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WRIA 9 briefs Federal Way council on salmon recovery progress, funding and local restoration opportunities
Summary
At a special meeting Oct. 7, WRIA 9 planning and technical coordinator Matt Gehring briefed the Federal Way City Council on the watershed's salmon habitat plan, funding streams, recent accomplishments and possible shoreline projects in Federal Way. He highlighted the Howard Hanson Dam fish-passage effort as central to long-term recovery.
Matt Gehring, planning and technical coordinator for WRIA 9 (administratively housed at King County), told the Federal Way City Council at a special study session on Oct. 7 that the salmon-recovery plan has stabilized returning Chinook numbers from a 2009 low but remains well under the NOAA Fisheries recovery target.
"Salmon is our driving factor," Gehring said, explaining WRIA 9 prioritizes projects by Chinook needs while seeking multiple benefits such as recreation, water quality and flood protection.
The briefing summarized the 2021 update to the WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan, recent funding and accomplishments, and potential local projects for the next 10 years. Gehring thanked the council for approving a 10-year extension of WRIA 9's interlocal agreement and said the ILA funding instrument produces about $600,000 annually for WRIA 9, of which Federal Way pays roughly 5.5 percent (about $32,000).
Gehri…
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