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 highly polluted run-off containing 6PPD-quinone, a chemical from tires. 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 volunteers surveyed at Longfellow Creek every day starting mid-October into December.
Check out our 2021 salmon monitoring report here!
Contact Gillian@pugetsoundkeeper.org for more information.