Summary
King County completed the last of its 13 fish passage restoration projects along Lake Sammamish, contributing to a kokanee salmon recovery partnership that is building on nearly two decades of progress.
News
By removing the final barriers to more than three-quarters of a mile of high-quality habitat along George Davis Creek in Sammamish, King County and its Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon recovery partners have achieved a major milestone in their nearly two-decade-long collaboration to bring the rare freshwater species back from the brink of extinction.
Newly installed box culverts underneath King County Parks’ East Lake Sammamish Trail and the City of Sammamish’s East Lake Sammamish Parkway removed the final impassable barriers for kokanee salmon and other native fish populations that now have access to 4,300 feet of restored upstream habitat for the first time in a century.
Volunteers from the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, City of Sammamish, and King County commemorated the milestone by planting native trees and shrubs along the redesigned stream course to create shade and keep the water cool.
“Completing King County’s final fish passage restoration project on Lake Sammamish is a testament to our enduring commitment to the survival of a native salmon species that is important to our habitat and history,” said King County Executive Girmay Zahilay. “Combined with the actions we’re taking with our partners, we’re building on momentum for a lasting kokanee recovery.”
Promising results after accelerating recovery efforts in 2018
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks and its partners in the Lake Sammamish Kokanee Work Group have been working for nearly two decades to protect and restore the genetically unique salmon population that spend their entire lives in freshwater.
The coordinated restoration work shifted into high gear following the 2017-18 run, when just 19 adult kokanee salmon returned to the spawning grounds, and King County and its partners enacted emergency and long-range actions to ensure the species’ survival. Biologists believe restoring fish access to upstream habitat contributed to the healthy spawning run in 2024-25 when more than 8,300 adult kokanee salmon returned from the lake to spawn the next generation.
King County has completed the last of its 13 fish passage restoration projects along Lake Sammamish, contributing to the kokanee salmon recovery partnership. 
Joshua Gabel, Treasurer of the Snoqualmie Tribal Council, joins volunteers for the tree planting ceremony at George Davis Creek. 
Kokanee salmon recovery partners plant trees along the restored George Davis Creek habitat near Lake Sammamish. 
Kokanee salmon recovery partners will plant native vegetation along George Davis Creek that will offer shade to kokanee salmon in the restored habitat. 
The Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon has a unique genetic signature that is important to the region’s habitat and history. Photo by Roger Tabor. 
Crews are planting native vegetation along George Davis Creek to restore habitat for Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon. 
Volunteers participated in a ceremonial tree planting along George Davis Creek to commemorate the restored access for Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon. 
Volunteers planted trees to commemorate the restored fish access to George Davis Creek along Lake Sammamish.
“The Lake Sammamish Kokanee Work Group has been a remarkable collaboration between King County, the Snoqualmie Tribe, Washington State, local cities, and many dedicated community organizations, resulting in historic recoveries of our native kokanee salmon,” said King County Council Chair Sarah Perry. “I’m pleased to celebrate this latest milestone in our work to ensure the health of our local habitats and protect our beloved little red fish that is so significant to our communities’ history and culture.”
The culvert installation beneath the 11-mile regional trail is the last of 13 King County fish passage restoration projects along the lake completed during the past eight years. The reconstructed trail segment, which King County Parks will open by the end of the year, will feature a creek overlook where visitors can see restored habitat and learn about kokanee recovery efforts.
King County continues to restore fish passages throughout the rest of the region, contributing to salmon recovery for multiple species.
“One of King County’s biggest contributions to a sustained recovery effort for the iconic kokanee salmon is removing 13 barriers to high-quality upstream habitat,” said Mo McBroom, Interim Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks. “I’m grateful for the enduring work by our employees and partners that will have a lasting, positive impact for the ‘little red fish.’”
To accelerate salmon recovery in George Davis Creek, a member of the Kokanee Work Group, Trout Unlimited, will place fertilized kokanee eggs in an incubator within the stream in early 2027. Eggs collected from adult spawning fish taken from other lake streams will be incubated in the creek to imprint on the stream’s unique chemical signature, greatly increasing the chance that they will return to spawn after they’ve spent an average of three years growing in Lake Sammamish.
To see kokanee spawning, visit the Salmon SEEson website and check out the interactive map of viewing locations.
Multimedia
- PHOTO GALLERY: Images of celebration and fish passage restoration projects
- TRACKS: An interactive map of environmental stewardship in King County
Resources
Contact
Doug Williams, Department of Natural Resources and Parks, 206-477-4543
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