These past few months, I got the opportunity to participate in weekly creek walks to measure numbers of spawning salmon. We identified species and recorded the individuals and their redds from each species in our assigned creek. We also were collecting data on the effect of the tire runoff pollutant 6PPD-quinone on pre-spawn mortality (PSM) in salmon. The excitement of seeing the first salmon of the season was indescribable.
Sophia’s survey partner Rebecca’s reaction to seeing her first salmon
On Mud Creek, we primarily saw kokanee and coho salmon. I highly recommend this program to anyone who has an extra hour or two a week to spare in the fall/winter. This experience taught me the beauty of salmon, there is something special about contributing to the knowledge of spawning salmon in the PNW and knowing that the data collected will be used to restore salmon habitat and populations.
Sophia measuring water temperature on a survey
Overall, we identified over 60 salmon individuals this 2024 spawning season on Mudd Creek alone. Most were kokanee, although some coho were present. It was interesting to see how some fish were physically very impacted by their journey from sea to spawning in the creek. As seen in the third photo, female salmon’s tails may be destroyed after making their redds. For anyone hoping to get some experience collecting data in the field or just want to see some salmon and contribute to their restoration, this program is excellent, and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
A lone Kokanee spotted in Mud Creek
A female kokanee carcass on Mud Creek
Monitoring Spawning Salmon on Mud Creek by Sophia Schafer
Blog, From the FieldThese past few months, I got the opportunity to participate in weekly creek walks to measure numbers of spawning salmon. We identified species and recorded the individuals and their redds from each species in our assigned creek. We also were collecting data on the effect of the tire runoff pollutant 6PPD-quinone on pre-spawn mortality (PSM) in salmon. The excitement of seeing the first salmon of the season was indescribable.
Sophia’s survey partner Rebecca’s reaction to seeing her first salmon
On Mud Creek, we primarily saw kokanee and coho salmon. I highly recommend this program to anyone who has an extra hour or two a week to spare in the fall/winter. This experience taught me the beauty of salmon, there is something special about contributing to the knowledge of spawning salmon in the PNW and knowing that the data collected will be used to restore salmon habitat and populations.
Sophia measuring water temperature on a survey
Overall, we identified over 60 salmon individuals this 2024 spawning season on Mudd Creek alone. Most were kokanee, although some coho were present. It was interesting to see how some fish were physically very impacted by their journey from sea to spawning in the creek. As seen in the third photo, female salmon’s tails may be destroyed after making their redds. For anyone hoping to get some experience collecting data in the field or just want to see some salmon and contribute to their restoration, this program is excellent, and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
A lone Kokanee spotted in Mud Creek
A female kokanee carcass on Mud Creek
2026 Annual Meeting
Upcoming EventsHelp us celebrate salmon habitat restoration in the Skagit!
Join us on MARCH 5th, 2026 for our Annual Meeting at the Sedro-Woolley Community Center. We will be celebrating habitat restoration wins of 2025 with a salmon barbecue, volunteer awards, board member elections, a raffle fundraiser, and a presentation about the year in review and what’s coming up in 2026.
Restoration Ecologist Yuki Reiss will speak about our new eDNA monitoring program, kicking off this year. We hope you can join us!
REGISTER HERE
Earth Day Planting Party Saturday, April 25, 2026
Upcoming Events, Work PartyCome celebrate our planet with hands-on activities, fascinating wildlife, and a chance to make a difference in our community.
Join Skagit Fisheries and Mount Vernon Parks and Enrichment Services for a fun and meaningful Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 25th at Edgewater Park! Hosted in partnership with Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation and the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, this event is all about giving back to nature and connecting with our local environment.
As part of our work party 9am-noon we’ll plant some trees, remove invasive English ivy.
At our Earth Day Fair 9am-1pm learn what local resource agencies and organizations are doing to help Mother Earth.
We hope you can join us!
Register HERE
This event is made possible thanks to generous support from HF Sinclair and MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions