The Skokomish Watershed Action Team (SWAT) is a broad-based, informal collaborative group formed in 2005 dedicated to restoring the Skokomish River watershed. The SWAT typically holds semi-annual meetings, as well as occasional field trips to view and discuss restoration needs and activities in the Skokomish watershed. In addition, a Steering Committee holds monthly conference calls, and SWAT coordinators distribute updates to the SWAT email list.

  • Upcoming SWAT meeting information is available below and in the Calendar.
  • Recent SWAT documents are available below. View more in the Library.
  • An archive of past SWAT documents (pre-2022) is available here.
  • Contact Haley Harguth or Alicia Olivas to join the SWAT mailing list.

The Skokomish River Watershed



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Photo by Mason Conservation District


The Skokomish estuary is at the heart of Mason County, both geographically, and for its natural resources. It is vital to the health and abundance of many marine and wildlife species for which the county is known. The Skokomish watershed supports four anadromous fish species listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA): Chinook salmon, summer chum salmon, steelhead, and bull trout. Coho and fall chum salmon also inhabit the river.


Degraded watershed conditions pose an ecosystem threat, and substantial and recurrent floods and rising groundwater levels menace local communities. Restoration of a well-functioning watershed is vitally important for species recovery and community revitalization.

				

	
			

		

	




	
	

		
				
													
						

							

								

									
									

										

											
 Coming Together: Advancing Community-Driven Action in the Skokomish River Watershed (2025)

											
This video highlights the collaborative restoration work of the Skokomish River Watershed Action Team (SWAT) and the partnerships driving progress for salmon, water quality, and local communities. This video centers the voices of local partners, land managers, and community members who are working together to restore and protect the watershed, including Mason Conservation District, the Skokomish Indian Tribe, the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, state and federal agencies, and many others deeply connected to this place. Learn more at www.SkokAction.org. 


This video is part of the Ripple Effect campaign, a statewide effort to grow awareness and action for healthy streamside habitats. Find more resources at www.conserve.wa.gov. The Ripple Effect campaign is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA puts cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

																					
										
					
									

									
									

														
											

																							
	
																			

	
								

							

						

						
																				
						

							

								

									
									

										

											
Coming Back: Restoring the Skokomish Watershed (2014)

											


Members of the Skokomish Watershed Action Team have been collaborating for a decade on how to best restore the Skokomish watershed, located at the southern end of Hood Canal, in western Washington. From federal agencies to the Skokomish Tribe to private citizens, this is the story of how these very different groups have worked to restore the river after decades of logging and development in the area. Aerial footage was donated by LightHawk: http://www.lighthawk.org.



																					
										
					
									

									
									

														
											

																							
	
																			

	
								

							

						

						
																				
						

							

								

									
									

										

											
Skokomish Tribe's Estuary Restoration Supports Salmon Recovery (2022)

											
Tribal people have always relied on the natural resources of this land. Their personal, cultural, and spiritual survival depended on the ability to fish, hunt and gather the once-bountiful natural resources. Today, treaty-reserved fishing rights enable Tribal people to fish in their usual and accustomed areas. Due to the decline of wild salmon, habitat restoration is crucial to the conservation of remaining populations and rebuilding wild salmon stocks for future generations. The Skokomish Tribe is leading the effort to protect and restore the natural habitat of the Skokomish River for the benefit of salmon, people, and all other species that inhabit the region.  Hear more Tribal perspectives on salmon and salmon recovery on Survive the Sound. Video produced by Long Live the Kings thanks to support from Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission & Salmon Defense.

																					
										
					
									

									
									

														
											

																							
	
																			

	
								

							

						

						
																				
						

							

								

									
									

										

											
 Skokomish Tribe's Enatai Hatchery Provides Fishing Opportunities (2022)

											
Tribal people have always relied on the natural resources of this land. Their personal, cultural, and spiritual survival depended on the ability to fish, hunt and gather the once-bountiful natural resources. Today, treaty-reserved fishing rights enable Tribal people to fish in their usual and accustomed areas. Due to the decline of wild salmon, hatcheries have played an integral role in providing fishing opportunities for treaty fishing Tribes as well as non-Tribal fishers. The Skokomish Tribe protects treaty rights through effective management that will preserve and enhance the natural and cultural resources of the Tribe and will perpetuate the tribal fisheries resources for this and future generations. Hear more Tribal perspectives of salmon and salmon recovery on Survive the Sound. Video produced by Long Live the Kings thanks to support from Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission & Salmon Defense.

