Volunteers are needed to help “outplant” coho salmon eggs on Saturday, Jan. 22nd, beginning at 9am at the Miller Creek Plant of the Southwest Suburban Sewer District, located in Burien.

“Each year, Trout Unlimited volunteers raise coho salmon eggs during December-January,” said Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Steward. “At the end of the incubation phase in the hatchery, the eggs have turned into salmon fry and are ready to be outplanted in streams in southwest King County, including Miller and Walker Creeks.”

The annual outplant, which takes about an hour, is a fun educational and volunteer opportunity for people of all ages. The outplanting consists of swiftly transporting the fry in coolers or buckets to various locations across the basins and gently introducing the fish to their new home. To see just what the outplanting operation looks like, view:

• January 23, 2010 outplant story and photos
• January 17, 2009 outplant story and photos
• January 19, 2008 outplant story and photos

Basin Steward Dennis Clark gently pours the coho fry into Miller Creek in Normandy Park. Helping Dennis was Marion Yoshino, Normandy Park City Council member, perched on the rocks behind the ice chest. Photo courtesy King County.

Begun in the 1980s, the purpose of the Trout Unlimited hatchery outplanting project is to compensate for the presumed low survival rate of natural-spawning coho in the streams. Due to low adult coho returns and high storm flows caused by extensive impervious surfaces, it is thought that there are fewer fry than the streams can support. Unlike most hatchery operations, this program introduces the fry to the streams as soon as they have “buttoned-up” or absorbed their yolk sacks. The fry are not fed or raised in raceways before being released. This early-release approach means the fry are subject to the same evolutionary pressures as the natural-origin fish in the system. These pressures range from the natural – the frequently-seen great blue herons – to the unnatural – polluted stormwater and extreme flows. Life is hard for small fry and most will not survive to migrate to the ocean. For a very lucky few salmon, though, the outplant marks the start of what will be an epic life journey.

Here are the event details:

WHAT: Trout Unlimited Coho Salmon Outplant.

WHEN: Saturday, Jan 22nd beginning at 9am.

WHERE: Meet at the Miller Creek Plant of the Southwest Suburban Sewer District, located at 1015 SW 174th Street. Enter on the northern entrance:

• West on SW 160th from First Ave South.
• Left onto Sylvester Road SW (first light).
• Left onto 8th Ave SW.
• Follow signs to the sewer plant.
• Hatchery is at the southern end of the complex.
• Parking is limited, so you may need to park at the office (small lot by the flagpole) and walk south along the concrete path by the stream.
• Drive carefully through the complex as there will be a lot of vehicular traffic on Saturday.
• When driving in, note the stream revegetation “test plot” I’m working on with the Sewer District and volunteers.

INFO: Dennis will be at the hatchery at 8:30am to conduct water quality sampling. Parents are welcome to bring their kids early to watch.

Given the growing level of interest in the outplant event, most volunteers will outplant only to one location so the task probably won’t take more than an hour.

What to wear and bring:

• Warm, weatherproof clothing – even if it’s not raining, the water can splash around from coolers/buckets
• Gloves that can get wet
• Knee-high rubber boots or sturdy shoes/boots – both with good tread – you’ll need to get down the edge of streams to get the fish into the water
• CLEAN, WELL-RINSED COOLER that you don’t mind getting in mud

If you have additional questions, please contact Russ at rwelker@q.com or John at psmuramatsu@earthlink.net.

Trout Unlimited volunteers Russ and John transfer the young coho salmon from a tray into an ice chest. A battery-powered pump oxygenates the water during the time it takes to drive the fish to the stream where they will be outplanted. January 19, 2008. Photo courtesy King County.

This annual visible reminder that there are juvenile fish in the streams underscores how important it is to be good stewards of the land that drains into the streams. The waters of Puget Sound start in our yards, streets, and businesses before flowing untreated into Miller, Walker, and many other streams. You can help increase the survival rates for these little fish and improve Puget Sound by taking simple actions – and encouraging your friends and neighbors to join you:

• Scooping the poop
• Practicing natural lawn care: minimizing use of pesticides and fertilizers
• Fixing oil leaks in your car
• Washing your car at a commercial car wash or washing your car on the grass to soap/detergent out of storm drains
• Lots of other tips !

For more information, please contact Dennis Clark at 206-296-1909.