Recovery efforts and threats to salmon in Washington state

The articles highlight various concerns and activities surrounding salmon in Washington state, focusing on salmon spawning, environmental threats and recovery efforts.

Washington orcas have recently revived the trend of wearing dead salmon as headgear, previously seen in the 1980s. The potential reason for this behavior is that whales may use salmon hats as a way to store food.

Several articles discuss the pivotal role of Washington's tribes in salmon recovery and conservation. The Puyallup Tribe, for instance, has initiated projects like cold water wells at hatcheries, which help in maintaining salmon-friendly habitats amidst rising water temperatures. Their efforts include mapping cold water refuges and refraining from steelhead fishing to support species recovery.

In Pierce County, salmon spawning season mid-September to early October highlights areas like Veteran’s Park in Buckley and South Prairie Creek as viewing hotspots.

Two orca pods, including one with a new baby killer whale, humpback whales and dolphins are spotted off Monterey, California.

NO. 1: SO HOT RIGHT NOW: WA ORCAS ARE WEARING DEAD SALMON ON THEIR HEADS IN LATEST FASHION FAD

The last time that scientists spotted the orca trend was in the 1980s. | Published November 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Carter

The Nisqually River winds through the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. By Ryan N. Comfort

NO. 2: WA TRIBES CRUCIAL TO SALMON RECOVERY, CONSERVATION THROUGHOUT DECADES OF WORK WITH STATE

Washington state has long been known for its forward-thinking approach in the fight to save salmon, but a key factor continues to be tribes. | Published January 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Genevieve Belmaker

NO. 3: WASHINGTON’S STRUGGLE: HOW FAR-TOO-SLOW SALMON RECOVERY IMPACTS ORCAS LIKE TAHLEQUAH | OPINION

“The pace of salmon recovery work — and difficulty in funding these complex projects — is hindering our ability to recover salmon populations.” | Opinion | Published January 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordan Rash

Tacoma’s Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash. Two environmental groups allege the plant is discharging toxic wastewater harmful to the federally protected Chinook salmon. By Brian Hayes

NO. 4: HAS A TACOMA WASTEWATER PLANT THREATENED THIS ENDANGERED SPECIES?

Two environmental groups say they plan to sue over the purported poisoning of chinook salmon. | Published April 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shea Johnson

People look out at Mount Rainier from a viewpoint along the Nisqually Vista Trail on Friday, June 6, 2025, at Mount Rainier National Park. The Nisqually Glacier and the start of the Nisqually River are visible from this point, as well as other active and inactive glaciers on the mountain. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 5: MOUNT RAINIER’S GLACIERS ARE DISAPPEARING. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY’RE GONE?

Several of Mount Rainier’s glaciers are already gone, experts say, and others aren’t far behind. The News Tribune asked what that means for visitors. | Published June 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Constanza Montemayor

Hweqwidi Hanford McCloud, a Nisqually tribal member and a liaison for the Nisqually Tribal Council, shares his insights as a master weaver, pointing out the parts of an in-progress graduation hat woven out of cedar bark on Friday, June 6, 2025, at the National Park Inn at Mount Rainier National Park. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 6: HOW WE EXPERIENCE MOUNT RAINIER IS CHANGING. ‘GET WHILE THE GETTING IS GOOD.’

“There’s a sadness there. It’s definitely not going to be the same,” one longtime visitor said. | Published June 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Constanza Montemayor

NO. 7: NISQUALLY WARN THAT TRUMP’S PROPOSED BUDGET THREATENS SALMON RECOVERY — AND TREATY RIGHTS

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray pledges to block the $1.3 billion in cuts to NOAA, which would eliminate funding for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. | Published June 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ann Duan

Salmon swim upstream in the water of South Prairie Creek on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Prairie Ridge, Wash. By Liesbeth Powers

NO. 8: IT’S NOW PEAK TIME TO SEE SALMON SPAWN IN PIERCE COUNTY. HERE’S WHERE

A handful of glittering salmon flashed their fins in the shallow water of South Prairie Creek on Wednesday morning as they fought against the current and charged each other. | Published September 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Becca Most

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.