Salmon SEEson is here again – your chance to spot returning salmon across King County

Fall is nearly here, and that means that salmon populations around the Puget Sound have begun to make the journey to area streams and rivers to spawn.

Over the next several months, there will be many salmon-watching opportunities available around the Lake Washington/Cedar/ Sammamish Watershed. So far this summer, more than 161,000 sockeye and 8,000 chinook have been counted moving through the Ballard Locks and into the watershed.

Sockeye, chum, coho and chinook salmon can be seen at parks and other locations at events sponsored by a variety of partners around the watershed. In many cases, naturalists are available to help visitors spot the fish and learn about the salmon’s lifecycle.

For more information on any of all of the sites listed below, visit www.kingcounty.gov/salmon  and click on Salmon SEEson, or call 206-296-8016. You’ll also find great links there to learn how you can protect salmon and their habitat this fall – and year-round.

This program is sponsored by the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council as part of its effort to recover salmon in the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed.

See salmon on these dates at these locations:

Best viewing through September (free tours/talks twice daily)
Chittenden Locks in Ballard
For more info: 206-783-7059 or search web for “Chittenden Locks”
Sponsored by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Sept. 18, from 9 to noon and Oct. 2, from 9 a.m.  to noon
Along the Sammamish River Trail south of 85th St. Bridge, Redmond
For more info: 425-556-2822 or pholte@redmond.gov
Sponsored by the City of Redmond

Oct. 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Issaquah Salmon Hatchery on Issaquah Creek, 125 W. Sunset Way, Issaquah
For more info: 425-392-8025 or www.issaquahfish.org
Sponsored by Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH)

Late September to mid-November; daily during business hours*
Bear Creek in Redmond, 12526 Avondale Rd NE. (behind Classic Nursery)
For more info: Linda at 425-882-1846 or lyhussey@comcast.net
Sponsored by ROSE (Redmond Organization of Shared Environments)

Throughout October*
Mercer Slough fish ladder on Kelsey Creek in Bellevue
Call or e-mail first: 425-452-5200 or streamteam@bellevuewa.gov
Sponsored by City of Bellevue

Oct. 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day)
Five locations along the Cedar River near Renton
For more info: 206-245-0143 or www.cedarriver.org
Sponsored by Friends of the Cedar River Watershed

Weekends from Nov. 13 to Dec. 11 and Nov. 26 with special activities, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day
Piper’s Creek in Seattle’s Carkeek Park
For more info: 206-684-0877 or www.seattle.gov/parks/environment/carkeek.htm
Sponsored by City of Seattle

*self-guided

Related information

Salmon SEEson

Salmon and trout topics

King County Water and Land Resources