It is September and the rains have arrived. In Washington, that means the salmon are heading up the rivers and streams. Some creeks that have not had salmon in years are being blessed with returning fish. The most significant is the Chamber Creek, Steilacoom Lake, Flett Ctreek, Ponce De Leon, and Clover Creek area in University Place and Lakewood.
Al Schmauder, long time creek conservationist finally convinced the Department of Fish and Wildlife to put some salmon over the Chambers Dam last year. This year they have also sent about 1900+ fish over the dam instead of stopping them at the hatchery. That means you are seeing those Chinook (King) salmon laying eggs at Kobayashi Park and those redds are being watched over by adult fish until they expire. Yes, that means there will be dead fish as well. Leave them be. You do not get to fish for them. The stream is closed to fishing.
Here is a message from Al.
Hi all,
Today, Thurs, 24 Sep, I saw about 25 of the 2,000 Chinook now spawning in Chambers Creek. Some fish were digging a nest in the gravel; others were waiting to fertilize eggs or defend their nest. I saw a small cloud of white milt from a male as he fertilized some eggs. This was a first for me and a rare site.
I parked at Kobayashi Park and took the video of salmon where Flett Creek flows into Chambers. In Flett Cr. about 400 feet upstream from the mouth, there was a redd with 3 immature Chinook guarding the redd.
Between the mouth of Flett Cr. and a point about 1,000 feet past the bridge over the creek, I saw about 15 redds. Also saw 5 dead salmon.
There was a father and daughter trying to catch a salmon at Kobayashi Park. He did not know the creek was closed to salmon fishing.
The Puyallup Tribe plans to have a biologist walk the stream between Lake Steilacoom and the dam to count the number of redds. Last year the biologist counted at least 88 redds.
You can likely see live salmon in the stream for another 2-3 weeks.
Al
And congratulations to all those who worked to make this happen again! And thank you to Al for his long years of determination.
Now we need to get a message out to the people living along Steilacoom Lake that their lakeside habitat matters. Let’s start a campaign to get those shorelines fish compatible.
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I grew up about 100 yards from where Stillicome lake spilled into Chambers creek. There were so many salmon in those days. They were fun to watch as they jumped the 4 to 5 feet up and through the gates to the lake. There were thousands of them in the 50’s
We live on Ponce de Leon creek that feeds into Lake Steilacoom and I have NEVER seen these giant guys spawning up here. Adult salmon (I assume Chinook?) chilling on the creek and eventually dying is amazing to see. We would love some advice on how to support them. Our section of the creek is inundated with watercress and that orange flowering plant currently and we usually go in and clear it out when it gets “bad”. What is the official doctrine for creek maintenance? Leave it alone to grow everywhere or keep cleaning it out a couple times a year?!
Yes, they are Chinook. I will ask the Executive Board of the watershed if they have suggestions for you.
Chinook spawning in Ponce de Leon Creek is happening because Chinook salmon are now allowed to pass around the dam at Chambers Bay and enter Chambers Creek. Also, because the stream flow from Steilacoom is adequate to permit salmon to use the fish ladder to enter the lake from Chambers Creek. Salmon have not been able to reach Ponce de Leon for at least 30 years.
I don’t know about an official doctrine for creek maintenance.
I would not do anything to maintain Ponce de Leon until the adults die and the salmon eggs hatch in 3 months and depart the stream.
Watercress is a perennial and can block access to spawning salmon. Patches of watercress are helpful to keep the water cool and trap sediment. Hopefully the Chinook salmon will return every year about early Sept. I would remove about 75 percent of this plant in August before the salmon arrive. You can eat it during the summer.
The orange blooming plant is probably Jewelweed, an annual that will die when it frosts. You can remove it when you remove the watercress.
Ben, you are a lucky person to experience the spawning salmon.
Please take photos of the salmon and record details such as: arrival dates, were they spawn, are there smaller and bigger fish, (Jacks and mature adults), when do they die, do you see any animals or eagles eating the carcuses.
Photos will help confirm the type of fish. Get close-up shots.
Share your photos with Al Schmauder, (al_schmauder@hotmail.com) (253-202-2486) and others. This is exciting news for others along Ponce de Leon Cr. to learn about. Marianne may talk to you and publish an article for more people to read.
We also want to know if Chinook entered Clover Creek. Can you help us here?
Kurt Reidinger, is a former WDFW biologist, who may have some useful advice.
Al Schmauder
Thank you for all of your info back! Yes we are feeling pretty lucky to have such a front row seat. We’ll continue to take pictures/video and share to whoever wants them. The carcus that was there yesterday is gone so it was probably eaten by some lucky animal. We have seen more eagles lately and a heron regularly stops by but idk who took it. Just a few minutes ago I saw 4-5 more big guys swimming upstream. We went kayaking yesterday to look at the mouth of Clover Creek but didn’t stay long, it looked a lot more shallow that Ponce and didn’t see any activity while there. I’ll contact Al today.
I’m on Ponce de Leon creek just a little ways upstream from the lake. For about a week I’ve seen numerous LARGE salmon swimming upstream. I’ve posted videos and pictures on my FB