How many adult salmon return to Miller and Walker Creeks in Burien, Normandy Park, and SeaTac each year? King County’s Miller/Walker Creek Stewardship Program is teaching us that the numbers can vary a lot! They also investigate how many of these fish are stricken by pre-spawn mortality each year, and thus how many survive long enough to lay the eggs of the next generation.

A better understanding of the numbers of fish returning to the streams and the extent of pre-spawn mortality is one of the top stream monitoring recommendations from the community (see the 2009 monitoring coordination recommendations). Adult salmon are the Pacific Northwest equivalent of the “canary in the coal mine” – they reflect the health of our lands and water. Knowing adult salmon numbers and what’s happening to them when they enter the stream serves as “vital signs” for our streams. By being part of King County’s Community Salmon Investigation Team, you can help them learn more about this community resource.

To accurately monitor adult fish returns and fish health, they need your help! They’re looking for volunteers to collect data on adult salmon that will return to Miller and Walker Creeks from mid-October 2014, to late January 2015. Please sign up by Thursday, September 25th.
Beginning in mid-October and continuing until late December or into January, they need two volunteers to hike Miller and Walker Creeks each day at several locations to look for fish.

This is an exciting and unusual opportunity to see parts of your community that are normally off-limits. You will get closer to one of the most interesting animals of America – the Pacific salmon. You will be part of an important community effort to better understand how well we’re doing taking care of our lands and waters.

Everyone who is interested in being on a team, being a team “lead” and helping train other team members, or being an occasional surveyor is invited to attend the training on Thursday, October 2nd, 2013, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Normandy Park City Hall, Council Chambers. The training session will address maps and survey routes, fish identification and measuring techniques, staying safe, equipment kits and scheduling.

Please contact Elissa Ostergarrd to sign up for the training, or if you have any questions about volunteer expectations, or whether the opportunity is right for you— elissa.ostergaard@kingcounty.gov or (206) 477-4792.