Mayor Nickels Celebrates Historic Salmon Homecoming

On September 19, 2003 the first salmon in more than a century swam above the Landsburg Dam on the Cedar River. This historic achievement was made possible by new fish passage facilities constructed by Seattle Public Utilities.

Salmon define the Northwest and the City of Seattle has made a great leap forward in protecting the symbol of our home. Chinook and coho salmon, as well as steelhead trout, now have access to more than 17 miles of excellent habitat for the first time in more than 100 years.

The Landsburg Fish Passage Project is part of the Cedar River Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), a comprehensive 50-year ecosystem-based plan that is designed to insure Seattle’s drinking water supply and protect the habitats of 83 species of fish and wildlife in the Cedar River Watershed.

The project benefited from the participation and guidance of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, sport fishing and boating organizations, the environmental community, and all of our regional partners who work with us to protect salmon.

Together we have taken a giant step toward ensuring healthy fish runs for future generations while delivering safe, reliable, and high quality drinking water to more than a million people in the greater Seattle area.

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