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Posts by David Gowing:

October 17, 2023

Are hatchery origin salmon weaker?

There are those who are concerned that hatchery-produced salmon are ‘weaker’ than ‘wild’ fish. Technically this is statement is true, but it is a very small part of the story. Let’s examine some facts.

In a wild river situation, one can expect about 5% of eggs successfully laid to produce smolt that make it to the salt water. In a hatchery setting (protecting the eggs, protecting, and feeding the fry until release as smolt) this figure typically exceeds 85%. Yes, this results in the ‘survival of the mediocre’, resulting in adults that are slightly less fecund (produce perhaps 10% fewer eggs).

But bear in mind another fact: 80% of salmon caught in Washington State are of hatchery origin. If hatchery production was to stop, can we trust the prevailing economic, cultural and ecological pressures to preserve that last 20% of ‘wild’ fish? Hatcheries serve a vital role to meet tribal, commercial, and recreational harvest opportunities and commitments.

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October 12, 2023

Become a FISH member today!

This fall is a perfect time to re-up your Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) membership. Your subscription:

1. Supports for educational programs and workshops, on salmon conservation and habitat restoration.
2. Opportunities to participate in hands-on activities like fish tagging and monitoring.
3. Network with like-minded individuals passionate about preserving salmon populations.
4. Provides early access to the FISHop Gift Shop.
5. Get Invited to member-only events, such as guided insider tours and salmon release ceremonies.
6. Receive regular updates on hatchery happenings, latest research and advancements in local salmon conservation.
7. Volunteer opportunities to contribute to the hatchery’s efforts in raising and releasing healthy salmon.
8. Provides access to limited release merchandise
9. Grants satisfaction of knowing you are actively contributing to the preservation of a vital species.
10. Supports a sense of community and belonging among fellow members who share a common interest in salmon conservation.

https://www.issaquahfish.org/become-a-fish-member/

October 12, 2023

The 80% ???

The 80% Stories
There is a remarkable recurrence of a particular portion in our shared field of interest: 80%. There are many sources for this data, and some might take umbrage at my rounding off their data, but for the sake of argument:

1) 80% of the Southern Resident Orca population diet consists of Chinook (Lynda Mapes would agree with me)
2) 80% of salmon caught in Washington waters are of hatchery origin (proud WDFW statistic)
3) 80% of salmon caught off BC and SE Alaska are reared in Washington and point South (Kurt Beardslee would find this figure low)

Where does that lead a logical person to consider recovering the 8 threatened Chinook runs originating in the Puget Sound?

October 2, 2023

Spawning Season is here!

Happenings at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery

Great time to visit the hatchery! The hatchery is in peak season with 100s of chinook and coho in the stream and 1000s in the holding ponds! Last week 895,000 eggs were taken, 4,000 chinook were trapped and 426 spawned. Thirteen were sent upstream!

The hatchery has a self guided tour as well as an audio tour in five languages. Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is looking for volunteers to help with spawning, since we will have about 4-5 times the normal number of fish. Email: volunteer@issaquahfish.org. The FiSHOP gift shop is open on weekends, make sure to get your keepsakes, gifts and salmon souvenirs. The shop features native and local artisan work, and outdoor gear. Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) is always looking for partners, groups and corporations for riparian restoration projects along our shoreline. Email: execdir@issaquahfish.org with inquiries. Can’t make it to the hatchery in person? Check out the FISH salmon cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPbieO8Go4w

Become a FISH member today and support the educational and outreach programs at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery:

Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery Annual Membership in Issaquah , WA – PlaceFull

The Issaquah Hatchery fish ladder is now open and Chinnock are making their way up and into the spawning ponds. The salmon can be seen up close through the viewing windows.

September 25, 2023

Fin Clipping Trailer

Per Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife policy, all hatchery-origin Chinook and coho are marked by the removal of the adipose fin. That marking activity is going on right now at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery! Monica is in charge of this brand-new automated facility, which can mark (clip the adipose) and/or tag (insert a coded wire tag in the snout) over 40,000 fry per day. They are electronically measured for length, and routed to the appropriate-sized clipper for an exact fit. The quick and exact process makes a ‘bad clip’ very rare. These fish are not anesthetized, and routed quickly back to their rearing pond. Only about 1% cannot be handled automatically, and have to be lightly anesthetized so they can be tagged by hand.

The Issaquah Hatchery fish ladder is now open and Chinnock are making their way up and into the spawning ponds. The salmon can be seen up close through the viewing windows.

September 20, 2023

Live Salmon Cam Feed!

Smile for the Camera: http://Keep the Salmon Coming Home (issaquahfish.org)

The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, built in 1937 and operated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, has long been the most visited hatchery in Washington State. The hatchery raises both Chinook and coho salmon, which are released at a young age to spend the majority of their lives in nature. The hatchery is open 365 days of the the year to visitors. Not everyone has the ability to visit the hatchery to view the return of the adults of these magnificent salmon each fall during their spawning migration. SalmonCam is the solution to this problem; live streaming is now available of adult salmon attempting to jump the weir.

Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) thanks the King County Flood Control District, the Watershed Resource Inventory Area 8 (WRIA 8, which encompasses the Cedar River, Issaquah Creek, and Bear Creek), and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Watchable Wildlife program for the grants that make this service available. FISH also extends gratitude to volunteer Larry Franks who was instrumental in starting the Salmon Cam and consistently maintains it for our viewing pleasure.

