Secretary Jewell Announces Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership to Connect Seattle Communities and Youth to Lake Sammamish Watershed

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell joined local conservation leaders announcing that Lake Sammamish, Wash., was chosen as one of eight pilot partnerships nationwide under the Urban Wildlife Refuge Initiative. The partnership will help connect people in the Seattle metro-area to the great outdoors and, in particular, efforts to restore kokanee salmon runs in the Lake Sammamish Watershed

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    “Children have become increasingly disconnected from nature,” Jewell said. “The Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership seeks to reverse this trend by providing meaningful opportunities for urban residents in the region, especially young people, to get outdoors and engage in hands-on learning and conservation of kokanee salmon and its habitat." DOI

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    Students from Campbell Hill Elementary School in Renton released kokanee salmon fry into the Ebright Creek. DOI

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    Kokanee salmon swimming in the Lake Sammamish Watershed which serves as a gateway to the many rivers, lakes, forests and trails in the Central Cascades for nearby urban residents. DOI

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    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe said, “Through the power of partnerships, we hope that what is happening here can serve as a model for other urban cities across the country.” DOI

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