salmon spawning: Come See the Spawning Salmon in Olympia/Tumwater
- 09/25/13 05:02 AM
If the rain outside my office window wasn't enough of a reminder that fall is here, the arrival of the spawning salmon would do it. (And actually seeing the salmon is a lot more fun than looking at the rain....) The first good viewing place to see the salmon is from the bridge at 4th Ave downtown Olympia where you may get to see the big fish gathering and milling around as they make their way in from the saltwater of Budd Inlet to acclimate & transition across fresh water Capitol Lake and then up the Deschutes River. You are very … (16 comments)
Tumwater Falls Park is one of my favorite places to go this time of year, since the salmon coming up the Deschutes River to spawn can be viewed up close (close enough to get splashed!). Once the salmon make their journey in thru Budd Inlet, across Capitol Lake, and up the Deschutes River with its fish ladders for a little assist, they are brought into big tanks. The salmon are counted and eggs are harvested - and those splashing, jumping fish give an up close & personal look at this amazing life cycle.
I've been noticing the "See Salmon Here" signs for several days as I travel near or across the 5th Ave bridge in downtown Olympia, so figured it was time to stop and...well, see the salmon! One of my favorite things each fall is being able to see the salmon as they migrate in from Budd Inlet, across Capitol Lake, and up the Deschutes River to spawn.
After peering into the water and the fish ladder for a while, wondering if I was seeing shadows or fish shapes, I chatted with the Stream Team volunteer who was there … (7 comments)
salmon spawning: Tumwater Falls Park & Some Splish Splashing Salmon
- 10/04/10 08:08 AM
Tumwater Falls Park, Tumwater WA, this time of year is a really special place to visit - the path along the river is always beautiful and the waterfall itself is too. But this time of year you get the added excitement of seeing the salmon that have come up the Deschutes river to spawn.
It always just boggles my mind that salmon can do this - what a long trek they make from ocean, up through Capitol Lake, then up the Deschutes River.
The fish ladders assist them up the river - but jumping up the steps of … (2 comments)
Yesterday was a beautiful day to be down at Olympia WA's waterfront! The salmon are coming back to spawn again, and they are entertaining the onlookers at the 4th Ave. bridge in downtown Olympia WA. Right now, many salmon are visible swirling through the dark waters in groups of a dozen or so per group. There are some areas of shallower waters where you can see their shapes clearly, and other areas where all that is visible is the disturbance in the water as they glide and turn. A few little splashes as one jumps a bit and everyone turns … (5 comments)
If the rain outside my office window wasn't enough of a reminder that fall is here, the arrival of the spawning salmon would do it. (And actually seeing the salmon is a lot more fun than looking at the rain....)
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