The Issaquah Hatchery fish ladder is now open and Chinnock are making their way up and into the spawning ponds. The salmon can be seen up close through the viewing windows.

September 13, 2023

Salmon Seeson is here! Where to watch them

The Salmon are Coming! The Salmon are Coming!

Salmon Seeson is here! Where to view them in King County (other than our hatchery)

Goto this link: here for a list of salmon viewing areas

This annual pilgrimage is a testament to the resilience of Chinook salmon, a species that faces numerous obstacles in its life cycle. From the moment they hatch from tiny eggs to their transformation into smolts, Chinook salmon face predators, changing ocean conditions, and human-induced challenges.

The Issaquah Hatchery fish ladder is now open and Chinnock are making their way up and into the spawning ponds. The salmon can be seen up close through the viewing windows.

September 8, 2023

Fish Ladder is Open: The Salmon are Coming!

The Salmon are Coming! The Salmon are Coming!

The FISH ladder at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is now running.

In the heart of nature’s grand cycle, over 20,000 adult Chinook salmon are making an inspiring return to the Issaquah Hatchery, marking a resounding success in conservation efforts. These amazing fish, embark on a remarkable journey, navigating the challenges of the open ocean to return to the very place of their birth—the hatchery. Not all of the salmon counted will make it to the hatchery, some are destined for other streams, but the majority will return.

This annual pilgrimage is a testament to the resilience of Chinook salmon, a species that faces numerous obstacles in its life cycle. From the moment they hatch from tiny eggs to their transformation into smolts, Chinook salmon face predators, changing ocean conditions, and human-induced challenges.

The return of adult Chinook salmon to the hatchery is a pivotal moment in the circle of life. It offers a unique opportunity for the public to view upclose this magnificent species. Moreover, it highlights the critical role that hatcheries play in salmon conservation. These facilities serve as sanctuaries for nurturing salmon populations, ensuring that these majestic fish have a fighting chance against the myriad of threats they face in the wild.

The Issaquah Hatchery fish ladder is now open and Chinnock are making their way up and into the spawning ponds. The salmon can be seen up close through the viewing windows.

August 25, 2023

6PPD – What is it? And Why Does FISH Care?!?

6PPD – What is it, and Why Does FISH Care?!?

The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (ISH) is lucky in that the returning salmon are counted as they exit the saltwater at the Ballard Locks. However, many of the coho and chinook do not survive the mere 45 miles of freshwater passage to the ISH. For the last 20 years or so, those losses were referred to as “Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome”. In December 2020 a more detailed understanding of this loss was identified in Science magazine: a nasty component of stormwater runoff, a complex chemical referred to as 6PPD-quinone. It turns out that this compound is created by the UV breakdown of an additive to virtually all car and truck tires, and carried into our salmon streams by rainwater. It is incredibly toxic to coho salmon in particular: a fraction of a teaspoon of this in an Olympic-sized pool will kill coho in a matter of hours. There are two strategies evolving to mitigate this hazard: campaigns at the State and Federal level to get this additive out of tires, and improvements in stormwater treatment to remove the 6PPD-q before it kills our favorite fish. The City of Issaquah is very active on the mitigation side, testing various filtering strategies. If you want to help protect coho, please let your elected representatives know you care, and ask them to take action!

Submitted by Larry Franks

August 23, 2023

High Counts of Chinook at Ballard Locks!

As Issaquah experiences it’s first rains of late Summer we at Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) are patiently awaiting the first adult Chinook to appear in the Issaquah Creek. Meanwhile, the Ballard Locks fish ladder has been experiencing the migration in full force. The https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/counts/lake-washington#chinook has seen over 5,000 (up to August 15) Chinook pass through the locks on route to the Issaquah Hatchery, which is shaping up to be an above average count for the past decade.

August 22, 2023

The FISHOP Gift Store reopens this Fall!

The FISHOP “Gift Store” is now open for the Season

Start your holiday and momento shopping early! In August, the FISH Gift Shop returns every weekend through October! The shop features both local and native artist salmon-themed, souvenirs, gifts, gear and treasures. With over 350 items, there is something for everyone including plushies for kids, hats and shirts, mugs and kitchen wear. Stop by Weekends Friday 4pm-dusk, Saturdays and Sundays 10am-6pm.

The FISHOP Gift Store reopens this Fall!

August 15, 2023

2023 Guided Hatchery Tours

2023 Group Tours Now Open!

We are delighted to be able to hold guided tours again this fall starting the week of September 5th and going until November 11th — two whole months of touring! Feel free to drop by for a self-guided tour, or to visit some of the displays and salmon fry that live at the hatchery year-round!

We are currently not scheduling family or weekend tours for groups smaller than 7, but we do have donation-based walk-up tours on the weekends at 11am & 1pm starting the weekend of Labor Day in September. If your group is larger than 7, please contact us at least 2 weeks before your desired tour date to schedule.

School tours use the Sign Up link at the bottom of this page.

Tours are $5 per person*

Here’s to a great year full of cool, flowing water, eggs, alevins, frys, fingerlings, smolts and returning adults! Keep ’em coming home!

*Some financial assistance available. Contact FISH for more details.

Tour Sign-Up Links

General Public and Family Tours - CONTACT US

School Tours - Sign Up Page

School Tours: Please call 425-392-1118 or email education@issaquahfish.org for access code