The Sammamish River is primarily a migratory corridor for chinook, coho, sockeye and kokanee salmon and steelhead trout that spawn in Issaquah, Bear, Little Bear, North, and Swamp Creeks. Limited rearing of juvenile salmon may occur in the river. Poor water quality, fish access and passage barriers, and degraded riparian conditions are among the factors contributing to salmon habitat decline in the subarea.