SMOLT MONITORING UNDER WAY

Volunteers are monitoring traps twice daily in the upper and lower creek to document how many coho smolts leave for nearshore habitat, where they will gain size before venturing farther out for their two years in saltwater.

How many survive their year in the creek is an indication of water quality as well as the amount of food available here.  Last year, 30 smolts from student releases and natural spawning made the journey.  Volunteers are also counting the number of weak fry that wash into a trap.

With any luck, some students coming for 22 releases in May will get to see a smolt or two.  Monitoring will continue until no more fish have been caught for at least a week (the end of April last year).  

The photo is of Diana Spence checking a trap.