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Snoqualmie Watershed Forum seeks Duval’s renewal of interlocal agreement; forum highlights 20+ years of salmon restoration funding
Summary
Snoqualmie Watershed Forum staff requested Duval rejoin a renewed interlocal agreement that funds watershed science and prioritizes salmon habitat restoration; forum reported more than $40 million in local investments in the Snoqualmie watershed and outlined an annual Duval cost share of $4,753.
A staff representative for the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum briefed Duval City Council on May 20 on the forum’s work, the 20‑plus year history of salmon habitat planning in the Snoqualmie Basin and a request that Duval approve a renewed interlocal agreement to continue funding joint watershed planning and grants.
Alyssa Ostergaard, the forum’s Salmon Recovery Manager, explained that the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum was formed under the state’s salmon recovery framework and coordinates King‑County‑area jurisdictions and tribes to prioritize and fund habitat restoration projects in the King County portion of the Snohomish basin. The forum manages an annual grant round (about $2.2 million in recent cycles) and staff services provided by King County; the forum is seeking a 10‑year renewal of its interlocal agreement.
Why it matters: Ostergaard noted the historic context — Chinook returns to the basin were once about 31,000 adults on average; current returns are a small fraction of that, and the region’s recovery plans set long‑term goals for adult returns. The forum reported more than $40 million in local and state investments in restoration projects across the basin since 1998, and more than $2 million invested in or near Duval over that period for riparian planting, fish passage, outreach and invasive‑species control.
Ostergaard described governance and funding specifics: the forum consists of local elected officials or senior staff; Duval’s 2025 cost‑share for the King County island partnership is $4,753 to support the forum’s staffing and grant administration. The forum supports project prioritization using science‑based habitat goals from the Snohomish River Basin Salmon Conservation Plan and coordinates closely with Snohomish County as lead entity for the basin.
Ostergaard said the forum is preparing an updated 10‑year project list and will complete its five‑year status report next year; the staff also stressed permitting efficiencies, landowner agreements and multi‑benefit projects that link flood reduction and habitat restoration as priorities for accelerating progress.
Council members thanked the forum and asked questions about federal funding uncertainty; Ostergaard said some federal programs and staff reductions have affected capacity but local partnerships and state funding have continued to support projects.
Ending: The forum requested that Duval approve the interlocal agreement renewal so the city remains part of the regional governance and grant prioritization process, and Ostergaard offered to provide council members with the 2022 15‑year status report and the forum’s list of completed projects.
