Three Rivers Trout Unlimited - October 2024 Newsletter

Written with support from Austin Elliott, Natasha Kacoroski, Dave Kyle, and Rebecca Lavier

Three Rivers Trout Unlimited Member Wayne Lamm going into Ebright Creek to assist with kokanee fry release. Photo provided by Natasha Kacoroski.

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday, November 5th, 6:00 to 8:00 PM: Three Rivers Trout Unlimited Board Meeting
  Join us for our November board meeting to learn more about chapter operations, leadership opportunities, and how to get involved. All are welcome, however, please keep in mind that this is a working meeting and not a social event. Attend in-person at the Watershed Science Center on the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (125 West Sunset Way, Issaquah WA, 98027) or virtual via this Google Meet link.

• Saturday, November 9th, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Stewardship Saturday with Trout Unlimited
  Join Trout Unlimited and Green Issaquah for Stewardship Saturday at the Anthology Open Space. This month the goal is to plant native vegetation and dig out invasive blackberry root balls in the wetland area along a section of Tibbetts Creek. Learn more and register here.

• Wednesday, November 13th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM: Three Rivers Trout Unlimited November Social
  Bring your family and friends for a chapter social at the VFW Post 2995 in Redmond (4330 148th Ave NE, Redmond, 98052). Connect with each other during the first hour and listen to a couple presentations for the next. We have a Lake Sammamish Kokanee Update by Trout Unlimited’s Lake Washington Basin Program Manager Dave Kyle, and Salmon and Searun Cutthroat Fishing by Miriam Leino and Lucas Martinez from Seattle Orvis. Food and beverages are available for purchase from the VFW Club menu.

Kokanee fry released into Ebright Creek. Photo provided by Dave Kyle.

Kokanee Fry Release Recap

As part of the supplementation program to recover the Lake Sammamish kokanee, juvenile salmon were released into Lake Sammamish directly from boats on October 17th and via Ebright Creek on October 24th. This extended rearing strategy is one of many implemented by the Kokanee Work Group 5 years ago when it was evident that the existing hatchery program was not resulting in increased returns. The idea is that raising the fish a little longer in a more protected environment helps to mitigate the mortality impacts from predators and the high temperature dissolved oxygen squeeze in the lake over the summer. Kokanee need to be close enough to the lake surface where there is enough dissolved oxygen in the water for them to breathe, but deep enough where water temperature is cold. During the summer, this sweet spot in the lake where the water is cold enough and has enough dissolved oxygen is squeezed and sometimes disappears due to hot weather.

A portion of the eggs taken for the kokanee supplementation program are hatched at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery and raised until they are sufficiently large to put in the pond on Ebright Creek. A bigger portion are reared at the hatchery as well, and then released on Lewis Creek. These fish are reared until they are approximately 1 year old and released to the wild when the lake de-stratifies and the high temperature dissolved oxygen squeeze breaks up. The fish are also much larger than fry and are less susceptible to predatory fish. All hatchery fish are thermally marked, and the extended rearing strategy has been more successful than other strategies. That being said, fish raised in the remote stream incubators are producing returns, so that remains an important strategy for increasing and recolonizing streams with a historical kokanee run. This year was a record-high release of around 12,000 fish released into Lake Sammamish with the Ebright Creek release at close to 4,000. For more information and pictures on the release, check out King County’s Kokanee salmon recovery partners release record-high number of young fish into Lake Sammamish while new research shows a potentially faster path toward stabilization article here.

Three Rivers Trout Unlimited Table at Salmon Days. Photo provided by Rebecca Lavier.

Salmon Days Recap

Salmon Days was a huge success. Over the course of 2 days, 12 volunteers from 3RTU and the community helped with set-up, talking with visitors, and cleanup. A big thanks to everyone that volunteered at our TU booth and spoke with visitors about what we're all about! We engaged many people throughout both days, and out of those, 34 signed up to learn more about volunteering, events, kokanee conservation, and watershed health. The weather was perfect, the company was great, and if you didn't make it to Salmon Days this year, we encourage you to come visit our booth next year, and consider volunteering!

Kokanee Run Participants. Photos provided by Austin Elliott.

Kokanee Run Recap

On a beautiful fall day on Saturday, Oct 12th, nearly one hundred runners and walkers came out to tackle the 5K and 10K course for the chapter’s 14th Run With the Kokanee at Lake Sammamish State Park. This event raises awareness of the Lake Sammamish Kokanee and raises funds for our chapter’s operations and  conservation programs. The top 12 finishers in  their categories took home special commemorative coffee mugs and a good time was had by participants as well as the volunteers. Sincerest thanks to our volunteer members Jennifer Klock, Scott Goddard, Kristin Wyatt, George Hankey, Denis Ransmeier, Craig Nelson, Wayne Lamm, Bruce Tyson, Laurie Gogic, and Bill Gerdts for their time and dedication. A special thank you goes out to the National Junior Honors Society of Issaquah Middle School for providing additional volunteers. The kids were a big help and we could not have done it without them. Great job everybody! 

