Suit Filed To Block Elwha Hatchery Programs & Interim Agreement Reached 

Progress at Glines Canyon Dam

Exclusive Look at Newly Released WFC Water Typing Video  

Water typing is a process to identify and classify stream, lakes, and wetlands depending on their physical, biological, and human-use characteristics. This process was originally intended to regulate forest practices that impact Washington's surface waters, but is now also used by local governments in land-use planning. This basic inventory is the most fundamental step in conserving wild-fish habitats. Unfortunately, because the current regulatory maps are inaccurate, many streams are not receiving the protection they warrant under existing regulations.

Since 1994, WFC has been surveying streams throughout Washington to accurately map and classify them. Through ongoing water-typing projects, we have corrected the classification of over 7000 stream reaches statewide.   This incredible new video takes a close look at this statewide issue and explains just how important water typing is to the future of wild fish, our watersheds, and our communities.  Take a look. 

If you have visited the WFC office in Duvall at any time in the last eighteen years, you might have been fortunate enough to run across a man loading a truck and heading into the field. This guy most likely would have had a big smile on his face as he went out to plant trees, yank culverts, water type streams, pull beach seines, whatever - if it was habitat restoration or fish research, no matter, Dave Crabb was getting it done.

Dave started with WFC in 1994 as part of the "Jobs for the Environment (JFE)," a program that helped put displaced timber workers to work restoring fish habitat. Is that why he is probably the best tree-planter WFC ever had (he's planted thousands)? Maybe - but he also has a Master's degree in geography! That explains why he is very adept at reading the landscape. No matter the job, though, whatever needed to get done Dave did it -- without complaint...Read the entire story.  

Hood Canal Nearshore Fish Assessment   

WFC recently kicked off a new project on Hood Canal; the Hood Canal Nearshore Juvenile Fish Use Assessment. The study will look at how juvenile salmon use Hood Canal shorelines. This pilot project will launch what could be a three- to five-year examination of the entire shoreline. Learn more about the Hood Nearshore Assessment. WFC will also continue work on the Dosewallips River in 2012. This multi-year restoration project in the river and estuary began back in 2003 and the latest phase of the project will remove more than a quarter-mile of revetment and levy, build three logjams for salmon habitat, and remove a road and campsites at the edge of the river.  

 Groundfish - Between a Rock and a Hard Place        

Puget Sound is home to a wide variety of animals whose continued existence may be in jeopardy. Currently, forty-six animal species in the Puget Sound marine ecosystem are listed by Washington as species of concern and sixteen species are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). These declines and other factors have prompted several agencies and organizations to call for a regional network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to promote the recovery of depressed species and ensure the ecosystem remains healthy...Read the entire article. A summary of this article was originally published in the 2011 Wild Fish Journal (WFJ).         

Volunteers Needed for 2nd Season of Grays Harbor Assessment  

Wild Fish Conservancy is seeking volunteers to assist in an assessment of habitat use by the fish community (particularly juvenile salmon) in the tidally-influenced areas of the Chehalis River estuary (Grays Harbor) and tributaries. The sampling effort will use fyke trapping and beach seining to capture, identify, measure, and release juvenile fish from March to September, 2012. Habitat assessments will also be made to identify areas for future habitat restoration projects to aid in salmon recovery in the Chehalis Basin. The effort will provide experience in field techniques, fish identification, data collection and habitat assessment. Visit our website for more info and to see what last year's volunteers had to say.    

Take the Tour of Architects and Help Support WFC      

This year's Tour of Architects is just around the corner. This four-day, Seattle area event spans two weekends and allows the public inside custom homes designed by top architects. The Tour of Architects offers four unique tours - a total of more than 20 custom homes and other projects - on four different days, March 17, 18, 24, and 25. All tour days run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year, WFC was chosen to be the sole non-profit partner for the event and will receive proceeds from tour profits. Take advantage of this great opportunity and experience the unique work of local architects while supporting wild fish recovery.  For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Tour of Architects website.