the Skykomish river. This year was one of the most restrictive seasons in recent memory for the Skykomish.
At Northwest River Restoration, we build on the decades of analytics trends, science, best practices, education, and advocacy with the following priorities:
A broodstock program can mimic the natural selection process and plants egg trays and smolts in the natural habitats. Our aim is to promote healthy hatchery practices that support wild fish populations.
Nature is a series of checks and balances that lead to perfect harmony. To help this we need to focus on restoring the Skykomish to its natural order through riparian plantings, removing barriers, and improving water quality.
Knowledge is power and we're intent on putting power in the hands of people starting at a young age. Northwest River Restoration believes in continuous research and community education programs.
It takes a village to make things happen. We're committed to partnering with all stakeholders to work toward making our dreams a reality, because a restored river benefits everyone.
We love clean, dependable, low-carbon power — and we love wild salmon. The good news is you don't have to choose. Dams don't have to be torn out to bring the fish back; they have to be made passable, and the engineering to do it already exists.
Here's what most people don't realize: adult salmon already climb our modern fish ladders at high rates. Where fish are lost is on the way down — young salmon passing through the turbines on their migration to the sea. New fish-friendly turbine designs are already proving survival rates above 98% for those young fish, with no loss of power generation. Add modern bypass systems and next-generation ladders, and a dam can keep the lights on and let the salmon through.
That's our stance. Tearing out essential infrastructure and waiting is the old answer — and after decades and billions of dollars, it hasn't brought the runs back. Ours is different: keep the clean energy, engineer the passage, and actively rebuild the fish. A capable society does both.
Check out our list of sources or contact us.