The issues of salmon decline and rising flooding dangers are urgent and will intensify over time. That’s why the Office of Chehalis Basin (OCB) is implementing the Chehalis Basin Strategy to protect people, fish, and wildlife now, while also planning for a more resilient future.
Housed within the Washington Department of Ecology, OCB serves as the focal point for actions and plans successfully reducing flood-related damage and restoring aquatic life throughout the Chehalis River Basin. OCB works hand in hand with the independent Chehalis Basin Board, administers state funding, and leads a coalition of local, Tribal, and state partners to implement the long-term Chehalis Basin Strategy to protect and preserve Chehalis River Basin for people, fish, and communities today, and for generations to come.
How the Office of Chehalis Basin and our partners work together
An integrated approach
We believe we don’t have to choose between keeping people safe and protecting aquatic life—in fact, we have the science and solutions to do both better by addressing them at the same time. That’s why the Office of Chehalis Basin employs an integrated approach whenever possible and avoids treating a single issue in isolation.
Collaboration is key
The Office of Chehalis Basin works in tandem with community leaders, local, state, and tribal government officials, local residents, scientists, business owners, and nonprofit organizations who are committed to making the Chehalis Basin a safe, healthy, and abundant place to live—for people, fish, and wildlife. Rooted in a set of shared values and love for the Basin, we accomplish more when we work together.
Immediate action and planning for the long-term
Since 2016, the Office of Chehalis Basin and our partners have built more than 140 projects that have protected homes and businesses, restored fish habitat, and prepared the region for future catastrophic floods. Through early 2026, the Board is weighing long-term options to protect people and aquatic life for decades to come.
Working at many scales
Alongside our partners, the Office of Chehalis Basin works at all scales to create lasting change throughout the region. Projects that work at the individual landowner and community-scale include elevating homes; improving flood warning systems and evacuation routes; and working with the land to restore natural floodplain function and benefit aquatic habitat.
While local and community-scale projects are essential to meeting OCB’s goals, we know that because flood risks are intensifying and fish populations are continuing to decline, this work also requires large-scale, Basin-wide actions. The Aquatic Species Restoration Program employs far-reaching restoration in high priority areas across the Basin—where the science points to the biggest positive impact for salmon, steelhead, and other aquatic life. To protect against major and catastrophic flooding, long-term strategy options are being considered to protect communities and key regional infrastructure like the U.S. Interstate 5, state highways, rail lines, and ports.
Projects and programs
Office of Chehalis Basin programs work together to create durable, widespread change for Chehalis Basin residents, fish, and wildlife. Click on a project or program below to learn more:
Funding
Funding for our work is provided by the Washington State Legislature on a biennial basis. For the 2023-2025 biennial state budget, the legislature provided $70 million to continue this important work. View additional 2023-25 budget information.