Policy Driver Spotlight On: Salmon Recovery

In 2013, a decision was made in federal district court that ordered the State of Washington to remedy the years of road and infrastructure development that had rendered many of the state’s fish-bearing streams impassable to anadromous fish such as salmon, that migrate between fresh and saltwater environments throughout their life cycle. This decision was based on the Tribal rights of indigenous peoples to harvest salmon populations, but has far-reaching impacts on habitat, ecosystem recovery, and environmental policy; the Washington State Department of Transportation was required to identify all culverts with 200 meters or more of upstream fish habitat and commit to repairing or replacing enough of them to open 90% of that habitat to salmonids by 2030. Loss of migratory routes is only one part of the struggle for salmonid recovery however; stormwater runoff containing countless pollutants including the tire derivative 6PPD, metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and numerous other contaminants directly contribute to mortality of salmon and negative health impacts to humans, orca, and other species that consume them. The State legislature adopted two pieces of legislation last month that 1) directs the Department of Ecology to address 6PPD, and 2) allows groups to adopt a stream to open up culverts and fish passage. Much more will need to be done to ensure healthy salmon populations now and into the future. 

Steelhead are a type of salmonid that share the anadromous habits of other salmon, utilizing many streams and other freshwater sources near urban and developed environments. Copper, a common metal and water pollutant, interrupts salmonid behaviors and increases mortality. Check out our PudleGear offerings to get this “Less Copper, More Steel” logo on a new item