The Puget Sound steelhead 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.
ESA Listing Status: Threatened on May 11, 2007 (72 FR 26722); updated April 14, 2014 (79 FR 20802)
DPS Description: This distinct population segment, or DPS, includes naturally spawned anadromous O. mykiss (steelhead) originating below natural and manmade impassable barriers from rivers flowing into Puget Sound from the Elwha River (inclusive) eastward, including rivers in Hood Canal, South Sound, North Sound and the Strait of Georgia. This DPS also includes , steelhead from the following artificial propagation programs:
Current Population Trends:
Critical Habitat: Designated February 24, 2016 (81 FR 9252)
Protective Regulations: Issued September 25, 2008 (73 FR 55451)
Recovery Plan: ESA Recovery Plan for the Puget Sound Steelhead Distinct Population Segment (Oncorhynchus mykiss), 2019
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 the northern portion of the Olympic Peninsula (see map of recovery domains).This domain has three ESA-listed species of salmon and steelhead:
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region manages recovery planning and implementation for this domain through its Oregon and Washington Coastal Area Office.
The Recovery Plan for the Puget Sound Steelhead provides guidance for the protection and recovery of Puget Sound steelhead, listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 2007.
Salmon and steelhead 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 and steelhead 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 and steelhead recovery.
Key partners working to restore salmon and steelhead in Puget Sound are identified below.
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 and Washington Coastal Area Office
David Price
Email: David.Price@noaa.gov
Phone: 360.753.9598
An oceanic whitetip shark swims near the surface of the water. Photo courtesy of John Carlson.
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.
