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- calendar_today October 19, 2026
Stillaguamish Tribe Marks Completion of Major Salmon Restoration Project
On October 8, 2026, the Stillaguamish Tribe officially concluded its largest-ever salmon restoration initiative with the completion of the Trafton Floodplain Restoration Project. The project, located along a two-mile stretch of the North Fork Stillaguamish River near Trafton, restored over 230 acres of critical floodplain habitat for salmon and other wildlife.
Restoring the Trafton Floodplain
The restoration centered on removing multiple agricultural levees and creating a new side channel through land previously leveled in the 1960s, northwest of Trafton and east of Arlington along Highway 530. The project was officially wrapped up during a final meeting between managers and tribe members.
"It was bittersweet," said Charlotte Scofield, fisheries biologist for the Stillaguamish Tribe. "It’s exciting because the project is done but we’re never going to see each other again."
Collaboration and Long-Term Vision
The $15 million effort marks the first joint restoration project between the Stillaguamish Tribe and Snohomish County. Jason Griffith, the tribe’s environmental program manager, explained, "This project is designed to spread flood energy out over a much broader area. We basically supercharged the habitat over these two miles to be much more productive for those fish."
The work builds on a salmon recovery plan launched in 2005, developed with the county and other stakeholders, targeting the recovery and sustainability of Chinook salmon and other species. The plan spans 50 years, with ongoing land acquisitions and funding efforts led by the tribe over the past two decades.
Engineering River Restoration for Salmon Habitat
At the eastern end of the site, crews removed a sharp river bend and levees that had redirected water around areas historically used as farmland and even a golf course. By recreating the river’s natural curves, the project improved conditions for salmon spawning and reduced destructive flooding energy.
Griffith noted, "Any Chinook that would spawn in riffles here would be subject to really strong forces and often poor survival because the juveniles laid in the gravel would get scoured out or entombed." The new side channel slows river flows, creating ideal habitat for salmon species that prefer calmer waters, such as pink salmon that return every two years.
Impact on Salmon and Tribal Fisheries
Scott Boyd, deputy fisheries manager for the Stillaguamish Tribe, emphasized the significance for both tribal and non-tribal fisheries: "The Stillaguamish River, it’s home to all five species of Pacific salmon, but some of our stocks are listed under the Endangered Species Act. They're unhealthy to the point that they constrain other fisheries everywhere they roam." Enhanced salmon habitat in the Trafton floodplain is expected to support more spawning opportunities for multiple species and benefit broader ecosystem recovery.
Floodplain Restoration Brings Habitat Diversity
The restoration included the planting of approximately 14,000 plants over the last winter, with more planned. Large timber piles along the restored banks will help slow floods and shelter salmon. During a recent tour, signs of beaver activity were observed in the new side channel, indicating renewed wildlife presence.
Reflecting on the work, Boyd said, "It means a lot to the tribe to rewild it and renaturalize the landscape. When you look at the landscape of Washington, we probably have enough golf courses."
Looking to the Future
As the project concluded, Coho salmon were seen leaping from the river—a reminder of the purpose behind the extensive restoration efforts. The Trafton Floodplain Restoration Project stands as a milestone for the Stillaguamish Tribe in their ongoing pursuit of salmon habitat restoration and ecosystem resilience.
Source: heraldnet.com.
