Taking Care of Fish Habitat - the Watershed Connection
In 1999, chinook salmon and bull trout were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (external link). This federal law protects not only the fish themselves, but also the habitat the fish need to survive and thrive.

Part of the response to the decline of salmon is planning how to protect and restore habitat that salmon depend on. Planning and action by watershed or Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) is an effective and efficient way to account for the specific needs of the different fish populations and habitats found in different parts of the county.

Watershed Plans -- Key Part of Puget Sound Salmon Recovery In 2005, local partners reached a major milestone when they completed watershed-based habitat recovery plans for the major watersheds in King County. These watershed plans make up a key part of the draft Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan (external link). Key questions about funding and coordination of habitat efforts with other recovery efforts -- those addressing hatchery and harvest reforms -- are being answered at the Puget Sound level (external link). In January 2007, the federal government approved the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan as the plan for recovering Chinook salmon.  People across Puget Sound are now working to carry out its recommendations.  Implementing the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan also is an essential part of overall efforts to save Puget Sound.

What's the Plan for Your Watershed?
The table below lists the major watersheds in King County and shows the Water Resource Inventory Areas into which they are grouped. Click on the links to learn more about the specific watersheds and WRIA-based salmon habitat planning and action.

Not sure what watershed you're in? Check out the King County basin map.

Watershed	WRIA
What's a watershed? A watershed is a basin-shaped area that drains into a river, lake, or the ocean. It includes freshwater -- ground and surface waters -- as well as saltwater of Puget Sound. Note that large watersheds can include two or more smaller watersheds or basins since large rivers are made up of smaller rivers and streams that flow together. More information on watersheds and why they matter	What's a WRIA? A WRIA is a Water Resource Inventory Area. Washington State is divided into 62 WRIAs for water and aquatic-resource management issues. A Water Resource Inventory Area may include more than one watershed. However, the terms "WRIA" and "watershed" are frequently used interchangeably. For example, Water Resource Inventory Area 9 is also called the "Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed." A map of all WRIAs in Washington State (external link)
Snoqualmie/Skykomish (within the Snohomish River Watershed)	7
Cedar River/Lake Washington	8
Sammamish
Green/Duwamish	9
Central Puget Sound
White/Puyallup River	10

Vashon/Maury Island, which is part of Water Resource Inventory Area 15 according to state guidelines, is included as part of WRIA 9 for salmon habitat planning purposes.

Watershed Planning: Working Together
Successful planning for the habitat needs of salmon requires that a wide variety of people work together. In the Water Resource Inventory Areas listed above, watershed-based habitat plans have been developed by committees that include local elected officials, concerned citizens, representatives of environmental and business interests, and staff from state and federal agencies. In some WRIAs, Indian tribes also are participating. The links above will lead you to specific information about who is involved in each WRIA.

Most of the watershed committees are staffed by Watershed Coordination Services Teams. These teams are jointly funded by most of the local governments (cities and King County) in WRIAs 8 and 9 and in the King County portion of WRIA 7. The King County Water and Land Resources Division provides these teams under contract in these three Water Resource Inventory Areas.

Watershed Coordinators for the staff teams in each WRIA are:

• WRIA 7 (King County portion) - Yvette Lizee-Smith, 206-296-6570
• WRIA 8 - Jean White , 206-263-6458
• WRIA 9 - Doug Osterman, 206-296-8069

In the Snohomish County (external link) portion of WRIA 7, Snohomish County is providing planning staff. For more information, contact Tim Walls, 425-388-3781.

WRIA planning shows that the region can accomplish important tasks when it works together. King County is proud to contribute to and support these regional efforts.

Planning in WRIA 10: White River/Puyallup Watershed
Watershed planning for salmon habitat is organized differently for Water Resource Inventory Area 10. Contact Jeanne Stypula, King County, 206-296-8380, or Debby Hyde, Pierce County, 253-798-7110, to learn more.