What is a typical survey like?
Surveys typically last 3-4 hours depending on the number of fish. Volunteers are broken into a “live team” and a “processing team” and are then assigned a role depending on their preference: processor, data recorder or visitor liaison. Processors are near or in the stream locating fish and taking measurements. Data recorders remain on the banks of the stream helping to spot fish and recording measurements into a digital data form. Volunteers are loaned the proper attire for their role, which may include waders, gloves, small blades for cutting open fish, measuring tape, and poles for helping gather fish and keep steady balance through the mucky parts of the stream. Even though it can be rigorous (and smelly!) work, volunteers get a unique experience while getting to share their passion with the community.
How do we determine spawning success?
Spawning success can only be confirmed in deceased fish. In order to determine spawning success volunteers cut into the belly of each dead fish to examine the gonads. A fully successful spawning is determined by the absence of salmon eggs or empty milt sacs in the carcass belly; this indicates that the salmon have deposited all of their eggs or milt into redds. A partially successful spawning is identified when some eggs (100+) or milt remain in the salmon. A salmon that still appears to have all of its approximately 3,000 eggs or has full milt sacs did not successfully spawn.
What do we do with the carcasses?
After recording data we return carcasses to roughly where we found them. Because we cut the bellies of the fish we can also identify in future surveys which ones have already been processed. Live and dead salmon are an important food source for many of the park’s creatures, such as coyotes, raccoons, and birds. Through defecation and decomposition, the nutrients from the salmon bodies are absorbed back into the soil and support our park’s flora as well.
What data is recorded?
Metrics include length/width, status, sex, species, distance/GPS coordinates, predation, and spawning success
Is Chum the only species of salmon at Piper’s Creek?
Chum are the only species of salmon that we raise in our imprint pond and release into Piper’s Creek to begin their journey to sea and back again. Chum tend to be less susceptible to common pollutants found in Piper’s Creek so their likelihood of successful spawning is higher than for other species. However, surveyors will occasionally find Coho salmon in the streams as well. These Coho salmon are known as “strays”; this is a natural phenomenon in which salmon veer from their home course to explore new territories for spawning, with the benefit of diversifying the gene pool of local salmon populations. Volunteers discern the difference between Chum and Coho based on size, color, body shape, and distinctive markings.
Do you have to be a salmon expert to become a volunteer?
Nope! We welcome volunteers of diverse backgrounds and experiences who are dedicated to donating their time and energy to the survey program. All of our volunteers receive training to learn about salmon runs, the Carkeek Park ecosystem and stewardship projects, and the hand-on tasks of the survey. Newer volunteers are paired with experienced volunteers to support them in experiential learning.
