FOLLOWUP: 33 'CSI:Highline' Volunteers report latest salmon findings

A coho in spawning colors in the stream. Photo by Erik McDonald.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_106957" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Volunteers searching for spawning salmon in Miller Creek. Photo by Elissa Ostergaard.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_106956" align="aligncenter" width="490"] A volunteer measures a dead salmon as part of Community Salmon Investigation for Highline. Photo by Elissa Ostergaard.[/caption] A dedicated group of 33 Community Salmon Investigation (CSI) Volunteers has been out in all kinds of weather, counting live and dead fish in Miller and Walker Creeks since early October. The latest report is good – chum are still coming in to spawn in good numbers. Here is the tally so far, courtesy Miller-Walker Basin Steward Elissa Ostergaard:

• Total live fish seen – 223:
• 94 live coho
• 80 live chum
• 49 live unidentified adult salmon
• 60 coho carcasses counted, 11 pre-spawn mortalities
• 24 chum carcasses found
• 9 redds

“The surveys will continue daily until it has been at least 7 days since the last live fish was seen,” Elissa said. “Most years, surveys continue until almost Christmas, but sometimes they continue into January. After we tally the results, we will do some data quality assurance checking, then calculate escapement estimates – the estimated spawning population of coho and chum. You will also be invited to hear about the results in person this spring, time and place to be determined.” For more info: http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/watersheds/central-puget-sound/miller-walker-creeks.aspx “Thanks to all the volunteers – stay warm out there!”  ]]>