Core Insights - Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and its partners have achieved a record return of over 91,850 sockeye salmon to the Skagit River system in 2025, marking a significant conservation success [1][2][9] Group 1: Conservation Efforts - The return of sockeye salmon represents a culmination of a 21-year collaborative effort initiated during PSE's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license negotiations in 2004 [2] - The sockeye population in the Baker River system had drastically declined to just 99 fish in the mid-1980s, indicating a near extinction scenario [2] - PSE's initiatives under the Baker Hydroelectric Project license included the installation of fish-passage facilities, construction of a new fish hatchery, and habitat protection efforts [3] Group 2: Cultural Significance - The successful return of sockeye salmon holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, allowing them to fish in traditional locations [4][5] - The restoration efforts have enabled the tribes to maintain their cultural practices and ensure food security through sustainable fishing [5] Group 3: Collaborative Management - The rebound of the sockeye population is attributed to effective co-management between state agencies and treaty tribes, alongside PSE's collaboration on fish passage and habitat restoration projects [6] - PSE's completion of the Baker River Fish Hatchery expansion in 2024 has enhanced conditions for fish propagation, contributing to the successful return of salmon [6] Group 4: Juvenile Fish Migration - In 2025, over 1.5 million juvenile fish successfully migrated through the Baker Lake and Lake Shannon facilities, setting a new record for juvenile emigration [8] - The juvenile salmon will migrate to the Pacific Ocean and return to their natal waters after maturing, further supporting the sustainability of the sockeye population [9]