About Us
Staff Bio’s
Board of Directors
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Our Mission
SPSSEG is committed to protecting and restoring salmon populations and aquatic habitat with an emphasis on ecosystem function through scientifically informed projects, community education, and volunteer involvement. We seek out and partner with other organizations to help plan, fund, carry out, and monitor fishery enhancement and habitat restoration projects.
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Our History
SPSSEG was formed by the Washington State Legislature in 1990 as a means of directly involving communities, citizen volunteers, and landowners in salmon recovery. There are 14 Regional Enhancement Groups (RFEGs) state wide. Learn more about each group on our Resources page. Click here to view the RFEG annual report.
Our Region
Our Region also known as region #5 is extensive and includes all of the Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIA;s) 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and parts of 15. The major watersheds we encompass include the Puyallup, Nisqually, and Deschutes Rivers. We also work in nearshore habitats and other watersheds that drain into Puget Sound below a line that runs south of Brown’s Point and north of the entrance to Gig Harbor.
Our Funding Sources
The enhancement Groups are partially funded by $1 and $100 surcharges on sport and commercial fishing licenses. The 1995 State Legislature added revenue form the sale of eggs and carcasses from state hatcheries to the pool of available funds. Other sources of funds come from grants, membership dues, private donations, in kind contributions, and cooperative funding from different agencies and private companies.
The support of our community helps make SPSSEG a key player in the state’s Lead Entity processes for strategically recovering endangered salmonid species and restoring critical salmon habitat. The South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Click here if you are interested in making a tax deductible contribution to help fund our mission.
Our Projects
SPSSEG has sponsored or co-sponsored over 170 projects since our formation in 1990. Our organization relies heavily on a core of individuals with experience in the restoration and enhancement of salmon habitat. Projects that come to SPSSEG are proposed by private citizens, community action groups, and organizations such as Trout Unlimited, South Sound Fly Fishers, U.S. Forest Service, Tribal Groups, and municipalities. Projects span a variety of areas including restoring spawning/rearing habitat, streambank riparian restoration, nearshore restoration and monitoring, and culvert/dam replacements or modifications to improve fish passage. Visit our Project page to learn more about individual projects.
Our Members
Over the past 20 years, SPSSEG has developed a following of devoted individuals willing to donate their time and energy to local salmon restoration and education. SPSSEG’s diverse membership includes sport and commercial fishers, fish biologists, foresters, lawyers, local business people, landowners and many others. Become a member of SPSSEG and support on-the-ground salmon recovery today!
