Why this tribe is buying up hundreds of acres of farmland — and flooding it

A new levee built by the Stillaguamish Tribe, left, separates farmland from newly restored wetlands at the mouth of the Stillaguamish River near Stanwood, Washington, on April 8, 2026.

The Stillaguamish Tribe in Washington state has been buying land in its traditional territory and removing levees. The goal is to turn farmland into wetlands with the hopes of restoring Chinook salmon.

(Image credit: Megan Farmer /KUOW)