FOLLOWUP: Fauntleroy Creek salmon-watch season concludes. Here’s how many showed up

(Salmon eggs after a predator gnawed at a spawner’s carcass)

Story by Judy Pickens
Photos/video by Tom Trulin
Special to West Seattle Blog

The 19 coho spawners that came into Fauntleroy Creek the past two weeks lured a record number of volunteers (27) to document them, as well as 262 visitors and students to the spawning reach.

The action began on October 13 with the Fauntleroy Watershed Council‘s annual drumming to call in spawners. They waited several days in Fauntleroy Cove for sufficient rain to freshen creek water – a sign that it would provide suitable habitat for the next generation.

(The last spawner came through the culvert under Fauntleroy Way on Nov. 5)

The first arrived in the spawning reach on Nov. 1 and the last showed up on Nov. 5. This year’s total compares to 34 in 2023 and a near-record 254 in 2022.

“Such fluctuations are typical for this small creek,” said veteran watcher Dennis Hinton. “Having just 19 in a short spawning reach means everyone could find a good spot to leave their fertilized eggs.”

Volunteers began preparing for spawning season in late September when Mark Sears led a work party to relocate drift logs on the beach so spawners would have easy access to the creek mouth. Once watchers saw them in the cove, he checked daily to make sure they could get in at high tide.

(Bridge School students brought questions about habitat and spawner behavior)

A cadre of veteran watchers was on hand to welcome 154 visitors during a Nov. 3 “open creek,” as well as when students and staff came from the Bridge School in White Center and Chief Sealth International High School.

Next up: Tiny fry will emerge from their protective blanket of gravel in about 4 months to start feeding in the lower creek.

6 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Fauntleroy Creek salmon-watch season concludes. Here's how many showed up"

  • Just Curious November 12, 2024 (2:16 pm)

    How far up this creek do spawners usually swim before they deposit their eggs?  What is the farthest a salmon has gone up the creek since volunteers have been keeping track?

  • Amanda November 12, 2024 (3:19 pm)

    Thanks for hosting our Bridge School students, volunteers! It was such a neat real-world experience.

  • Judy November 12, 2024 (3:59 pm)

    Spawners have gone as far up as 45th Ave. SW, where a culvert prevents them from going any farther.  Seattle Public Utilities is working on a fish-passable replacement.  Search the WS Blog for relevant coverage.

  • Julie Norris November 12, 2024 (9:55 pm)

    I emailed Fauntleroy Watershed Council several days ago indicating my interest in volunteering.  So far, no response.  If you have a name and phone number of someone associated with this organization, please let me know.  Thanks

  • Judy P. November 13, 2024 (7:29 am)

    I’m sorry our website didn’t get you to my computer.  Please try again using the “info” link.  If that fails, call 206-938-4203,

  • Philip Patten November 13, 2024 (4:26 pm)

    Stealing water from salmon? Seattle storm drains supposedly empty into creeks. Is this true for the Fauntleroy creek watershed? Downspout runoff is not supposed to go into the sewer system. But from many older homes it does.  Downspout runoff not into the sewer system eventually makes its way to creeks. What percentage of homes in the Fauntleroy Creek watershed have downspouts that still go into the sewer system? stealing water from salmon? If all local downspout water went to ground, how much larger would Fauntleroy creek be? ~Philip

Sorry, comment time is over.