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1 person is interested
Salmon Monitoring at Longfellow Creek, West Seattle
ORGANIZATION: Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Please visit the new page to apply.
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1 person is interested
Puget Soundkeeper is searching for dedicated volunteers to survey the coho salmon that return to Longfellow Creek in West Seattle.
During the salmon run each fall, a population of coho salmon enters the Duwamish River from Elliott Bay, and then swims up Longfellow Creek to spawn. As coho migrate through urbanized waterways like Longfellow, they encounter a chemical cocktail of toxic runoff from roadways and other paved surfaces. These chemicals severely disorient adult coho and result in "pre-spawn mortality" in many individuals, meaning the salmon die before reproducing. Previous surveys conducted by the City of Seattle and NOAA on Longfellow Creek have found pre-spawn mortality rates of up to 90% amongst females, an alarmingly high statistic. Examining the number of salmon that return to Longfellow Creek every year and documenting the pre-spawn mortality rate are great indicators of the health of our local waterways. Data gathered from these surveys shared with NOAA, the City of Seattle, Department of Fish and Wildlife and King County.
Volunteers will attend an orientation meeting on Wednesday, October 10th from 6:30-8:30pm at Chaco Canyon Organic Café in West Seattle (3770 SW Alaska St, Seattle, WA 98126).
Requirements:
- The nature of this work is geared toward adults only.
- Surveying is a weekly commitment that takes approximately 1 hour to complete. The salmon run begins in mid-October and finishes mid-December, during which there will be a survey every day. Volunteers will be divided into teams of 2-3 people and assigned a weekday to conduct their survey.
- We’re looking for adventurous volunteers! Surveying requires handling fish carcasses found in the creek (with gloves) and dissecting the female salmon to check for eggs.
- Volunteers should be in good physical condition. Surveying in Longfellow Creek requires climbing up and down steep muddy embankments and wading through shallow water on uneven terrain.
- Surveying is conducted in varying weather conditions. If conditions are dangerous (e.g. a downpour), we will cancel on that day. Otherwise, we survey rain or shine.
- Volunteers will be provided with surveying kits and waders (unless you have your own pair). Data collected during the survey will be uploaded by the volunteers into Puget Soundkeeper’s database.
Salmon surveys are a great way to observe one of nature’s most amazing migrations and experience scientific field work. The data we collect from these surveys help us understand the effects of toxic runoff on one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic species and determine the best methods to protect them in the future!
Please register using the link http://www.pugetsoundkeeper.org/th_event/salmon-monitoring-longfellow-creek-west-seattle/
Contact morgan@pugetsoundkeeper.org with additional questions.
More opportunities with Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Location:
5305 Shilshole Ave NW Suite 150, Seattle, WA 98107, US
Mission Statement
To serve as stewards for the protection and enhancement of Puget Sound through education, advocacy, monitoring, and celebration.
Description
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance (PSA) is a small non-profit dedicated to protecting and enhancing the waters of Puget Sound. Founded in 1984, PSA is the Sound's oldest marine conservation organization and the ONLY organization/agency (governmental or private) routinely on the water patrolling for illegal discharges of pollutants. The Soundkeeper is PSA's on-the-water advocate, helping to enforce compliance with water quality laws through regular patrols and responses to tips from our pollution hotline (1-800-42PUGET). PSA also forms partnerships with industries and trade associations to help businesses reduce pollution and comply with water quality regulations. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance is a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe3770 SW Alaska St.Seattle, WA 98126
DATE POSTED
October 5, 2018
SKILLS
- Research
- Environmental Education
- Environmental Science
GOOD FOR
N/A
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be at least 18
- Orientation or Training