John,

Healthy salmon runs benefit people and animals across the state – from the Upper Columbia River to the marine waters of the Salish Sea. Since time immemorial, indigenous people have relied on salmon for physical and cultural sustenance. 

Currently, salmon runs are plummeting to 10 percent of historical levels. Every year, though, projects that could protect and restore vital salmon habitat are unfunded because state budget writers and legislators invest less than 20 percent of the scientifically-identified need. 20 percent is not enough to recover salmon at the pace of their decline.

Legislators have a narrow window to secure adequate funding to restore salmon populations.

Programs like the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Estuary and Salmon Recovery Program, and Centennial Clean Water Program have provided the critical funding needed so local communities can do their part to restore habitat. Local people know better about what’s needed - preserving and restoring streamside vegetation to keep water cool, decreasing stormwater and sewage pollution, removing barriers like dams and culverts that keep fish from passing, and maintaining healthy coastal waters and estuaries. 

Now is the time to ensure that legislators fund these successful programs. Please contact your legislators, who are currently negotiating the state budget, to ask for substantial increases in support of salmon habitat restoration.

Thanks for all you do,
Mindy Roberts
Puget Sound Program Director
Washington Conservation Action

Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters are now unified under one brand, Washington Conservation Action.