Fall search for a Salmon Run

STORY BY STELLA WENSTOB

As the weather chills, the local streams and rivers are festooned with the lovely shades of orange and red of the turning leaves. This season also marks the last weeks in the life cycle of many salmon species as they travel up these rivers and streams to spawn and die.

After swimming up the stream to their spawning spot the females choose a spot in the shallow, but swift flowing part of the river that is ensured to be oxygenated, called the riffle. Here they dig hole in the gravel that will serve as their nests or redds. Near them, males will put on an impressive show biting and jumping to show their dominance and protect their chosen female from other males. After the eggs are laid in the redd, a male will deposit sperm over them, and the female will cover the eggs with gravel to protect them. A female may create as many as seven redds before she is finished spawning and each redd may hold as many as 5,000 eggs.

USING A SENSE NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD BY BIOLOGISTS, EACH FALL MILLIONS OF MIGRATORY SALMON RETURN TO THEIR HOME STREAMS TO LAY EGGS.

Hoodsport Fish Hatchery

Hoodsport,WA

The Hoodsport Fish Hatchery located in Hoodsport is a popular fishing location in the fall. Their ADA accessible fishing pier is open year round. Viewing of running salmon can be seen mid-August through October from the beach out front of the hatchery.

Dying To Reproduce

As soon as the salmon enter the fresh water of the stream their skins begin to change color, their sexual dimorphism enhances, they stop eating and they begin to decay.Spawning Salmon Live ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER ENTERING THE FRESHWATER.

The carcasses provide an important food source to other animals and invertebrates who in turn provide food for the fry (baby salmon) as they get older. The nutrients of the rotting carcass are also important fertilizers to the plants growing on the banks, which provides essential root systems that prevent erosion and protects the streams for further generations of salmon.

There are seven species of salmon in the Pacific Northwest: Pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), Sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka), Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Chum (Oncorhynchus keta), Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and Cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki). All of these species have very different life-cycles – some spend several years before they migrate up streams; some can run or spawn several times before dying; some only spawn at the mouth of streams, where others need to spawn in lakes at the head of rivers. Salmon running can be viewed in streams and rivers all across the Hood Canal and South Puget Sound.

Catch A Glimpse

Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail located off of Hwy 101 opens up for tours with docents answering questions beginning in November. This trail is maintained by the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group and their website is a great resource for learning about the trail and salmon ecology. Chum (or dog fish) are the dominant species that run this stream at numbers as high as 800,000 salmon a year.

The Salmon Center located in Belfair is open from 8 AM until 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Besides offering interesting exhibits about salmon ecology, they operate salmon traps on the Union River (off of Highway 300) that target adult summer Chums.

As you continue along the South Shore of the Hood Canal, Twanoh Creek in Twanoh State Park offers good vantage points to view running salmon.

At the bend of the Hood Canal on a tributary of the Skokomish Watershed is George Adams Fish Hatchery. Each spring they release 500,000 juvenile Coho into the Purdy Creek. While the hatchery does not have scheduled tours, the staff are happy to answer questions and the pens are visible from the Highway.

Quilcene National Hatchery has been run continuously since 1911. Now focusing on Coho stock, the Quilcene National Hatchery has raised nearly every species of salmon. The hatchery successfully reintroduced Chum salmon back to the Big Quilcene River

VOLUNTEER: Monitor Hood Canal Summer Chum

For 24 years, the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) has been conducting research monitoring ESA listed Hood Canal Summer Chum. Through mid-October, volunteers can help HCSEG track returning adult Summer Chum on the Union River!

Coming this winter is the second part of research effort, monitoring the outmigrating juvenile Summer Chum. Collecting data on both the returning adults and outmigrating juveniles allows us to create a better picture of the overall health of this threatened salmon species. Expect to work with several species of adult salmon, netting the fish caught in the trap, collecting data, and releasing salmon upriver. and increased winter Steelhead populations of the Puget Sound. They are open 7:30 AM – 3 PM on weekdays and only on weekends and holidays in the spring and summer when the camp host volunteers are present. Visitors are encouraged to tour the facility and meet the hatchery staff.

Volunteer as an individual, or sign-up with a group of friends or family members. All training and gear are provided. Learn more and sign-up for a slot today at: pnwsalmoncenter.org/get-involved/volunteer.

Situated in the Belfair State Park are the Big Mission and Little Mission Creeks, which offer great salmon viewing. North of the North Shore Road following Elfendahl Pass Rd is Stimson Creek, a good place to view spawning salmon.

For a list of salmon spotting sites, WDFW's multi-layer map "SalmonScape," shows the streams and tributaries used by migratory salmon in the state. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/salmonscape for information.