VIDEO: Salmon arrive in West Seattle creeks

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

12:31 PM: Thanks to John McIntyre for that video of salmon in Longfellow Creek. We don’t know how many have shown up there so far this fall, as Longfellow doesn’t have a formal watching program, but we have another report from the creek that does: Fauntleroy Creek steward Judy Pickens sent word that volunteer watchers have spotted the first salmon of the season, “moving through the fish ladder into the natural channel!” Last year, watchers counted a near-record 244 fish. If you want to look for salmon, the Fauntleroy Creek fish-ladder overlook is across the street and up the embankment from the ferry dock, at SW Director and upper Fauntleroy; for Longfellow Creek, the “fishbone bridge” south of Dragonfly Pavilion (off 28th SW south of SW Yancy) is one place to look.

5:44 PM: Thanks to Kerry for sharing this in comments – video of that first arrival on the Fauntleroy fish ladder:

Judy Pickens tells us there will be an “open creek” on Saturday so you can go look for fish firsthand – we’ll have details tomorrow.

Friend O'Dinghus October 25, 2022 (12:57 pm)

I love this! I hope this year has even more returnees than last. Has anyone heard any additional information on the vehicle rubber tire additive that was reportedly found to be highly lethal to salmon? I have been waiting for more information on this from researchers, but have heard nothing more about it for a couple of years now.

26THAVE October 25, 2022 (1:29 pm)

Just checked that study to see any updates. I noticed one of the Research Scientists names is Jenifer McIntyre – John, are you related? https://www.washington.edu/news/2020/12/03/tire-related-chemical-largely-responsible-for-adult-coho-salmon-deaths-in-urban-streams/
- John October 25, 2022 (3:53 pm)
  
  Sorry not related.

Interested Neighbor October 25, 2022 (2:16 pm)

California is proposing regulations: https://dtsc.ca.gov/2022/05/23/news-release_t-07-22/

HS October 25, 2022 (3:04 pm)

Yay!!!

Nancy October 25, 2022 (3:16 pm)

There is a salmon survey at Longfellow Creek. I’m a volunteer and we spotted 2 salmon on Saturday, 10/22. We also observed that they were not able to get past the logjam on the north side of the Yancy Street bridge, so hopefully others were able to get through!

WSB October 25, 2022 (3:25 pm)

Thank you, I knew there’s some surveying there but not the kind of weeks-long/every-day setup as Fauntleroy.
- Nancy October 25, 2022 (3:29 pm)
  
  The Puget Soundkeeper survey is daily and is planned to last through the season.
  - WSB October 25, 2022 (5:43 pm)
    
    We’ll contact them for details.
    - Kersti Elisabeth Muul October 25, 2022 (8:56 pm)
      
      Surveys at Longfellow creek are for pre-spawn mortality which happens there in high numbers, as it is the most polluted creek in Seattle.
    - WSB October 26, 2022 (1:11 am)
      
      We covered those years ago:
      https://westseattleblog.com/2014/11/west-seattle-salmon-help-puget-soundkeeper-scout-and-save-longfellow-creek-salmon/
Nancy October 25, 2022 (3:28 pm)

Here’s a video of the 10/22 Longfellow Creek salmon: https://youtube.com/shorts/2V128knaiK8?feature=share

Kerry October 25, 2022 (3:48 pm)

Here’s video of this morning’s Fauntleroy Creek ladder jumper: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8PvKpcRNTvYWe’re so lucky to live here.

Friend O'Dinghus October 25, 2022 (6:11 pm)

Thank you everyone for the additional information about the additive in tire chemistry. That seems imperative to fix sooner than later. I will give it all a good read. Also, is there any group to join to help clear that logjam on Longfellow Creek @ Yancy? The video of that beautiful salmon blocked from it’s headwaters seems sad to me.

Evan Estelle October 25, 2022 (6:51 pm)

Should we be doing something about the logjam? I see no way for the salmon to pass. It was very cool watching them next year.

WSB October 25, 2022 (6:59 pm)

As we reported recently, Fauntleroy Creek volunteers cleared a logjam near the mouth of that creek. Hope the Longfellow problem is on creek stewards’ radar there.

John October 25, 2022 (7:40 pm)

In regards to the log jam, when it is raining as hard as it is now they should easily be able to clear it. They just need enough water on the low side to get a running start. Same with the beaver dam further south. Last year they made it over that too. If they took out the beaver dam it would disrupt the habitat of about twenty ducks. Sometimes we should just let nature take its course. It is pretty amazing when you think about it.

Robert J Schmidt October 26, 2022 (10:11 am)

Eloquently stated. Nature knows best. Trees have been falling over that creek for 10,000 years. It likely benefits something. Perhaps even salmon fry and fingerlings.
Friend O'Dinghus October 26, 2022 (11:00 am)

I very much appreciate that ethos John and Robert, however there are times that nature does indeed benefit from some well-timed and well-executed assistance (i.e. clearing the Fauntleroy logjam a few years back). My question is whether this is one of those cases? Cheers everyone. Happy Salmon Season!

John October 25, 2022 (8:20 pm)

Bad pic but you see what I mean.

Kersti Elisabeth Muul October 25, 2022 (9:08 pm)

FYI Puget Sound Keeper does pre-spawn mortality surveys on Coho salmon. I’ve done them several years. The mortality rate there is very high, as it is a very polluted creek.From 2021 PSK:.In 2021, PSK volunteers found that 13 out of 15 (87%) coho surveyed on Longfellow Creek died, meaning only two females successfully spawned. This percentage includes dead females (12) that were physically examined and alive coho (3) experiencing URMS symptoms. This is an increased mortality rate from 2020, when 83% died before spawning. In total, volunteers counted 90 salmon returning to Longfellow Creek in 2021, 87 of which were coho. In 2020, only 18 salmon were counted.

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