It’s almost the season to see salmon! Watchers wanted for this year’s Fauntleroy Creek count

| Fauntleroy | How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Spawning pair, photographed in 2021 by Tom Trulin)

This year’s Fauntleroy Creek salmon watch is set to start on October 13, reports creek steward Judy Pickens, adding that they’d appreciate some additional volunteer watchers:

More than a dozen volunteers are on deck to document spawning season in Fauntleroy Creek but a few more would be welcome. Last year, watchers came out in the cold and wet to count 34 coho spawners.

The watch will start Sunday, October 13, and go into mid-November, depending on the fish. Watchers take half-hour shifts at the fish ladder in the lower creek (across from the ferry terminal). A veteran watcher will train. Email your interest by September 27 to info@fauntleroywatershed.org.

October 13 is also the day of the annual all-ages drumming to call in spawners. Barring serious rain, this free event will start at 4:00 pm near the fish ladder. Find details HERE.

Though watchers only saw 34 spawners last year, in both 2021 and 2022, they counted more than 200.

DC September 20, 2024 (3:01 pm)

Is there ever a count of spawners in Longfellow Creek? I heard Longfellow can also have salmon, but never heard how many.

WSB September 20, 2024 (3:11 pm)

There are various research efforts but that creek is way too long and complexly routed to have the same kind of count.
Former Watcher September 20, 2024 (6:08 pm)

A few years back I volunteered to count salmon in Longfellow. I think with Puget Soundkeepers? This was a year or two before Covid. There were a few groups of 4-5 people who went on different days. We would don boots and/or waders and walk upstream from the dragonfly park. My group never spotted any, but I believe others saw a few. Neat autumn activity for crisp Saturday mornings. Met some nice folks. One guy always brought a bag to collect golf balls.

Judy P. September 20, 2024 (5:54 pm)

Another significant factor for Longfellow is the impact of the chemical that causes pre-spawn mortality – with salmon die before spawning. Spawners have a long route to suitable habitat and pick up quite a chemical load en route.

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