Photos provided by Imen Elloumi-Hannachi.

Kokanee Fry Monitoring Improvements Project Update

This month we kicked off the Kokanee Fry Monitoring Improvements Project with planning and project development. University of Washington Bothell (UWB) team members came down for a site visit on Lewis Creek and to view the traps in storage at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. We also transported a trap up to the UWB campus for students to start modeling using computer aided design (CAD) software and assess existing materials with the help of creek flow and past kokanee fry trapping data.

In addition to trap work, we began building a volunteer engagement and training strategy for the 2025 season. It would be helpful to have photos of fish or volunteering from past kokanee fry monitoring seasons. If you have any to share, please send to Natasha Kacoroski at natasha@threeriverstu.org. Thanks!

In December we will also start a match crowdfunding campaign for the project. If you would like to learn more or support, please reach out to natasha@threeriverstu.org. Thanks!

Three Rivers Trout Unlimited - [Late] September 2024 Newsletter

Written with support from Dr. Jeff Jensen, Natasha Kacoroski, Dave Kyle Alix Lee-Tigner, and Jeff Norman

Chapter Awarded $9,500 to Revitalize Kokanee Fry Monitoring Program

Through Trout Unlimited’s Embrace A Stream (EAS) grant program, Three Rivers Trout Unlimited was awarded $9,500 to rebuild and grow the kokanee fry monitoring program. EAS grants match in-kind and monetary donations to support coldwater fisheries conservation work by Trout Unlimited chapters and councils. Grant projects must include both conservation and Trout Unlimited strengthening goals. The goals of the Kokanee Fry Monitoring Revitalization Project are to:

• Reduce stream bed disturbance by updating traps to fit shallower stream beds and be easier to operate.

• Provide better data to inform kokanee population models and fisheries management by updating traps to fit stream beds, launching a data collection app, and expanding volunteer training.

• Increase community engagement in Lake Sammamish kokanee conservation by increasing data communication.

• Understand the motivation of non-member volunteers that participate in the kokanee fry monitoring program to inform member and volunteer recruitment strategies by using at least two touchpoints to share information and receive feedback.

• Increase member engagement by conducting a targeted outreach of members within 15 miles of each monitoring site (approximately a 30 minute driving distance) to encourage participation.

Stay tuned because in December we will also have the opportunity to gain additional funding through a match crowdfunding campaign. If you would like to learn more or support with this project, please reach out to natasha@threeriverstu.org. Thanks!

Dr. Jeff Jensen Little Red Fish Found: New Insights on the Mysterious Snerka Salmon, photo by Natasha Kacoroski

Three Rivers Trout Unlimited Volunteers at Little Red Fish Found Talk Outreach Table, photo by Natasha Kacoroski

Kokanee Connections and Salmon Watchers on North Lake Washington

On September 24th, Three Rivers Trout Unlimited member Dr. Jeff Jensen presented his latest research on kokanee around North Lake Washington during his talk Little Red Fish Found: New Insights on the Mysterious Snerka Salmon at the Bothell McMenamins. There was a great turnout with approximately 60 people in attendance, with Trout Unlimited volunteers Rebecca Lavier and Natasha Kacoroski staffing an outreach table. In addition, Mid Sound Fisheries Community Action Plan Student, Becca Bailey, finished their project exploring how to implement kokanee fry monitoring on Swamp Creek. Read more about her journey at https://storymaps.com/stories/ba52425ea57f4b46a33683d256a18f2c. Learn more about Dr. Jeff Jensen’s work and Salmon Watchers at https://jsjensenblog.wordpress.com/north-lake-washington-salmonwatchers-home/.

Trout Unlimited volunteer Dave Kyle supporting visitor with kokanee catapult launch, photo provided by Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery

Salmon on Sunset Community Outreach and Fly Casting Fun

On September 14th, Three Rivers Trout Unlimited (3RTU) partnered with the Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH) to teach fly-casting and talk about coldwater fisheries conservation at the 3rd annual Salmon on Sunset, FISH’s community event celebrating the salmon return. The late August rains brought a strong push of Chinook in Issaquah Creek, so the salmon viewing was excellent. With approximately 7,000 visitors, it was a great event to connect people to fish through recreation and spark interest in supporting our local native fish. People of all ages were excited to learn how to fly cast, especially families with young children, and launch the kokanee catapult. Thank you to volunteer fly casting mentors from Trout Unlimited (Jeff Norman, Penny Mabie, John Wharton, Austin Elliott, Dave Kyle), and Overlake Fly Fishing Club (Bill Mokin).

