The Stillaguamish River Watershed is approximately 700 square miles, with about 3,100 miles in stream length, making it the fifth largest tributary draining into Puget Sound. Eight salmonid species use these fresh waters for spawning and rearing:
- Chinook, Coho, Chum, Pink, and Sockeye Salmon
- Steelhead Trout
- Sea-Run Cutthroat and Bull Trout
In 1999, two of these species, Chinook Salmon and Bull Trout, were listed as “threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Stakeholder Committee
The Stillaguamish Implementation Review Committee (SIRC) was established as a stakeholder committee in 1990 to review implementation of the Stillaguamish Watershed Action Plan, which addressed water quality problems in the watershed. In the mid-1990s, with leadership from the Stillaguamish Tribe and Snohomish County, the SIRC began addressing salmon habitat restoration issues in the watershed. After salmon were listed, the SIRC accepted the additional challenge to complete the Stillaguamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan, in parallel with regional efforts in Puget Sound. The Stillaguamish Implementation Committee is now the Stillaguamish Watershed Council.