Coho carcass found on Woodward Creek, Nov 2009. Photo by Dick Engle.
Salmon Monitoring
Project Overview:
The Salmon Monitoring Program, begun in 2005, is a joint effort of the Bainbridge Island Watershed Council, the City of Bainbridge Island, the Suquamish Tribe, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Volunteers monitor streams on a weekly basis between October and January, recording information on live fish and carcasses, redds (where salmon lay their eggs), and stream habitats. The information we collect helps us understand which streams and habitats are used by salmon on Bainbridge Island, which is critical information for helping us to protect and restore our streams for salmon and for the variety of wildlife that benefits from these important fish.
2011 Monitoring: click here to read more about 2011 monitoring underway!
2009 and 2010 Monitoring
Four teams surveyed Springbrook, Manzanita, Cooper and Woodward Creeks in 2009 and 2010. The October-November rains have yielded high flows and we are starting to see salmon moving into the streams; adult spawners and/or their nests, or redds, have been spotted in all four streams! Above is a great pic one of our volunteers, Dick Engle, took of a coho carcass found this November on Woodward Creek, which runs behind Sakai middle school and empties into Murden Cove.
2007 Results
2007 marked the 3rd year of our annual salmon monitoring program that is a collaborative effort of the Watershed Council, the City, the Suquamish Tribe, and WDFW. Twenty-three participants gave generously of their time to monitor the following seven streams on a weekly basis for returning and resident salmonids (terminal bay/estuary of the stream is given in parentheses):
^ redds observed
Several teams were fortunate to see returning adult coho salmon and/or resident cutthroat trout. Teams also searched for and monitored status of redds (the nests salmon make where they deposit their eggs to overwinter). This monitoring program continues to provide us with valuable information such as what streams salmon are using, where spawning occurs, and keeps us on the streams monitoring changes and looking for opportunities for protection and restoration.
To inquire about participating in '10 monitoring which starts in October with required volunteer training in late September, please contact Deb Rudnick, drudnick@biwatershedcouncil.org.
The Salmon Monitoring Program, begun in 2005, is a joint effort of the Bainbridge Island Watershed Council, the City of Bainbridge Island, the Suquamish Tribe, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Volunteers monitor streams on a weekly basis between October and January, recording information on live fish and carcasses, redds (where salmon lay their eggs), and stream habitats. The information we collect helps us understand which streams and habitats are used by salmon on Bainbridge Island, which is critical information for helping us to protect and restore our streams for salmon and for the variety of wildlife that benefits from these important fish.
2011 Monitoring: click here to read more about 2011 monitoring underway!
2009 and 2010 Monitoring
Four teams surveyed Springbrook, Manzanita, Cooper and Woodward Creeks in 2009 and 2010. The October-November rains have yielded high flows and we are starting to see salmon moving into the streams; adult spawners and/or their nests, or redds, have been spotted in all four streams! Above is a great pic one of our volunteers, Dick Engle, took of a coho carcass found this November on Woodward Creek, which runs behind Sakai middle school and empties into Murden Cove.
2007 Results
2007 marked the 3rd year of our annual salmon monitoring program that is a collaborative effort of the Watershed Council, the City, the Suquamish Tribe, and WDFW. Twenty-three participants gave generously of their time to monitor the following seven streams on a weekly basis for returning and resident salmonids (terminal bay/estuary of the stream is given in parentheses):
- Cooper Creek (Eagle Harbor)*
- Springridge Creek (Fletcher Bay)* ^
- Issei Creek (Fletcher Bay)*
- Woodward Creek (Manitou Bay)* ^
- Manzanita Creek (Manzanita Bay)*
- Mac’s Dam Creek (Blakely Harbor)
- Winslow Ravine (Eagle Harbor)
^ redds observed
Several teams were fortunate to see returning adult coho salmon and/or resident cutthroat trout. Teams also searched for and monitored status of redds (the nests salmon make where they deposit their eggs to overwinter). This monitoring program continues to provide us with valuable information such as what streams salmon are using, where spawning occurs, and keeps us on the streams monitoring changes and looking for opportunities for protection and restoration.
To inquire about participating in '10 monitoring which starts in October with required volunteer training in late September, please contact Deb Rudnick, drudnick@biwatershedcouncil.org.
