Status

                      Unfortunately, trying to save the Lake Sammamish kokanee population is a difficult battle. Of the three different runs that have been documented in the Lake Sammamish Basin, the early run was declared extinct in 2003. There were only two separate fish observed in Issaquah creek between 1999 and 2001 and this run was then officially declared extinct by 2003 (Berge). The middle-run salmon, after some genetic testing was done, is thought to be residual salmon. Therefore they are not specifically "kokanee" because they are the offspring of anadromous salmon (salmon that migrate to the ocean) and not "land-locked" salmon. The late-run salmon is the last promising run and efforts are being made to try to re-establish this population. Of all of the Lake Sammamish tributaries, the late-run kokanee are found in the Lewis, Ebright, Laughing Jacobs and Pine Lake Creeks.
                      In 2003, a local group called “Save Lake Sammamish” petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to label the Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon population as a listable entity under the Endangered Species Act. In 2010 the USFWS decided against listing the population and ensuring protective measures because it was not found to be a listable entity (gpo.gov). Currently, the Lake Sammamish kokanee do not have any state or federal status (wdfw.wa.gov). However it is against the law to catch and keep sockeye salmon in Lake Sammamish and they are federally listed as an endangered species (fws.gov). Despite the setback for this kokanee population, the late-run kokanee still represent an opportunity to increase kokanee numbers in Lake Sammamish. It is estimated that a minimum of 500 spawners are needed in order to sustain the population and this number needs to be steadily observed for a number of years (kingcounty.gov). The late-run salmon is currently suffering and has not been observed at this steady sustainable population, but the state government and local conservation groups are taking actions with this goal in mind.

(wildlife.utah.gov)

An underwater image of kokanee salmon during spawning time.