December 2, 2024 — Marin biologists say an early abundance of salmon returning to nesting grounds in local creeks is signaling that this year’s spawning season could be one for the record books.
“We saw more chinook salmon in a single day than we’ve ever seen before,” said Eric Ettlinger, aquatic ecologist for the Marin Municipal Water District. Ettlinger and his team monitor activity at the county’s main salmon stronghold at Lagunitas Creek.
As of Tuesday, biologists had already discovered 169 live adult chinook salmon in the creek and its tributaries, breaking a previous record of 134 in a single season. There were also 60 chinook redds, or nests, also surpassing the previous record of 49 in a season. The salmon are listed as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act.
What’s more, the team observed 37 adults of the endangered coho salmon, and six of their redds. Chum salmon, which are rare for Marin, are also spawning: Five adults and two redds were discovered.
Read the full story at the Marin Independent Journal