Chum Salmon Release in Woodland Creek – March 2023
On a sunny Saturday, 150 wriggling salmon fry made their way into Woodland Creek with the help of a host of human small fry and their handlers, thanks to the efforts of the volunteers from South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group (SPSSEG).
Led by Megan Brady and Lance Winecka of SPSSEG, the kids released the young salmon, raised to about 2 inches in length, into the cool creek under the watchful eyes of parents and supporters.
Chum salmon are native to Woodland Creek and many small tributaries of Puget Sound. They survive in tributaries that may have low of water flow during some times of the year which is a survival benefit over other species of salmon such as Chinook and Coho the which require flowing water at all times. They typically live in the lower rivers, and return anywhere from August to March for spawning, after which they die and provide nutrients to the streambeds.
Woodland Creek flows into Henderson Inlet where the smolts will forage until migration to the ocean. Unlike Chinook and Coho salmon, they do not spend significant time in the creek, Survivors would typically return to the creek after 4 years, but could stay in the ocean until 7 years.