By Lindsay Peyton

In Burien, CSI does not only refer to “crime scene investigation,” the type of forensic investigators made famous by television dramas. 

The initials also stand for Community Salmon Investigation, a community-driven effort to study the health of the fish and their local habitat. 

Matt Goehring, Miller/Walker Basin Steward, explained that this year, more than 30 volunteers dedicated more than 335 hours helping with the project. “It was really a huge effort,” Goehring said. 

There were 16 volunteers who returned from last year and a handful who have been part of the effort since it was founded, a decade ago. 

“We’re looking for live fish,” Goehring said. “We’re also collecting data on the carcasses we stumble upon.”

The volunteers spent the past few months studying Miller and Walker Creeks, the waterways winding through Burien, Normandy Park and SeaTac.

Adult salmon use the creeks as a place to spawn eggs. Younger salmon follow the waterways to travel to the Puget Sound. But each year, a number of fish are dying before they are able to spawn. Volunteers are keeping count of how many salmon suffer from “pre-spawn mortality.”

Goehring presented the findings from the most recent Community Salmon Investigation to residents on Wednesday, March 7. 

This year, volunteers counted 179 live fish, 75 coho, 74 chum and 30 that volunteers were unable to identify. 

“It’s not the worst year we’ve had, but no where what we saw in 2011 or 2012,” Goehring said. 

The peak year for coho was in 2012, when they numbered 432. The year before was the best count for chum at 508. 

Goehring said that in 2017, pre-spawn mortality was higher than seen in previous studies. The numbered totaled 78 percent for both creeks. The eight-year average is 67 percent.

“These are pretty alarming figures,” Goehring said. “It came down for a couple of years but spiked back up.” 

He explained that it is rare to see a living fish with the symptoms of pre-spawn mortality. Volunteers usually spot about one per year

“Fish die right in front of them in about 10 minutes,” Goehring said. “They’re struggling, gaping for air. It’s really depressing to see.”

Volunteers look for carcasses of female salmon and dissect them to see if they spawned before dying. 

The results of the investigation are of critical, Goehring explained. 

“Salmon really are that keystone species,” he said. “They rely on clean, cold water. It gives you a picture of the health of the watershed and the long-term trends.” Salmon are the canary in the coalmine, giving scientists an idea of the health of the watershed in general. 

Goehring explained that the habitat has been in danger as Seattle continues to become more urbanized. 

As pavement, parking lots and concrete stretch throughout the city, a smaller quantity of water is able to soak into soil or evaporate naturally. 

“There’s less and less infiltration into the soil, resulting in greater and greater run-off,” Goehring said. “This really changed the flow of our streams overtime.”

Elevated water flows in the streams results in erosion and flooding, he added. 

“What you don’t see are the various chemicals and pollutants stormwater picks up on the way to the stream,” Goehring said. “It’s important to remember all drains lead to the fish habitat. Whatever goes into storm drains goes directly to the creek.”

He explained that Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Port of Seattle and King County teamed up for this stewardship program in 2006. 

“This isn’t just a Miller Walker problem, this is a regional problem,” Goehring said. “How are we going to clean up storm water, protect what we have and begin to improve the habitat?” 

He explained that highways and traffic have been identified as a main cause for the high death rates of the fish. 

Emerging science is analyzing urban road runoff, looking for the chemicals from automobiles, including antifreeze, oil, wiper fluid, power steering oil and tire dust, to determine what is most responsible for pre-spawn mortality. 

“It’s kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack,” Goehring said. 

In the runoff, scientists have identified almost 2,000 unique chemical compounds, he added. When they then look at the dead fish, they see about 36 of the same compounds in their gills and 92 compounds in the liver. 

A pilot study has shown that coho are especially sensitive to tire dust, Goehring said. Mary Eidmann, Burien’s stormwater outreach specialist, said that area residents can help by increasing the amount of water that is naturally filtered at their homes, instead of running off into drains. 

She recommends building rain gardens and following guidelines for low impact developments. 

Eidmann said a regional program “Don’t Drip and Drive” encourages drivers to fix leaks in the cars, which helps prevent oil from running off into the storm drains. 

Eidmann also asks residents to try organic and natural gardening practices – and refrain from using pesticides and fertilizers. She added that cars should not be washed in the driveway. 

“It’s really important,” Eidmann said. “It can be overwhelming and feel like you can’t make a difference. But if you’re not trying to help, you’re actually part of the problem.”

She encourages residents to lead by example. “People will see you doing it, and they’ll pick up on it,” she said. “If we can inspire one person to stop using fertilizer, it can have a huge impact.”

Goehring hopes residents will consider volunteering with the stewardship program. One upcoming event is planned at Miller Creek Park in Burien on Saturday, March 31. Another will be held at Walker Preserve Normandy Park on Saturday, April 28. 

Goehring said that helping to remove invasive species along the creek and taking time to do whatever possible to prevent pollutants from running off into the waterways can make a difference. 

“It’s all a connected watershed,” he said. “The things you do in your yard flow into the creek and eventually into Puget Sound.”

For more information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/environment/watersheds/central-puget-sound/miller-walker-creeks/salmon-monitoring.aspx. 

For more information about Burien’s stormwater outreach efforts, visit www.burienwa.gov/waterschool.