Thanks to funding through the Department of Ecology and several other funding agencies, our district has had the opportunity to partner with property owners, Tulalip Tribes, Snohomish County, and community groups along the Pilchuck River  to work toward reach-scale reforestation, fish passage improvements, and floodplain habitat improvements in the river. The projects undertaken by individual property owners and land managers are adding up: by the end of 2023, the District will have worked with more than four property owners to reforest 20 acres of stream and river riparian forest along the Pilchuck River.

These 20 acres of new trees and shrubs build on other habitat restoration and salmon recovery projects currently planned, underway, or already implemented by the Conservation District, Tulalip Tribes, Snohomish County, and other partners to replace fish passage barriers, improve habitat through native forest planting and large wood placement in the river, and reconnect the river to the floodplain for salmon recovery, water quality improvements, and improved streamflow. 

The middle part of the Pilchuck River is considered home for at least a thousand riverside residents, countless birds and animals, and several species of salmon. The salmon living in these waters— Chinook, steelhead and bull trout— are crucial for iconic marine animals like the Southern Resident orca, and they’re listed as threatened on the Endangered Species List. Restoring vegetation along the Middle Pilchuck river is Tier 1 (of the highest priority) in salmon recovery in Snohomish County.

What’s the Problem?

Flooding, erosion, and loss of habitat threatens wildlife

In the summer, the river suffers from low water levels that threaten the survival of fish and other aquatic wildlife. With fewer acres of forests, side channels, wetlands, and beaver ponds that used to store rainwater in the winter and then release it back to the river each summer, Pilchuck River has low flows, high water temperature, and low dissolved oxygen each summer. These conditions can be smothering for the fish.

In the fall and winter, heavy rains turn the Pilchuck River into a rushing water slide, flushing juvenile salmon into waters they’re not yet ready for.

What’s the Solution?

Planting trees can help salmon and your property

A healthy buffer of trees keeps the river cool in the hot summer months, which is healthier for the salmon and other fish. The intricate root system also stabilizes the river bank and acts as a buffer against runoff that enters the river during heavy rain.

As the river migrates across its floodplain, the trees that fall into the river help create pools and side channels that provide cool, slow-moving water for young fish to rear before they head out to Puget Sound and the open ocean. Beaver ponds and downed trees help rebuild the riverbanks that were washed away.

Landowner Highlight: Travis Pantaleo

Travis reached out to the District in 2018 to see what he could do on his property to improve salmon and steelhead runs on the Pilchuck River (he reached out to every organization and agency possible, really).

When he realized that there wasn't much he could actively do on his property other than retain it in its forested condition, he reached out to his neighbors to see where he could find a willing property owner to work with him and the local Trout Unlimited chapter to complete a salmon habitat restoration project.

He continues to support this landowner outreach and coordination work even though he was stationed in Italy beginning in September 2019 as an active service member of the Navy.

He re-engaged the local Trout Unlimited chapter in restoration/recovery efforts on the Pilchuck River and brought together a group of partners to advance a project. Travis seeks to improve the natural world wherever he lives, and he works tirelessly to inspire others to his cause. He is all about the fish and wildlife and what they need to survive.

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under an assistance agreement to the Washington State Department of Ecology. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.