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

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 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.

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

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. 

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.

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔸𝕣𝕖 𝕎𝕖 𝔻𝕠𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔸𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕀𝕥?

Bottom line: we can reduce this predation by reducing the light pollution, especially along shorelines. Based on research by David Beauchamp, Roger Tabor (USGS and UW-SAFS) and others, funded in part by actions taken by our very own Representative Bill Ramos, an turned into action plans by the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council, Kokanee Work Group, Trout Unlimited, the City of Issaquah and FISH, plans are coming together. An information package has been developed and shared with shoreline owners, outlining the problem and remedies (shaded lights, use of timers, etc.). Councilmember Hunt with the City of Issaquah has put together a model ordinance reducing light pollution that other cities can put to use as well. Further research has identified ‘hot spots’, as it is impossible to limit the light pollution everywhere instantly. If you would like more information on this critical effort to turn science into more fish, please contact FISH.