Trout Unlimited volunteers teaching fly casting to visitors at Salmon on Sunset, photo provided Jeff Norman

Lake Sammamish Noxious Aquatic Weed Removal Work

To support salmon, Trout Unlimited (TU) is exploring methods to control the noxious aquatic weeds plaguing the shallows of Lake Sammamish. These aquatic weeds occupy nearly all of the nearshore area of the lake, have direct impacts on water quality, and provide essential habitat for non-native warmwater gamefish, which love to eat juvenile salmon. The theory is that if we can reduce aquatic weeds in a significant way, we can improve water quality and reduce juvenile salmon predation.

Over the last few years TU has been able to demonstrate that removal of the weeds displaced nearly all these pesky predators from treatment areas. We have been working on treatment approaches for the aquatic weeds and conducting outreach for the project. In September we spent hours observing the effects of treatments completed this summer. Aquatic weed treatment in a basin the size of Lake Sammamish will be difficult due to the invasive nature of these weeds, however, it is likely one of the most important types of habitat restoration that has yet to pursued at this scale.

James Bower (King County) measuring aquatic weed density and canopy levels in a control (non-treated) project area. The pole in his hand is 6ft in length. Photo provided by Dave Kyle.

One of our shoreline residents has been conducting aquatic weed abatement for several years, this picture captures the effect of consistent management. Photo provided by Dave Kyle.

Picture of a control area (no weed treatment) and nearly all fish observed during our surveys are not native, such as yellow perch and sunfish. Photo provided by Dave Kyle.

Volunteer with the Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership

Fall is in full swing, and so is the excitement of salmon viewing! It's a perfect time to spot these amazing fish returning to our local waterways. if you’re looking to view salmon up close, check out King County’s Salmon SEEson map to find the best spots to see these incredible fish on their journey home. Kokanee salmon will be making their migration soon, and there are TWO great opportunities for you to join a Kokanee Salmon Tour on November 2nd! Get a front-row seat to nature’s show—be sure to sign up early (check out the link below).

There are still plenty of chances to dig in and get your hands dirty! It’s planting season across the watershed, so grab your gloves and join us in planting native plants to restore habitats for salmon and other wildlife. Green Issaquah Day is coming up on October 19th, where we’ll be at Anthology Open Space in Issaquah—help us plant native species and clear out blackberries while enjoying the great outdoors!

Let’s make the most of this beautiful season together—visit the Lake Sammamish UWRP events page for tons of ways to get outside!

As promised from the August Newsletter, the salmon in the top left is a coho. 

Three Rivers Trout Unlimited - [Barely] August 2024 Newsletter

Written by Natasha Kacoroski, David Kyle, Alix Lee-Tigner, Rebecca Lavier, Dr. Jeff Jensen, and Jeff Norman

Can you spot the salmon in this photo? ...And can you identify it? :) Mystery salmon picture (to be revealed in the September newsletter) provided by Natasha Kacoroski

Salmon Watchers

Fall is almost here and the fish are swimming in. Get those polarized sunglasses out - it’s time to spot some salmon! For the fifth year in a row, Dr. Jeff Jensen - Three Rivers Trout Unlimited leader, University of Washington Bothell professor, and salmon researcher - is organizing Salmon Watchers, a community science program to collect data on adult salmon returns. Learn more about the program and how to volunteer at https://jsjensenblog.wordpress.com/north-lake-washington-salmonwatchers-home/.

Upcoming Volunteer Events and Chapter Activities

• Tuesday, September 3rd, 10 AM - 12 PM - Lake Sammamish Post-Labor Day Park Clean-up
  Help clean up Lake Sammamish State Park after the long holiday weekend! Learn more and sign up at https://www.lakesammamishrefuge.org/upcoming-events/postlabordaycleanup.

• Monday, September 9th, 6:30 PM - 9 PM - Salmon Watchers Training
  Per Dr. Jeff Jensen’s blog at https://jsjensenblog.wordpress.com/2024/08/26/august-26-updates-and-reminders/, this is the tentative date scheduled for an in-person Salmon Watchers Training, however, all salmon enthusiasts are welcome. Training is being held at the Environmental Education and Research Center in Saint Edwards Park, 14445 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore, WA 98028. To register to volunteer or stay in the loop with updates, submit the 2024 Salmon Watchers form at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/8fcb07a912bd4b85b8c823475c204e1b.

