Nature & Science Kokanee Salmon Festival October 1 & 2, 2011.
As the seasons of colors begins to change, a fun event takes place. Specifically in Lake Tahoe this means throughout the month of October, the Quaking Aspen trees will glow a brilliant gold and the vibrant red Kokanee Salmon will spawn in Taylor Creek at South Lake Tahoe.
To celebrate this event, the U.S. Forest Service sponsors the Kokanee Salmon Festival at the Lake Tahoe Visitor Center at Taylor Creek, 3 miles north of South Lake Tahoe on California Highway 89. On Oct. 1 and 2 bring the entire family to participate in this fun event. It has become one of the most interesting and educational events in Lake Tahoe. It's a free family event that encourages participation by children and their parents in a wide variety of educational and entertaining events. Back this year will be the Salmon Feed, half marathon, 5k, 10k, lots of children’s activities, educational programs and booths, and stream side programs.
Wild Things returns Saturday afternoon at 2 pm in the Lake of the Sky amphitheater. View our native Sierra Nevada animals on stage. These animals cannot be rehabilitated and are used for educational purposes and cared for by Wild Things, Inc. New this year is a giant 40 foot inflatable fish for children to explore. "Sammy Salmon" (the official mascot) will make appearances each day.
From 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, learn about the natural wonders of Taylor Creek from Forest Service biologists, as they stroll along the accessible, ½ mile loop Rainbow Trail. This peaceful walk meanders through forests, meadows and marsh lands to the creek where the Kokanee Salmon spawn within a few feet of your own feet. A close-up view of this natural event is available in the underground Stream Profile Chamber located along the Rainbow Trail path.
Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care will be serving a delicious barbecue salmon plate Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For $14, you can feast on a barbecue salmon steak (Pacific Ocean variety—not our native Kokanee), corn on the cob, coleslaw, roll and a beverage. Other food items will also be available for those that haven’t developed a salmon palate yet! Proceeds benefit the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care and future Kokanee Salmon Festivals. Activities
Throughout each day, children and adults alike will be greeted by "Sammy Salmon", the official mascot of the Kokanee Salmon Festival. At over 5 feet long (or tall) he's the world's largest Kokanee Salmon and the only Kokanee known to walk on his tailfins! Ice cream treat sales will entice the young and old alike. One of the most popular events at the Festival for children has been the fish painting booth where children participate in the oriental art of fish painting. Other events at the Festival will include educational booths by Project Kokanee, California Fish and Game, US Fish & Wildlife’s Lahonton Fish Hatchery, Tahoe Maritime Museum and CalTrout. Also, discover more about our local black bears from the Tahoe Council for Wild Bears, enjoy the self-guided nature tours.
On Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Lake of the Sky Amphitheater Wild Things, Inc. will present a live Wildlife Program. This free program will include live animals that may include a black bear, bald eagle, barn owl, turkey vulture, a beaver, and snakes. Because of the live animals on stage please do not bring dogs to this program. Otherwise, our dog friends are welcome most everywhere.
On Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Lake of the Sky Amphitheater will be the return of “The Drama of the Kokanee Salmon – An Interactive Play”. This popular interactive presentation includes members of the audience to help act out the Kokanee Salmon Story at Taylor Creek. From egg to death, watch young audience members portray the different stages in the Kokanee Salmon’s life cycle and its interaction with predators and scavengers.
Again this year for kids will be the “Kokanee Salmon Festival Activity Book” Book. This activity book about the life cycle of the Kokanee Salmon will be free to children, thanks to Project Kokanee and the Tahoe Heritage Foundation, on the days of the festival. The book will guide children through activities along the Rainbow Trail. When they complete the activities, they can return to the start and collect a prize.
Kokanee Trail Runs
On Sunday, Oct. 2 the Tahoe Mountain Milers and Sagebrush Stompers running clubs will present the Kokanee Trail Runs. The half marathon will start at 9:00 a.m. The children’s ½ mile “Tadpole Trot” will start at 9:15 a.m. After the kids are finished, adults (and younger runners) are invited to compete in the 5k & 10k trail runs starting at 10:00 a.m. All runs will start at the Taylor Creek Snowpark parking lot. Race day registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. Registration and early packet pickup will be available at the Camp Richardson Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 1st from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. An award ceremony will take place following the runs at Taylor Creek Snowpark parking lot.
For more information about the Kokanee Trail Runs or to get a run application call (530) 577-0700, or email: kokaneetrailruns@yahoo.com (applications are also available at the Visitor Center at Taylor Creek and the Supervisor’s Office at 35 College Drive). Visit the Tahoe Mountain Milers website at www.tahoemtnmilers.org for event information and course map. Parking at the Snowpark lot is limited and fills up quickly, runners are encouraged to park at Camp Richardson and car pool to the Snowpark parking lot, or arrange to be dropped off. Location
The Kokanee Salmon Festival is held at the U.S. Forest Service Visitor Center at Taylor Creek. The Visitor Center is is located 3 miles north of the "Y" in South Lake Tahoe. Take Highway 89 north past the Tallac Historic Site. Additional information about viewing the Kokanee Salmon can also be obtained from the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
With the popularity of the Kokanee Salmon Festival at the Lake Tahoe Visitor Center at Taylor Creek and the Octoberfest at Historic Camp Richardson Resort the parking lot at the Visitor Center fills quickly. Some free parking is available at Camp Richardson where visitors can walk back and forth between the Kokanee Salmon Festival and Octoberfest. Or visitors are encouraged to ride a bike along the bike path between Camp Richardson and the Visitor Center or take public transportation from South Lake Tahoe. Contact BlueGo/ Nifty Fifty bus service at (530) 541-7149.
Background Information the Kokanee Salmon of Lake Tahoe
The Kokanee, landlocked cousins of the sea-going Sockeye Salmon, were introduced to Lake Tahoe in 1944 by biologists working on the lake's north shore. These predecessors of today's inhabitants quickly adapted to the alpine environment, joining brown trout, rainbow trout and Mackinaw among the most prominent game fish in Lake Tahoe. However, no other species in Lake Tahoe offers such a spectacular show during their mating season.
Each autumn, nature calls mature Kokanee to return to the streams from which they were hatched, select a mate, spawn and die. As that time approaches, adult males develop a humped back and a heavy, hooked jaw, equipping them for the inevitable battles over both mates and territory, and both sexes turn from their usual silver/blue color to a brilliant red. Then, en mass, the fish make one mad dash to their mating grounds, fighting their way up the shallow stream, displaying their colors to attract a mate, then battling to protect the small patch of gravel stream bed where they make their "redds" or nests.
Along the stream banks, the autumn aspens, willows and grasses will be as brilliant as the display in the creek below. Almost as dramatic as the story of life and death being played out in the water are the colorful combinations of orange, gold and red as the vegetation prepares to shed their foliage in anticipation of winter. Throughout the Festival, Interpretive-Naturalists will be on hand to explain the forces of nature that cause these annual displays.
Whereas most Forest Service wildlife programs focus on land animals or birds, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has created a unique educational program to view the Kokanee Salmon in their natural habitat. For those that cannot make it to the Festival the Kokanee Salmon can be seen in Taylor Creek throughout the month of October.
For more information on the Kokanee Salmon Festival, contact the Lake Tahoe Visitor Center at Taylor Creek at (530) 543-2674.
Bears at Taylor Creek Visitor Center
Black Bears have been sighted regularly along Taylor Creek during the annual spawning run of the Kokanee Salmon. The U.S. Forest Service has posted "Be Bear Aware" signs along side the creek to educate the public about proper bear safety.
Comments(0)