b'Busy in the Creeks: How Community Volunteers are Tracking Salmon Activity in Miller and Walker CreeksE ach fall, the Communityspotted at least six coho resting inindustrious neighbor has been Salmon Investigation (CSI)a pond near Lower Walker Creek.hard at work engineering deeper brings neighbors to theThe cooler temperatures have beenpools and slowing the flow. waters edge to welcome home oneinviting for salmon, even if theBeavers are a surprising boost to of our regions most iconic species.shallow water keeps them fromsalmon habitat. Their dams create Volunteers trained through thepushing farther upstream. Adultsrefuge during low water periods Miller-Walker Basin Stewardshipwait in deeper pools and underand protect developing eggs by Program survey Miller and Walkercutbanks, conserving energy untilreducing erosion.Creeks, counting salmon as theyrain arrives to provide the flow theyThat is the balance CSI volunteers return from the ocean to spawn.need for travel and spawning. document each week. They observe Their observations help biologistsWeek 3 brought even biggerwhere fish gather, where they track the health of these urbannumbers. More than 32 coho werestruggle, and where they succeed. creeks and guide restoration effortscounted over the weekend, andEvery note they take helps improve designed to support thrivingvolunteers found the first confirmedthe creeks we all care about.salmon runs. redd of the season just below the This years season openedfootbridge. A female coho was hardHow You Can Helpunder sunny skies and mildat work there, digging the gravelYou do not need waders or a clip-days. A lovely start to Octobernest where she will lay her eggs. board to support salmon. You can:for humans, though not idealThat raises a natural questionStay on designated trails near for fish. Streams were runningfor anyone walking the trail. Withstreams to avoid disturbing fish low, waiting on the rain neededso many salmon in the pond, whyand redds.to raise water levels and signalare they not heading farther intoKeep pets leashed and out of salmon to move upstream.the creeks? Part of the answer isthe creeks.Evidence of activity showedsimple biology. There are currentlyReduce yard runoff by covering up early in Week 1 when eggsmore males than females in Lowerbare soil and keeping drains were found along the bank nearWalker. Until more females moveclear of debris.a beaver dam, right below theupstream to release eggs, malesReport muddy water or favorite perch of a local bald eagle.tend to circle, waiting for a reasonpollution entering the creeks or The cycle is already in motion. to advance. They follow the scent ofstorm drains.By Week 2, the excitementspawning femalesMiller and Walker Creeks flow grew. Surveyorslike a signal thatthrough our community, and their their energyfuture depends on what we do at will be wellhome and in our neighborhoods. spent. CSI is proof that when volunteers The othershow up, we learn more, protect reason is water.more, and celebrate more. With a Without stronglittle rain and a lot of local care, rainfall, shallowthese salmon will finish their stream sections can feelremarkable journey, and we will all too risky for fish to navigate.have a reason to cheer.High tides help lift salmon intoIf you would like to get involved the mouth of the creeks, but lowerin volunteer surveys or learn more tides quickly drain that temporaryabout local salmon recovery, the advantage. In this years early dryMiller-Walker Basin Stewardship spell, many fish are wisely choosingteam would love to welcome you.to pause. For more information on ways to Luckily, salmon are not aloneget involved, contact: jmedrow@in shaping these creeks. A certainnormandyparkwa.gov.20 Normandy Park City SceneWinter 2026'