• Tuesday, September 10th, 6 PM - 8 PM - Leadership Meeting
  Interested to learn more about chapter operations and help plan activities? Come check out our leadership meeting to better understand what we do and how you can get involved. In person at the Issaquah Hatchery Watershed Science Center (125 West Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA, 98027) with a virtual option available. Members and non-members welcome. We ask that you keep in mind that this is a working meeting and not a social event. If you would like to attend, email admin@threeriverstu.org so we can get a head count and share the virtual meeting link if needed.

• Saturday, September 14th, 9 AM - 6:30 PM - Education and Outreach at Salmon on Sunset
  Help us connect the public to fishing with fly casting demos and share information about Lake Sammamish kokanee and Trout Unlimited! Learn more and sign up at https://form.jotform.com/242394337341052.

• Saturday, September 14th, 9 AM - 12 PM - DIG-A-THON Stewardship Saturday with Trout Unlimited
  Help us dig out those invasive blackberries at the Anthology Open Space in Issaquah! Learn more and sign up at https://www.lakesammamishrefuge.org/upcoming-events/digathon.

• September 17th, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM - Candidates Forum
  Formula Brewing, 1875 NW Poplar Way, Issaquah, WA 98027
  Attend as a member of the community, volunteer, or both. This event is an opportunity to listen to the environmental views of some local candidates running for elections and ask questions to see how they plan to address local environmental concerns. If you would like to volunteer to support with parking and hosting, email us at admin@threeriverstu.org.

• September 24th - Little Red Fish Found: New Insights on the Mysterious Snerka Salmon by Dr. Jeff Jensen
  Doors open at 6 PM, program starts at 7 PM
  A presentation about our little red fish, kokanee salmon, by Dr. Jeff Jensen - Three Rivers Trout Unlimited leader, University of Washington Bothell professor, and salmon researcher. To learn more and purchase tickets for the event, go to https://www.mcmenamins.com/event.aspx?id=258070. We are still working out the details, but would like to staff an outreach table about kokanee conservation and Trout Unlimited. If you would like to help, email us at admin@threeriverstu.org.

• Saturday and Sunday, October 5th and 6th 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM - Education and Outreach at Issaquah Salmon Days
  Help us talk to the public about Lake Sammamish kokanee and Trout Unlimited during the 55th Annual Salmon Days! With over 150,000 visitors, it is an incredible opportunity to connect people to coldwater fisheries conservation. Learn more and sign up at https://form.jotform.com/242403776647160.

• Saturday, October 12th, 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Run with the Kokanee
  In partnership with Northwest Trails, we are co-hosting our 13th annual Run with the Kokanee 5K and 10K! This event is not only fun, but also an important fundraiser for the chapter. If you would like to participate as a runner or walker, learn more and register at https://nwtrailruns.com/events/run-with-the-kokanee/. If you would like to volunteer, learn more and sign up at https://form.jotform.com/242438714814156.

• Tuesday, October 15th, 4 PM - 6 PM - Salmon Watch at the University of Washington Bothell
  Save the date! Salmon are storming the University of Washington Bothell with a new campus-wide salmon and sustainability event. We are still working out the details, but will be staffing an outreach table about kokanee conservation and Trout Unlimited. If you would like to help, email us at admin@threeriverstu.org.

• Thursday, October 17th - Lake Sammamish Kokanee Release
  Save the date! The annual kokanee fry release at Lake Sammamish State Park is set for Oct 17th. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we are still working out the details, but will be staffing an outreach table. If you would like to help, email us at admin@threeriverstu.org.

Barrier Assessment Team - Naches Project, Photo provided by Dean Campbell

Barrier Assessment Team - Naches River Project

From left to right, Josh Kerwood, Natasha Kacoroski (that's me!), and Peter Lehman at the outlet of our second site. Photo provided by Josh Kerwood.

By Natasha Kacoroski, Three Rivers Trout Unlimited Volunteer Leader
Over the August 24th and 25th weekend, Trout Unlimited volunteers supported the U.S. Forest Service by assessing 16 fish passage barriers in the Naches River area. Organized by Trout Unlimited Washington Council Vice Chair, Dean Campbell, volunteers came from all over the state, including 5 new individuals that completed training on Saturday.

I was also new, but luckily completed training with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) prior because I could only make it out Saturday evening. I was a little nervous driving over after a long day’s work to camp for the night and then spend the day in a remote area with people I didn’t know, however, I can honestly say that it was one of my most fun volunteer experiences. Everyone was friendly and it was cool to meet with people from different chapters around the state. I also got to connect with some Three Rivers Trout Unlimited members that I had not met yet!

