Usk Fish Hatchery (Native Salmonid Conservation Facility)

The Seattle City Light Native Salmonid Conservation Facility near Usk, WA, supports recovery of threatened Westslope cutthroat trout as part of the Boundary Dam relicensing effort. The project included development of a fish propagation facility grounded in genetic and ecological principles to promote long-term population sustainability, along with supporting infrastructure such as administration buildings, water treatment systems, residences, and access improvements. Additional scope included stream restoration, stormwater systems, and removal of outdated facilities, all carefully designed to minimize environmental impacts and protect sensitive species. The facility plays a critical role in restoring native fish populations by capturing, spawning, and reintroducing genetically pure fish back into the watershed.