National Endangered Species Day is May 20th, 2022.
Several species of threatened fish share our beautiful home on the Olympic Peninsula, including bull trout, steelhead trout, sockeye salmon and chinook salmon. A huge contributing factor to the threatened status of these fish is habitat loss, including loss of nursery grounds and coastal wetlands. Habitat loss is caused by development and pollution, among other factors.
The Land Trust works to help maintain and recover fish habitat by protecting rivers, so these threatened species don’t move into endangered status.
Chinook Salmon, Toby Black/WDFW
Several species of chinook salmon are endangered, while Puget Sound chinook are still in the threatened phase. The Pysht River is used by coho salmon, cutthroat trout, and steelhead, and is vital for the recovering productivity of chinook salmon.
The Pysht Creek Conservation Area along the river supports our land ethic of maintaining healthy habitat for a diversity of plants and animals. The Makah Tribe, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Clallam County Conservation District, and numerous volunteers worked together to restore this area and protect it for wildlife. Ongoing work at the Pysht includes removing non-native invasive plant species to maintain a healthy river ecosystem.
The permanently protected conservation area includes 2/3 mile of the Pysht River, 1,500 feet of Green Creek and four wetlands, protected forever.
Pysht River
How can I make a difference for threatened and endangered salmon?
- Pay attention to what you dump down your sink, or what flows into the storm drain in your neighborhood – it could be going directly into a river where salmon are trying to recover. Think pesticides, chemicals, and oils.
- Pack in and out your waste when visiting natural areas, local parks, and even while walking in a neighborhood. This includes picking up your furry friend’s poop!
- Volunteer – many groups on the peninsula work to support salmon habitat. Visit our volunteer page, or find another local conservation group, such as North Olympic Salmon Coalition.
- Donate to salmon recovery efforts and organizations if you are able.
- Learn more about how you can make a difference, and then tell a friend!
You can visit and responsibly enjoy some of these conserved lands too. Together, we can make a difference for salmon, just like all of the amazing support given by our partners for the conservation of the Pysht River.