Wednesday February 4, 2026
Salish Current —
In December, Washington experienced large-scale flooding as multiple atmospheric rivers brought a historic amount of rainfall to the region. As rivers and streams overflowed, homes were damaged, people were displaced and animals sought shelter. For salmon, many of which had returned for the spawning season, there was no place to hide.
The impact of the flood on salmon won’t be seen until 2027–2029, when the eggs from this spawning season are expected to return, according to Mickey Agha, the statewide salmon science and policy analyst for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, or WDFW.