Due to public health concerns, Skagit Fisheries will be cancelling all volunteer events in March of 2020.
Help plant with us for our final planting at Riverfront Park! Saturday, March 14th, we’ll be planting native plants in Riverfront Park. Come out and help to restore salmon habitat with us.
Tools, gloves, and snacks will be provided!
Please RSVP here, or email outreach@skagitfisheries.org for more information.
https://www.skagitfisheries.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/skagit_fisheries_logo_2022_green_edge-244x300.png00Oncorhynchushttps://www.skagitfisheries.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/skagit_fisheries_logo_2022_green_edge-244x300.pngOncorhynchus2019-11-25 09:16:212020-03-13 15:24:39Riverfront Planting Party
Come out and get your hands dirty! Saturday, March 7th, we’ll be continuing our planting efforts at Riverfront Park. We will be planting a variety of native plants throughout Riverfront Park in Sedro-Woolley.
Tools, gloves, and snacks will be provided!
To RSVP, click here or email outreach@skagitfisheries.org
https://www.skagitfisheries.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/skagit_fisheries_logo_2022_green_edge-244x300.png00Oncorhynchushttps://www.skagitfisheries.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/skagit_fisheries_logo_2022_green_edge-244x300.pngOncorhynchus2019-11-25 08:31:202019-11-25 09:17:45Riverfront Planting Party
If you don’t like to eat salmon, and you aren’t into fishing, then you might get tired of the local salmon talk. In the Pacific Northwest we certainly discuss salmon a lot, particularly during the late summer and early fall when salmon are spawning. Why do we care so much? If rivers are the veins of the Pacific Northwest then salmon are the lifeblood. Rivers and streams can be nutrient poor environments, which makes survival challenging for many local species. Thankfully, salmon come to the rescue, and provide vital nutrients to freshwater systems, sustaining local ecosystems.
Sockeye salmon swimming in Channel Creek
Here’s how it works. Salmon are born in freshwater streams and rivers, but migrate to the ocean as they grow. Most of an adult salmon’s life is spent in the ocean, where waters are teeming with abundant nutrients. This is when salmon do the bulk of their eating, transforming nutrients into body mass. As they return up the rivers to spawn salmon are packed full of nutrients, and a vital food source for many iconic northwest species. At least 137 species depend on salmon in some stage of their life. Popular salmon eaters are bears, eagles and the iconic Southern Resident Killer Whale. You might be surprised to learn that forest plants are found to be healthier and grow larger when they have access to nutrients from decomposed salmon.
Orca eating a Chinook salmonDecaying Pink Salmon
The large runs of salmon heading up the rivers to spawn do more than feed local plants and animals. They create tourism, drive local economy, inspire art, and carry spiritual significance for indigenous communities. Each year the return of the salmon is celebrated by salmon barbecues and salmon festivals which bring communities together and remind us to appreciate this unique place to live. Even if you don’t like to eat salmon you can enjoy the festive air and sense of community.
Wooden carvings by Kevin Paul and William Dan
Next time you see the Pacific Northwest celebrate salmon, consider for a moment how salmon make a lifelong journey to fuel our home, community, economy, and lives.
Riverfront Planting Party
Upcoming EventsDue to public health concerns, Skagit Fisheries will be cancelling all volunteer events in March of 2020.
Tools, gloves, and snacks will be provided!
Please RSVP here, or email outreach@skagitfisheries.org for more information.
Riverfront Planting Party
Upcoming EventsCome out and get your hands dirty! Saturday, March 7th, we’ll be continuing our planting efforts at Riverfront Park. We will be planting a variety of native plants throughout Riverfront Park in Sedro-Woolley.
Tools, gloves, and snacks will be provided!
To RSVP, click here or email outreach@skagitfisheries.org
Salmon: Who Needs ‘Em?
From the FieldIf you don’t like to eat salmon, and you aren’t into fishing, then you might get tired of the local salmon talk. In the Pacific Northwest we certainly discuss salmon a lot, particularly during the late summer and early fall when salmon are spawning. Why do we care so much?
If rivers are the veins of the Pacific Northwest then salmon are the lifeblood. Rivers and streams can be nutrient poor environments, which makes survival challenging for many local species. Thankfully, salmon come to the rescue, and provide vital nutrients to freshwater systems, sustaining local ecosystems.
Here’s how it works.
Salmon are born in freshwater streams and rivers, but migrate to the ocean as they grow. Most of an adult salmon’s life is spent in the ocean, where waters are teeming with abundant nutrients. This is when salmon do the bulk of their eating, transforming nutrients into body mass.
As they return up the rivers to spawn salmon are packed full of nutrients, and a vital food source for many iconic northwest species. At least 137 species depend on salmon in some stage of their life. Popular salmon eaters are bears, eagles and the iconic Southern Resident Killer Whale. You might be surprised to learn that forest plants are found to be healthier and grow larger when they have access to nutrients from decomposed salmon.
The large runs of salmon heading up the rivers to spawn do more than feed local plants and animals. They create tourism, drive local economy, inspire art, and carry spiritual significance for indigenous communities. Each year the return of the salmon is celebrated by salmon barbecues and salmon festivals which bring communities together and remind us to appreciate this unique place to live. Even if you don’t like to eat salmon you can enjoy the festive air and sense of community.
Next time you see the Pacific Northwest celebrate salmon, consider for a moment how salmon make a lifelong journey to fuel our home, community, economy, and lives.