Since 2015, Puget Soundkeeper has recruited and trained volunteers to conduct salmon surveys on Longfellow Creek in West Seattle. The purpose of these surveys is to track the number of returning Coho salmon spawning in the creek. Unfortunately, some of these salmon are dying prematurely due to stormwater runoff and the toxins it picks up. This is called urban runoff mortality syndrome (also known as prespawn mortality syndrome). Salmon experiencing this syndrome tend to lose equilibrium, show signs of difficult breathing, and die within a few hours. This fall, Puget Soundkeeper and 18 volunteers surveyed at Longfellow Creek every day starting mid-October into December.
Check out our 2020 salmon monitoring report here!
Contact Kristin at Kristin@pugetsoundkeeper.org for more information.