Projects are often on forest roads in the middle of nowhere, which requires significant travel time, so during sign-up one of the questions asked is something along the lines of “How far are you willing to travel for a project?” I remember thinking about the question in terms of fishing. I tend to drive 2-3 hours at most to get to a good spot to catch a fish, so I probably won’t want to drive further than that to not catch a fish…

Overall, this volunteer event ticked all the boxes for me: Get to play in the woods? Check. Get to hang out with awesome people? Check. Get to collect data? Check (I’m a data nerd). Get to support fish conservation? Check. Get to fish? Possible check - dependent on location and time. Sadly, my weekend strategy devolved into throw stuff in car and go, so I didn’t bring gear, but I know other volunteers went fishing!

Hey Dean? Sign me up to drive twice as far. I’m in.

If you would like to join the Barrier Assessment Team, check out https://www.washingtontu.org/barrier-assessment-team. If you would like to learn more about WDFW fish passage training and be notified of future training opportunities, go to https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/habitat-recovery/fish-passage/training.

Hiking down to outlet. Photo provided by Peter Lehman.

Inside culvert outlet. Photo provided by Peter Lehman.

Update - Lake Sammamish Kokanee Fry Transport Success

In August, King County partners transported 193 kokanee fry to the Long Live the Kings Glenwood Springs Field Station. These little fish will be raised to provide the next generation kokanee - up to 50 thousand - to be released into Lake Sammamish. Learn more and view pictures, got to the Long Live the Kings Facebook post at https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=905775041581039&id=100064456549114&mibextid=WC7FNe&rdid=LHVMmvXDy773BjN1.

Kokanee Fry, Photo provided by Trout Unlimited

Volunteer Tim Allen and thrilled Compass Outdoors Adventure camper with bluegill catch, photo provided by Jeff Norman

Compass Outdoor Adventures Youth Fly Fishing Instruction

By Jeff Norman, Three Rivers Trout Unlimited Volunteer Leader.
Our TU chapter finished another year of mentoring youth who attend the Compass Outdoor Adventures Day Camp near North Bend, Washington. In October 2021, a program manager from Compass participated in our annual Run With the Kokanee 5K-10K. Subsequently, we met with Compass and decided to offer several 90-minute sessions for their day campers, beginning in June, 2022. We continued this program for 2023 and 2024.

There are usually 12 kids, 9-10 years old, accompanied by 2 camp counselors. Compass is adjacent to a Mt. Si Parks Dept. Frisbee golf course, which was originally a regular golf course. The kids walk or ride bikes to meet us next to a pond on the course. We give them a brief talk about the difference between a spinning rod and a fly rod. Most have never seen a fly rod or cast one.

It’s best to have 1 volunteer for every 2 campers. Our Chapter provides the rods, reels and accessories. We teach the basics of fly casting, and how to do a pick-up and lay-down cast to a hula hoop target. We also show how to play a fish, and how to strip in line. Then we swap out the yarn on the tippet for real flies.

The golf course pond has no drainage to any stream or river. With WDFW and Mt. Si Parks permission, we stocked it with Bluegill and a few Bass in 2022. We’ve observed the Bluegill spawning nests and have seen a range of fish sizes, so hopefully they are reproducing. There are lovely, black and white Dragonflies (Twelve-Spotted Skimmer) and Damsel Flies that flit amongst the vegetation along the shore. Mt. Si looms above the valley floor.

Now the lesson really begins, when each camper casts line with an actual fly. Often those pointers we just provided get lost in the excitement and challenge getting the fly out there. Sometimes, a school of Bluegill or Bass will swim within 3 feet of the shoreline but turn up their noses at a nicely offered nymph. They don’t always bite when we want. If somebody calls out, “I’ve got a fish!”, others might stop fishing to go see for themselves.

The campers always have a good attitude and are eager to learn a new skill. It’s a pleasure to work with all of them. Many thanks to our Team Leader and “equipment manager” Bruce Tyson, and the rest of our volunteers – Bill Gerdts, Frank Yandrasits, Tim Allen, Tim Opitz, Jack Crowley, Kristen Wyatt and all others.

Cedar River Clean-up Volunteers, Photo provided by Jeff Norman

Cedar River Clean-up Recap

The annual Cedar River Clean-Up was held on August 10, 2024. This event has been managed independently of any club for a few years. Keaton “Big Hoss” Zyskowski is the leader of this effort. He works part-time as a Guide for Ellensburg Anglers and offers walk and wade trips on the Cedar during June-August. He also has a Podcast, “The Young Guides”, which you can find on various podcast platforms. They discuss guiding, fishing and hunting topics, covering Washington and Alaska.

