A U.S. Fish and Wildlife employee reintroduces salmon into a Central Valley river.
Aerial view of restored floodplain habitat and agricultural property near Sacramento, California.
Hood Canal Summer-Run Chum Salmon
The Hood Canal summer-run chum salmon is a threatened species. NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast Region, along with the Science Centers, work to protect and conserve this species under the Endangered Species Act.
Species Status
ESA Listing Status: Threatened on March 25, 1999 (64 FR 14508) and June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37159); updated April 14, 2014 (79 FR 20802)
ESU Description: This evolutionarily significant unit, or ESU, includes naturally spawned summer-run chum salmon originating from Hood Canal and its tributaries as well as from Olympic Peninsula rivers between Hood Canal and Dungeness Bay (inclusive). This ESU also includes summer-run chum salmon from the following artificial propagation programs:
- Lilliwaup Creek Fish Hatchery Program
- Tahuya River Program
Current Population Trends: ESA Status Reviews and Five-Year Updates for Hood Canal Summer-Run Chum Salmon
Critical Habitat: Designated September 2, 2005
Protective Regulations: Issued June 28, 2005 (70 FR 37159)
Recovery Plan: Recovery Plan for Hood Canal and Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca Summer-run Chum Salmon (2007)
Species Recovery
NOAA Fisheries delineated eight recovery domains, or geographic recovery planning areas, for the ESA-listed salmon and steelhead populations on the West Coast. The Puget Sound Recovery Domain is located in the northwestern corner of Washington State. It includes several large river systems flowing from the western slopes of the Cascade mountains, multiple estuaries, the San Juan Islands, Hood Canal, and a northern portion of the Olympic Peninsula (see map of recovery domains).This domain has three ESA-listed species of salmon and steelhead:
- Puget Sound Chinook
- Hood Canal Summer-run Chum
- Puget Sound steelhead
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region manages recovery planning and implementation for this domain through its Oregon and Washington Coastal Area Office.
Recovery Plan
In June 2005, the Hood Canal Coordinating Council presented its recovery plan for Hood Canal summer-run chum salmon to NOAA Fisheries. The Northwest Region adopted and expanded the recovery plan to meet its obligations under the Endangered Species Act. The agency's supplement was adopted in May 2007. Together the Hood Canal Coordinating Council plan and NOAA Fisheries supplement comprise the final Recovery Plan for Hood Canal and Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca Summer-run Chum Salmon.
Partnerships for Recovery
Salmon recovery requires action at all levels of government and by all stakeholders to be effective. Partnerships among federal, state, local, and tribal entities, together with non-governmental and private organizations, are key to restoring healthy salmon runs and ensuring the cultural, economic, and environmental benefits they provide. Implementing recovery actions is especially critical at the local level. NOAA Fisheries supports this by providing scientific and policy support, providing funding as available, and working with our partners to improve regulatory mechanisms for salmon recovery.
Key partners working to restore salmon and steelhead in Puget Sound are identified below.
Federal & State Partners
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Federal Highway Administration
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- U.S. Geological Survey
- U.S. Navy
- Washington Governor's Office
- Puget Sound Partnership
- Washington State Recreation & Conservation Office
- Washington State Conservation Commission
- Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Washington State Department of Agriculture
- Washington State Department of Ecology
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Tribal Partners
- Samish Indian Nation
- Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
- Hoh Indian Tribe
- Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
- Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
- Lummi Nation
- Makah Nation
- Muckleshoot Tribe
- Nisqually Indian Tribe
- Nooksack Tribe
- Port Gamble S’Klallam
- Puyallup Tribe of Indians
- Quileute Indian Tribe
- Quinault Indian Nation
- Sauk-Suiattle Tribe
- Skokomish Tribe
- Squaxin Island Tribe
- Stillaguamish Tribe
- Suquamish Tribe
- Swinomish Tribe
- Tulalip Tribes
- Upper Skagit Tribe
- Other Washington Tribes
Local and Private Partners
- Building Industry Association of Washington
- Futurewise
- Hood Canal Coordinating Council
- Long Live The Kings
- Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council
- Washington Environmental Council
- Western Washington Agriculture Association
More Information
- Chum Salmon Status Reviews and Five-Year Updates
- Chum Salmon Federal Register Notices
- Salmon and Steelhead Federal Register Rules and Notices prior to August 2019
- Chum Salmon Maps & GIS Data
- Salmon Publications
- Salmon and Steelhead Hatcheries on the West Coast
- Learn about what you can do to help endangered and threatened salmon recover
- Related Stories
Contact
If you have questions, would like to learn more about recovery efforts in your watershed, or would like to get involved directly, please contact:
West Coast Region - Oregon Washington Coastal Office
Jennifer Quan
Email: Jennifer.quan@noaa.gov
Phone: 360.753.6054
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife employee reintroduces salmon into a Central Valley river.
Aerial view of restored floodplain habitat and agricultural property near Sacramento, California.
