Saturday, January 15, 2005
By SPAWN Naturalist Candace Hale.
Once again, fear that the season was over and our last Creek Walks would consist of pointing to spots where salmon had been proved groundless; we saw lots of live fish as well as carcasses. Most of the salmon we saw were females, spending their last days defending their redds (nests) before dying, and we were able to observe them at differing levels of energy and exhaustion. We also saw carcasses in very different stages, some so fresh that they looked much like the tiredest of the live fish, some partly eaten in the streambed, and one eaten all the way down to the base of its tail, so that nothing but the waving white fan of the tail remained!
We were also lucky enough to see one still-active male court a fairly fresh female. After fifteen minutes of him swimming by her side, she returned with him to the redd, back from the deeper pool where he had found her, and the pair engaged in spawning activity under our fascinated eyes. Once again, a wonderful day on the creek!
If you missed us for the Creek Walks this year, you can still come out and help with restoration of the watershed (activities begin soon!) and with juvenile fish rescue later this summer, both of which are great ways to get to know the watershed and the animals that live within it. And don't forget - every drop of water after March 1, 2005, is money in the bank for juvenile salmon hatching out, so keep thinking RAIN for late spring.
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Saturday, January 8, 2005
By SPAWN Naturalist Candace Hale.
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Despite fears the season was coming to an end and thus our Creek Walk would be short on live fish, we had a wonderful day, with views of wild coho in almost all phases of their spawning cycle. Although many appeared to be coming to the end of their lives, we saw plenty of salmon soap opera - females fighting other females off their redds (nests); males jockeying for position with each other as well as swimming up to, over and around females who had not yet laid all their eggs; and the ever-exciting efforts of jacks (precocious two year males) to dash in and contribute their genetic material to the spawning , despite the best efforts of the full-grown males to prevent them. We also saw at least seven carcasses. There were active spawners in Larsen Creek (above the San Geronimo Cultural Center) as well as in the Lagunitas Creek stretch above the Leo Cronin Viewing area. This next weekend (Jan. 15 and 16) is the last for a SPAWN tour this season. Given the activity this past week, there should still be fish to see.
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Sunday January 2, 2005
By SPAWN Naturalist Candace Hale.
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The last five days of salmon viewing have been spectacular: the wild coho that roared up the streams following the long-awaited post-Christmas rains have been busily spawning, females digging nests and bright red males muscling each other out of the way, wrestling and biting to be the first one up to fertilize the eggs.
Hundreds of coho salmon were waiting in downstream pools during the three dry weeks before these last rains. The combination of the best coho year we've had in the 10 years the Water District has been performing counts and the bunching of incoming fish caused by the dry/dry/dry/dry/WET weather pattern has given us streams crowded with salmon, making for very exciting viewing.
The intensity of activity is diminishing now, as spawning is completed and female fish take up the defense of their redds (nests) that will continue until their deaths, 3 to 24 days after spawning is completed. Males die 9 days after spawning, so they too are growing weaker.
The Leo Cronin viewing area to Peter's Dam is still an excellent place to see salmon, redds, and now, carcasses. We've also seen the first steelhead of the season.
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Tuesday December 28th, 2004
By Paola Bouley (SPAWN Watershed Biologist)
In just two days, we received another 5 to 8 inches of rain in the watershed. Creeks are running very high and strong. On Monday, the National Weather Service issued a small urban stream flood advisory, although since that time, the waters have somewhat subsided. More storms and heavy rain are expected later this week.
Salmon once again can be seen leaping through the falls at the Inkwells and at Roy's Pools. We also observed lampreys tenaciously clinging to the rocks at the Inkwells. A beautiful sight!
To view salmon strutting their stuff (swimming and spawning), the stretch of creek between the Leo Cronin viewing area and Peter's Dam (below Kent Lake) are once again great areas to view these magnificent fish. Be cautious out there, and happy viewing!
For directions to fish-viewing sites you can click to download our Where to See Salmon brochure.
You can also join our naturalist-led salmon viewing tours, reservations required. Please click Upcoming Events for more information or call 415.488.0370 ×101 (note: call x102 from Dec.27-30) to make reservations.
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Wednesday December 22nd, 2004
Happy Winter Solstice!
By Paola Bouley.
Four species of salmon have now been observed in Lagunitas Creek Watershed:
Coho, Chinook, Chum, and Steelhead!
The first week of December brought over 6 inches of rain in the watershed. Coho and Chinook were seen leaping through the falls at both the Inkwells below Shafter Bridge and at Roy's Pools. Since then, spawning activity has continued throughout the watershed. Rapid decreases in water levels have been observed in San Geronimo Creek, so once again fish are holding in deeper pools awaiting more rain in the upper reaches. See photos below.
The best place to view spawning activity is still at the Leo Cronin viewing area next to Shafter Bridge on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Remember to respect the salmon and their surrounding habitat! Avoid making loud noises and keep your distance. Prevent sediment erosion by staying on official trails.
For directions to fish-viewing sites you can click to download our Where to See Salmon brochure. You can also join our naturalist-led salmon viewing tours, reservations required. Please click Upcoming Events for more information or call 415.488.0370 ×101 (note: call x102 from Dec.27-30) to make reservations.
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Friday December 10th, 2004
By Paola Bouley
We received over 6 inches of rain just this past week! The salmon migration has been spectacular and salmon can still be seen jumping through the Inkwells below Shafter Bridge, and also at Roy's Pools. The best location to view salmon is from the new pedestrian bridge adjacent to Shafter Bridge. You can also view spawning from the trail between Shafter Bridge and Peter's Dam.
Remember to respect the salmon and their surrounding habitat! Avoid making loud noises and keep your distance. Prevent sediment erosion by staying on official trails.
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Tuesday, December 7th 2004
Last night we received 2.9 inches of rain in the San Geronimo Valley. As a result of this significant rainfall, salmon are now making their way into San Geronimo Creek. You can view salmon from Shafter Bridge as they dramatically leap through the pools below you at the Inkwells.
Going West on Sr Francis Drake Blv, Shafter bridge is the large bridge on your right side ~1 mile past the town of Lagunitas. There is room to park across the road at the Leo Cronin Viewing area. When you arrive at Leo Cronin peek into Lagunitas Creek from the parking lot and you will see splendid coho redds (or gravel nests) in the creek below. American Dippers can also be seen on Lagunitas Creek around the area of the bridge. River otters have also been observed in this area.
Please approach the creek with care and avoid entering the creek at all costs. Happy viewing!