Duwamish Estuary Subwatershed Duwamish Estuary Subwatershed
Facts Human population: 61,086 (2009 estimate) Primary land
uses: industrial (43%), residential (39%) Mean annual discharge:
tidally influenced reach with more than 2,000 cubic feet per
second of freshwater Salmon species currently present: Chinook,
coho, chum, pink, sockeye, steelhead, coastal cutthroat trout,
bull trout Why is the Duwamish Estuary Important to Salmon? The
Duwamish estuary plays a key role in the life history of salmon.
Young fish migrate from freshwater streams and the river higher
in the watershed to the estuary. In the estuary, they feed and
their bodies adapt to salt water. Estuary habitat is
particularly important for Chinook salmon, which are listed as
"threatened" under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Subwatershed Salmon Habitat Overview The Duwamish River is that
portion of the Green River downstream of the historic confluence
with the Black River. It consists of the river between River
Mile 0 and River Mile 11. The enti