About sixty men, women and kids showed up at Ron Regis Park by the Maple Valley Highway. We were organized into several groups and given a location assignment. TU member Dave Kyle and I were in a group that was assigned to Maplewood Roadside Park, River Mile 3. This stretch has two pedestrian bridges and connects to a nice park and the Cedar River bicycle trail. The banks below the bridges had the usual collection of beer bottles, broken glass and other litter.

Unfortunately, the nearby forested banks hide homeless encampments. We didn’t blunder into one, but there was evidence, including a makeshift latrine. There’s some very nice water in that direction, but don’t go by yourself – bring some friends, just in case. The most unusual item retrieved was a Lime Scooter, the kind you find in Seattle that have a GPS unit and battery installed – but both were missing. Keaton also waded over to the other side to carry back a large throw rug that was in good condition. A rusted door panel was hauled out, and another group removed a very large truck tire.

Altogether, we collected dozens of bags full of litter from the river, the banks, trails and parking lots. At about 11, we gathered again at Ron Regis. We had a Jimmy Johns lunch, then a raffle with some nice items.

This event is usually held on the second Saturday of August. Keep an eye out on social media next summer for announcements and registration.

Three Rivers Trout Unlimited - July 2024 Newsletter

Written by Bill Gerdts and Natasha Kacoroski with contributions from Alix Lee-Tigner, Dr. Jeff Jensen, Kristin Wyatt, and David Kyle

Snoqualmie tribal member Bethany Fackrell and UW Bothell student Sofia Tang sample water for eDNA in Zackuse Creek, photo provided by Dr. Jeff Jensen

Kokanee Environmental DNA Study Collaboration with the Snoqualmie Tribe and University of Washington Bothell

UW Bothell student Dan Nguyen preparing eDNA samples for analysis, photo provided by Dr. Jeff Jensen

By Dr. Jeff Jensen, Three Rivers Trout Unlimited Volunteer Leader

The Three Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited supplied financial and logistical support of a study conducted by students at the University of Washington (UW), Bothell campus. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is DNA that is shed by organisms into their environment. Scientists are able to detect the presence, and even estimate numbers, of a species by filtering water and looking for eDNA of target organisms.

During winter and spring, students at the UW Bothell undertook a study of eDNA in Laughing Jacobs Creek – a stream where our chapter conducts fry counts every year. The aims of the study were to see if:

1. The strength of the eDNA signal was corelated to the number of fry we were catching in the traps on a given night.

2. We could detect the presence of kokanee eggs and young while still under the gravel.

3. We could detect events such as the beginning of hatching when more eDNA is likely to be released.

As many members of our chapter know very well, fry trapping is a labor-intensive process. The use of eDNA sampling could provide a relatively easy way to supplement our current fry counts and to extend our sampling to additional streams.

Results were mixed in this initial study. Students were able to detect kokanee fry in the streams, but not consistently and the strength of the eDNA signal did not obviously correlate to the numbers of fry caught in the trap. This could reflect differences in stream flow (we have the data, but not yet analyzed) or other environmental variables. Likewise, students were able to detect presence of kokanee DNA in water samples taken before migration began, but not consistently. Pending additional funding, this study will continue next year with some refinement to sampling and, in particular, adjustments to laboratory techniques for extracting and detecting eDNA in the samples.

Newly emerged Lake Sammamish kokanee fry - source of the eDNA, photo provided by Dr. Jeff Jensen

Kokanee monitoring results, compiled by Kristin Wyatt

Kokanee Fry Monitoring - Final Counts

This spring, volunteers donated a total of 1,112 hours over the course of 409 nights to monitor kokanee fry on Ebright, Laughing Jacobs, and Lewis Creeks. Thank you to all who helped!

Lake Sammamish clean up, photo provided by Trout Unlimited and Mid-Sound Fisheries

Lake Sammamish habitat restoration, photo provided by Trout Unlimited

Lake Sammamish Park Clean Up - July 5th

How best to celebrate our nation’s independence? Considering adding a little stewardship to your holiday weekend! Join us on July 5th from 11 am to 1 pm at Lake Sammamish State Park to help clean up after the festivities on the 4th. For more information and to register to volunteer, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5th-of-july-clean-up-tickets-924029425887.

Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership

By Alix Lee-Tigner, Trout Unlimited Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership Coordinator

Summer is in full swing around the watershed and our Lake Sammamish Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership friends are hosting all kinds of events to get you out to play, learn, serve and work. Want to give back and care for our local parks? Join a cleanup event at Lake Sammamish State Park or join a restoration work party to dig some invasives. Interested in taking a stroll to learn about wildlife? Go for a bird walk or take a deep dive to learn about nature’s engineers – beavers! If your kids are looking for a hands on project, join a Washington State Parks ranger to build a critter. We’re all about helping you connect with nature and inspiring our community to be good stewards of our shared watersheds. Find your next adventure at https://www.lakesammamishrefuge.org/upcoming-events.

