“Our considerable investment in habitat restoration has not been able to turn the powerful tide of loss and degradation…If salmon are to survive, we must begin to achieve real gains in habitat protection and restoration.  The paths we are on leads to extinction of the salmon resource and our treaty-reserved rights.” Treaty Rights at Risk – A report from Treaty Indian Tribes in Western Washington, July 2011.

Watershed Assessment
The Suquamish Tribe is developing watershed assessment plans within Kitsap County in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies.  These watershed plans identify protection and restoration strategies that prioritize specific actions to maintain and/or improve salmon habitat conditions and ecological processes.

• Chico Creek Watershed  – Assessment
• Curley Creek Watershed – Assessment
• Blackjack Watershed – Assessment

Natural Resource Damage Assessment & Restoration
The Suquamish Tribe is a member of three natural resource trustee councils to assess and restore injured resources from hazardous substance and/or oil releases. The Tribe is also a member of the Elliott Pay Panel of Managers that was formed subsequent to a natural resource damage settlement with the City of Seattle and King County (formerly METRO).

• Elliott Bay Trustee Council – Lower Duwamish River
• Elliott Bay Trustee Council – Pacific Sound Resources Settlement
• Port Gardner Trustee Council – Port Gardner Plan
• Port Gamble Trustee Council

East Kitsap Stream Temperature Assessment
Stream temperature is a critical factor affecting the distribution, movements, health, and survival of salmonids in freshwater environments. The Suquamish Tribe has monitored water temperature in east Kitsap County streams during the warm months (generally May through Oct.) on a continuous basis since 2002.