volunteer appreciation - spawning surveys recap

Spawning Surveys: Thanks for 5 successful years!

Katie Songer, JCWC Restoration Project Manager

A little history…

2010 – 3 salmon spotted in upper watershed*

* …but not officially documented

4 reaches surveyed;1 carcass found!

Fall 2011 - Pilot survey

2012 – Annual survey program launched

2 female carcasses found in the upper watershed

2013 – 3 live spawners in the upper watershed…

…And 3 carcasses!

…And 3 carcasses!

Crystal Springs Restoration(2012-2014)

2014 – many sightings in Crystal Springs, including 11 in a single weekend!

…And 4 carcasses;1 in upper watershed

Several years of valuable (and hopeful!) data

Year

# Carcasses # Live

Notes

2010

3 0 Upper Watershed

2011

1 female 0 Upper Watershed

2012

2 female 2 Upper Watershed & Luther Rd

2013

2 fem, 1 male 2-3 Upper Watershed

2014

2 fem, 1 male, 1 unknown

12 Upper Watershed & Crystal Springs (many)

2015

? ≥ 6 Crystal Springs (so far)

Several years of valuable (and hopeful!) data

Year

# Carcasses # Live

Notes

2010

3 0 Upper Watershed

2011

1 female 0 Upper Watershed

2012

2 female 2 Upper Watershed & Luther Rd

2013

2 fem, 1 male 2-3 Upper Watershed

2014

2 fem, 1 male, 1 unknown

12 Upper Watershed & Crystal Springs (many)

2015

? ≥ 6 Crystal Springs (so far)

How will we use this?

The Volunteer Experience

A dynamic system…

~Tony O’Hare, Luther Rd, 10/30/2015

A dynamic system…

~Tony O’Hare, Luther Rd, 10/31/2015

“Pay close attention when you make it to the beaver dam, as the area deepens abruptly…There is a small user path at the face of the dam that you can use to observe the amazing structure from above.”

“We finished the survey with a sense of accomplishment, as zero data is still valuable data.”

~Jack Sutherland, Lower Kelley Creek, 10/17/2015

~Mark Fitzimmons, SE Palmblad/252nd, 11/7/2015

“We came across some 8-12 beaver dams or other obstacles, including one that is about 4 feet high. The many pools formed have quiet and dark water.”

“Going around a dam we flushed a frog once.”

~Russ Stoll, Palmblad/SE 252nd Ave, 10/19/2015

“We had a great time.”

~Mark Fitzimmons, Kelley Creek, 10/31/2015

“The creek flow was swift with adequate flow for fish to pass the full length. The water was turbid from silt washed in during the night’s heavy rain.”

~Mark Fitzimmons, Kelley Creek, 10/31/2015

“It was a beautiful day. We saw no signs of salmon but got to talk to a long time resident who has the creek running in his back yard. He told us of past times where salmon ran through the creek.”~Erin, Crystal Springs, 10/30/2015

~Jim Koloszar, Ambleside Dam, 11/23/2015

“The creek appeared discolored from leaf tannin and there were large pools of cedar needles covering the surface in many areas…One of my pictures is of a deer I startled.”~Steve Bennett, Ambleside Dam/Fish Passage, 10/18/2015

~Kyza White, Crystal Springs, 11/14/2015

“This was a very exciting survey day for us because we had four salmon spottings. There were two locations where we saw two salmon at each spot within crystal springs. Each time, we observed a redd first and noticed the salmon next to it afterwards.”~Kyza White, Crystal Springs, 11/14/2015

Thank you!