Lake Sammamish from Ebright Creek, photo provided by Natasha Kacoroski

Lake Sammamish Weed Management Study Update

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), a nonnative predator fish in Lake Sammamish, photo provided by David Kyle

By David Kyle, Trout Unlimited Lake Washington Basin Program Manager

Trout Unlimited (TU) has been a leader in aquatic weed management in Lake Sammamish for almost five years. This effort was initiated in response to data generated from the Kokanee Work Group’s (KWG) Technical Program that identified that kokanee salmon fry entering the lake had very poor survival to adulthood. Predation, especially by non-native warmwater gamefish, was identified as a concern by our local Salmon Recovery Board (WRIA8) which spurred a top-down direct removal of these fish by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and co-managers. TU wanted to complement the top-down approach by engaging in bottom-up management targeting the habitat, aquatic weeds in the nearshore areas, that provided essential support to these predators.

Over the last few years, TU has shown that removing these weeds is effective to displace these non-native fish by up to 99% in treatment areas and we are now working on refining our treatment approach to find an effective approach for long term control. Our hypothesis is that we are able to significantly reduce the habitat provided by non-native aquatic weeds to non-native warmwater gamefish it will result in a decline in their populations reducing predation mortality of all juvenile salmon in the lake.

Aquatic weeds in Lake Sammamish, photo provided by David Kyle

This summer we selected three treatment areas for our research. They are located off Timberlake Park (Issaquah), Weowna Park (Bellevue), and Sammamish Landing (Sammamish). We are utilizing two different herbicides, the first being “SonarOne” which is a systemic herbicide applied in a granular form to Timberlake Park which occurred on June 5, 2024. The second is Diquat “Tribune” which we used last summer but needed to refine our application approach at the Weowna Park and Sammamish landing which is scheduled for July 23, 2024. TU will be conducting effectiveness monitoring post treatment to evaluate the approach. 

If you have any questions, reach out to David Kyle at dkyle@tu.org.

Fly fishing instruction, photo provided by Three Rivers Trout Unlimited

Connecting Youth to Coldwater Fisheries

Following the play-learn-serve-work model of engagement, we partner with Compass Outdoor Adventures to connect youth to coldwater fisheries conservation by providing fly fishing instruction at their Explorer Camp. For six days over the summer, members volunteer to teach basic fly casting skills to 4th and 5th graders. At the end, campers have the get to apply their fresh skills by catching bluegills in a pond. The experience provides a unique opportunity for youth to have fun on the water, learn something new, and start to care about coldwater fish.

Volunteer Appreciation BBQ Recap

Our annual BBQ to thank volunteers for their service this past year was held on Saturday, June 1st. Approximately 30 people attended for food, fly fishing experiences, and fun. Thank you to all the volunteers, members, and Trout Unlimited staff that supported with the event with food, drinks and activities. Special shout-outs to Austin Elliot for bringing gear and teaching fly tying, and Jeff Norman for setting up a course and teaching fly casting.

Photos (above and below) provided by David Kyle.

Fishing For Laughs

Question: How much tackle can an angler acquire before their partner throws them out?
Answer: I don’t know, but I think I’m getting close!

Support Us

• Volunteer. Help out with operations (such as writing for this newsletter!), activities, and events. There’s a diverse range of ways and levels to get involved (like sharing a favorite fish joke!). If interested, reach out to admin@threerivertu.org.

• Join or renew your Trout Unlimited membership.

• Donate to the Three Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Your contribution helps fund chapter operations and activities such as Lake Sammamish Kokanee Fry Monitoring, our annual Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Fishout, and more.

Three Rivers Trout Unlimited - Spring 2024 Newsletter

Member & Volunteer Appreciation BBQ, Saturday, June 1st

Save the date and plan to bring your family to the Three Rivers Chapter Member & Volunteers’ Appreciation BBQ, Saturday, June 1st, from 2-5 PM at the Meadow Shelter at Lake Sammamish State Park. This is our annual event to thank all our members and volunteers who help with kokanee fry trapping, habitat restoration, park and stream cleanups, and other conservation efforts.

Besides the camaraderie of fellow TU members and volunteers, you and your kids can enjoy burgers (both beef and vegan), hotdogs, salads, and nonalcoholic beverages. Our fly-fishing experts will be offering fly casting instruction and competitions, fly tying demonstrations, and for the non-anglers we will have our Kokanee catapult and other activities for all ages, such as fish printing, creating a stream scene mural, and a restoration tour of nearby Tibbets Creek.

