The Chinook are back! As of earlier this month, about 3,400 adult spring Chinook salmon have returned to Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. The hatchery in the mountains of central Washington raises 1.2 million spring Chinook salmon every year. USFWS video: Sophia Troeh | USFWS Columbia Pacific Northwest

Managing salmon populations in Washington means navigating complex ecosystems across the Pacific Northwest, requiring partnership and collaboration at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels. WDFW works to balance conservation and recovery of Endangered Species Act-listed salmon stocks while providing fishing opportunity that supports recreational and commercial fisheries critical to the health and economic well-being of Washington. A big part of this effort is the annual North of Falcon sa