RFEG Program
Our Region
Challenges and Solutions
Information for Landowners
Education and Volunteering
Contact Us
Staff
Board of Directors
Projects
Jobs

RFEG Program

The Mid Puget Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group is one of 14 Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs) in the state of Washington. In 1990, the Washington State Legislature established the RFEG Program to optimize citizen involvement and private donations to restore salmon and steelhead in Washington state. There are 14 RFEGs and each has an established geographic region based on watershed boundaries.

Our organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We are in part supported by  surcharges from Fishing License sales. However, we receive most of our funding through grant writing to private and governmental grant sources. We also appreciate money or in-kind donations from private donors. All donations are tax-deductible.

Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group Program Website

Our Region

Mid Sound's service area encompasses portions of Kitsap and King Counties. In Kitsap County, our service area includes all individual streams flowing into the western side of Puget Sound. This area is known as Watershed Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 15.

In King County, our region includes the Lake Washington-Cedar River watershed (WRIA 8), the Green/Duwamish River watershed (WRIA 9) and individual streams flowing into the middle Puget Sound. 

According to the Washington State Conservation Commission, the limiting factors to salmon health in the various Mid Sound watersheds include fish passage barriers, decrease of side-channel and off-channel habitat, reduction of large woody debris and lack of functioning riparian habitat.

Mid Sound works cooperatively with local landowners to identify, design, and implement projects that address these limiting factors. While there are regulatory agencies protecting sensitive areas, our group offers a restoration alternative that meets the needs of the landowners and of the salmon.

Salmon Habitat Restoration
Restoration projects can range from earth-moving construction to streamside plantings.

Restoration Project Monitoring
Project Monitoring helps us improve our restoration techniques and to determine maintenance needs.

Outreach and Education
Education and hands-on learning is incorporated into all our activities. We educatie the community with the knowledge the become involved and to educate others.

Private landowners are the key to keeping wild salmon in our streams.

Our goal is to assist landowners who wish to protect or improve salmon on their property. We provide technical / financial assistance and project management. We provide solutions and opportunities.

We are non-regulatory and work in good faith that the landowner believes in the benefits of the project and supports its goals.

For Streamside landowners with any of these concerns ...

• Flooding
• Bank erosion
• Livestock water access
• Invasive weeds
• Salmon survival
• Water quality

... Mid Sound offers solutions:

• Installation of large woody debris
• Invasive weed removal
• Stabilization of steep or eroding banks
• Replacement or removal of failing culverts
• Planting native vegetation along the stream
• Installation of fences and livestock water pumps

How does it work?

Each project is different, depending on its size, type, location, available funding, and landowner desires. Most restoration projects involve the following steps:

1.   Mid Sound's Project Manager visits the site for a preliminary assessment at no cost for the landowner.

2.   In consultation with the landowner, Mid Sound's project Manager prepares the project, including design, budget, timeline and grant writing.

3.   Project implementation coordination and post-project maintenance is conducted by a crew or groups of volunteers.

4.   The landowner is involved at the level he or she desires. However, we encourage landowner involvement since we have found higher level of satisfaction with landowners who are connected to their project.

5.   Each project will be monitored for at least three years after completion. 

Along with restoration project sites, Mid Sound provides and opportunity for education and hands-on learning in environmental science topics.

We encourage groups and families to volunteer as a fun activity or to build team skills outside the usual work environment.

Mid Sound delivers educational presentations on salmon habitat restoration to schools, community groups, businesses and service clubs. Educational outreach and presentations are designed to increase public awareness and get the community excited about restoring the once abundant salmon resources of the Pacific Northwest.

We are available for speaking requests, including a power-point presentation, info-materials, and site tours or volunteering events.

We can assist in teaching a topic in the classroom and can arrange for field trips that combine education and community service.

Our Volunteering Opportunities include

• Native planting
• Invasive weed control
• Watering
• Project site maintenance
• Monitoring (fish surveys, such as the smolt trap and spawner surveys, as well as vegetation surveys)
• Helping out in our native plant nursery
• Outreach, such as Gala or Salmon Festival volunteering
• Eagle Scout projects