Monitoring
Monitoring is an essential element of salmon habitat restoration. At SFEG, our monitoring programs help guide management decisions and inform our decisions with science. Each project site presents a unique set of challenges and monitoring throughout the lifespan of the project allows for real-time adjustments to reach our ecological goals.
SFEG Monitoring programs are in need of financial support. Due to state and federal funding cuts, we are seeking funds to help keep our monitoring programs alive. You can help us reach this goal by donating or becoming a corporate sponsor.
Spawner Surveys
Spawner Surveys
Each fall, SFEG volunteers, staff, and interns walk designated stream reaches to count salmon returning to restoration sites — tracking one of the most visible signs of a healthy river system.
How It Works
Survey sites are walked every 7–10 days throughout the peak spawning season (approximately October through January). At each visit, surveyors record live fish, carcasses, and redds (nests) by species. To ensure accurate counts across visits, caudal fins are removed from carcasses and every redd is flagged to prevent disturbance and double counting.
2025-26 season Stats:
- 27 survey reaches, across two watersheds (Samish & Skagit)
- ~40 volunteers
- 955 volunteer hrs
- ~2,300 salmon observed spawning
Vegetation Monitoring
Vegetation Monitoring
SFEG staff and volunteers track the growth, survival, and ground cover changes at riparian planting sites — building a clear picture of how restoration projects perform over time.
What Volunteers Do
Volunteers establish plots at new sites or revisit existing ones, recording the health, height, and species of every tree and shrub within each plot. They also document species composition across ground cover, canopy, and understory layers.
Why It Matters
The data collected through this program helps measure project effectiveness and gives SFEG staff valuable feedback on planting techniques, species selection, and maintenance needs.
Intern Opportunities
Each summer, two vegetation monitoring interns lead this data collection effort. It’s a hands-on opportunity to build real-world skills, including:
- Native and non-native plant identification
- GPS use and field data collection
- Data entry and management
- Collaborating with project managers to improve future riparian plantings
Juvenile Fish Monitoring
Juvenile Fish Monitoring
Unlike our annual vegetation and spawner surveys, juvenile fish monitoring is project-based — conducted based on the specific needs of each site rather than on a fixed schedule.
What We Do
Using techniques like net seining, our teams temporarily capture and release juvenile fish — including Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead trout. Monitoring runs from as early as February through late June, with each site visited approximately every ten days.
Get Involved
Volunteers are a vital part of this program! You can help with fish capture, identification, and release. To find out when the next Juvenile Fish Monitoring project is taking place, contact us.
eDNA Monitoring
DNA Monitoring
What if you could detect a fish’s presence in a stream without ever seeing one? Environmental DNA — or eDNA — makes that possible.
What Is eDNA?
eDNA is genetic material released by organisms into their surrounding environment, detectable in water, air, or soil. Collecting and analyzing water samples allows us to identify which species are present at a site — even when they’re rarely seen.
How We Use It
SFEG’s eDNA monitoring program was developed in direct collaboration with SRSC, aligning our sampling locations with gaps in their existing dataset. This coordinated approach helps build a more complete picture of species distribution across our shared watersheds.
Each sample is initially tested for 10 target species, including Pacific salmon, trout, and others. All samples are archived at the RMRS lab for up to 10 years — meaning they can be re-analyzed for newly identified species as detection methods evolve.
Why It Matters
eDNA is especially valuable for confirming the presence of species that are difficult to detect through traditional surveys — including ESA-listed species where accurate documentation is critical.
Get Involved
We are actively seeking volunteers, particularly from local universities, to support this growing program. Contact us to learn more about opportunities.
