Suquamish Tribe
The Suquamish Tribe, whose ancestors have lived in the region for approximately 10,000 years, has 950 enrolled members. About half of them live on the Port Madison reservation, established in 1855 by the treaty of Point Elliott.
Suquamish Tribe Area of Concern:
The tribe works mainly on the Kitsap Peninsula. Kitsap County is the third most densely populated county in Washington, and has no land zoned for agriculture. The hydrology is fairly unique, with groundwater recharge dependent solely on precipitation. Road construction and loss of forest habitat impact streams, and every Watershed Assessment Unit (WAU) within Kitsap County is either impacted or degraded from road density and stream crossing frequency. Chico Creek, the most productive salmon stream on the Kitsap Peninsula, is a focus of restoration. Multiple projects have been completed and are ongoing in the watershed.
Natural Resource Management:
- In summer 2012, the Suquamish Tribe built their shellfish nursery. The 15 by 30-foot floating dock (also called a FLUPSY, or floating upwelling system) was inaugurated with two million baby clams. The system will save the tribe money, since they can raise their own clams instead of buying larger ones that are ready to seed on the beach.
- A group of Suquamish teenagers recently presented findings on ocean acidification to peers at the 3rd National Student Summit on Oceans and Coasts in Washington, DC. With encouragement from Karen Matsumoto of the Seattle Aquarium, the students interviewed scientists and tribe members and researched water quality and climate change. The students will continue to work on this and other projects with tribal biologists.
- Working with the U.S. Navy, the Suquamish tribe transferred juvenile coho salmon to a net pen in Agate Pass. Over 300,000 salmon made the trip from the Keyport Naval Base. The fish will acclimate in the pen before their release.
Suquamish Tribe
PO Box 498
18490 Suquamish Way
Suquamish, WA 98392
Phone: (360) 598-3311
Fax: (360) 598-3135
Fisheries Fax: (360) 598-4666
Grover’s Creek Hatchery
PO Box 498
23175 Indianola Rd NE
Poulsbo, WA 98370
Phone: (360) 394-8530
Fax: (360) 598-1974
Chairperson: Leonard Forsman
Fisheries Manager: Rob Purser
Source: NWIFC