																					
										
					
									

									
									

														
											

																							
	
																			

	
								

							

						

						
																				
						

							

								

									
									

										

											
 Skok Flats Road Bridge (Oct 2016)

											
The Skokomish Tribe is in the final phase of the comprehensive restoration of the Skokomish Estuary, which has been going on for nine years. This is one of the final steps – installing fish-friendly bridges on the access road to the estuary. Video produced by Northwest Treaty Tribes.

																					
										
					
									

									
									

														
											

																							
	
																			

	
								

							

						

						
											  
		

		
		
		
		
				
						
				

								
											

			
						
				
	


	
	


	



	
	
		
			
			

			

			
				

					

												
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Photo by Mason Conservation District


Flooding Impacts Life on the Skok


The Skokomish River floods earlier and more frequently than any other river in Washington State.


Flooding impacts have worsened in recent decades due to aggradation of the river bottom (filling with gravel and sediment). These conditions, combined with water quality degradation, have harmed the economy, health, and quality of life of the Skokomish watershed and Hood Canal.


    

  • Decreased channel capacity has raised groundwater levels, greatly reducing the Valley’sagricultural productivity
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    Photo by Mason Conservation District
    

    Heavily aggraded portions of the river have temporarily gone dry and become impassable for migrating fish for the past dozen years
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  • Degraded water quality conditions contribute to the low dissolved oxygen levels in Hood Canal, contributing to fish kills
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Repairing the River and Ensuring a Livable Future


During the 20th century, land use practices took a huge toll on the river, the fish and wildlife, and the residents of the watershed. The 21st century is a time of healing for the Skokomish, aided by collaborative partnerships dedicated to restoring the watershed’s ecosystem health, fish populations, and quality of life.


While tremendous progress has been made over the past decade, particularly in stabilizing the upper watershed and the estuary, much work remains to recover severely degraded fisheries and improve human health and wellbeing in the valley. It is imperative that the Skokomish watershed function well for the revitalization of local communities menaced by substantial and recurrent floods and rising ground-water levels.

				

	
			

		

	



	


		

			
									
			

				
				

				 
				 
				 
			 	
								
												
			
																	
		

		
	

	
		


	

		

						

					
				

					
Community-Driven Restoration




The Skokomish Watershed Action Team works towards common community and ecological goals in the Skokomish River watershed through collaborative basin restoration projects.

				

	
			

		

	



	

		

						
						

			
							
					
		
										

							
							

								




Skokomish Tribe

Mason Conservation District (CD)

Mason County

Hood Canal Coordinating Council

Local Landowners

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)

Tacoma Power

Washington Department of Ecology

Office of Senator Patty Murray

Office of Senator Maria Cantwell

US Forest Service – Olympic National Forest

Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office

Green Diamond Resource Company

Olympic Forest Coalition and Great Old Broads for Wilderness

Olympic Forest Coalition		
Ecotrust

Conservation Northwest

Washington Native Plant Society

The Wilderness Society

JX Construction, LLC

RG Forestry

Forterra

Laird Norton Family Foundation

Taylor Shellfish Farms

Skokomish Farms

Backcountry Horsemen of Washington

Sierra Club

Audubon Society

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

Puget Sound Partnership

WildEarth Guardians		






 

							

						

										
			
						
		

	

	


		    


	

		

			
			
				
			
					
					
									

						Swat Timeline 1994 2026
					

								
					
				
			

			
		

	

	
		
		


	

		

						

					
				

					
The Path Forward


SWAT partners will continue to work together for common outcomes that benefit both the Skokomish watershed and the community. Work has begun on an updated Skokomish Valley Restoration Plan, which will outline key projects going forward. Moving forward, the SWAT Steering Committee’s focus is on the following tasks:


    

  • Update SWAT Action Plan
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  • Revisit SWAT principles and goals
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  • Engage more partnerships
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  • Encourage more landowner participation
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						Usfskok Phase3 9 Scaled Aspect Ratio 2560 580
					

								
					
				
			

			
		

	

	
			

			
Photo by Mason Conservation District