High Court: Protect Skagit Salmon Over Landowners

A Western Washington tribe Thursday won a legal victory that will ensure more water stays in the Skagit River to help salmon and steelhead.

The decision could affect 6,000 landowners who were allocated water under rules that have now been struck down. That figure includes more than 600 residents with homes that have already been built.

The Washington state Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Ecology overstepped its authority in allocating water from the Skagit River for new development.

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community sued Ecology, contending harm to salmon and steelhead if stream flows were too low.

Read the full story at Earthfix.