So, mark Saturday, June 1st, from 2-5 PM on your calendar and plan to come out to Lake Sammamish State Park to have fun and celebrate all the great conservation work of our TU members and volunteers. For more information contact and to RSVP email 3riverstu@gmail.com.

Kokanee Fry Trapping Winding Down, Future Projects in the Works

The 2024 kokanee fry monitoring numbers as of April 30th.

The chapter’s kokanee fry trapping is winding down with only a couple weeks left on the schedule. Many thanks to our volunteers who contributed more than 1,500 hours to count the fry this year. Trapping will be completed when we have a week of zero kokanee observed in all creeks. Trapping data will be sent to James Bower (King County Ecologist) who will develop an estimate of fry production from our winter spawners. 

Trout Unlimited staff who also represent our chapter have been busily submitting proposals to support the restoration of kokanee and stewardship of the Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership (UWRP). While drafting and submitting these proposals, TU staff will have a short break before returning to the field.

In the meantime, here are some upcoming opportunities for volunteers:

• May 11: Stewardship Saturday at the Issaquah Anthology space. We will be removing invasive plants in preparation to plant this fall. To volunteer, sign up here.

•  May 14: Kokanee Education Day. Come help students learn about the community’s “little red fish” in Lake Sammamish at the annual Kokanee Education Day. Volunteers must complete a review process by the school district, so reach out asap. If interested contact dkyle@tu.org.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Fishout - An Ongoing Community Partnership Success

On Sunday, April 21st, we held our annual Fly Fishing Fishout for Project Healing Waters. Started in 2005, Project Healing Waters is a nationwide organization that supports disabled military personnel with fly fishing as a form of outdoor recreational therapy. For over ten years, Three Rivers Trout Unlimited has partnered with Project Healing Waters, the Annie Pulliam Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Overlake Fly Fishing Club to put on an event every year. This was the second time that the event was held at Beaver Lake in Sammamish, and 30 disabled veterans came from across Washington and Oregon to participate. 17 boats were launched on the water, everyone caught a fish, and we estimate that close to 200 fish were caught with the biggest at about 16 inches in length. A big thank you to our program lead and veteran's representative, Bruce Tyson, for coordinating the event, the 65 volunteers in attendance, and to everyone who continues to make it possible.

Chapter Undergoing Leadership Transition

Steve Laing accepting the chapter’s 2023 “Chinook Award for a Chapter” from Washington Council Trout Unlimited (WCTU) President Pat Hesselgesser

Chapter President Steve Laing, who has led the chapter for the past two years is stepping down from his role. He recently moved back to his hometown of Eugene, Oregon, to help support his 89-year-old parents who live independently but who are dealing with some health issues. He will continue in an at-large leadership role until a new member can take on more of the administrative responsibilities of the position.

Over his two-year tenure as president, Steve created a detailed catalogue of and checklists for the events and activities of the chapter. This catalogue provides members and volunteers with the planning timeline, list of specific tasks, volunteer needs, and contacts necessary to ensure each event runs smoothly. He initiated a detailed inventory and reorganization of the chapter’s storage unit and was lead volunteer for the Salmon Days Festival booth and the Run with the Kokanee events. Under his leadership, the chapter also received the Washington Council’s “Chinook Award for a Chapter” for leadership, participation, dedication and energy to a conservation project or advocacy toward the goals of TU.

Prior to serving as president, Steve served as the chapter’s secretary and vice president. He is an avid fly angler, a life member of TU, and he will be continuing to support the mission of TU wherever he goes.

If you or anyone you know is interested in learning about leadership opportunities within the Three Rivers Chapter, we would love to hear from you. Please contact 3riverstu@gmail.com.

Three Rivers Members & Friends' Social Event, March 20

A tiny kokanee fry, trapped in 2023 on Lewis Creek - D. Engquist

Three Rivers Chapter is eagerly looking forward to hosting a Member and Friends' Social on Wednesday, March 20, at the VFW Redmond, from 6:30-8:30 PM. It’ll be an evening to celebrate the arrival of the spring equinox, the coming spring fishing season, the ongoing efforts to restore Lake Sammamish kokanee, the successes of our Barrier Assessment Team (BAT), and the sharing of some new potential local conservation projects for Three Rivers Chapter volunteers.

As always, it will be a great opportunity to catch up with fellow members, get acquainted with new ones, swap fishing stories, and enjoy good food and beverages. We’ll even have a couple of short entertaining films to share. So, mark your calendars and plan to join us at our March member social. Feel free to bring your friends!

Here is the address: VFW Redmond, 4330 148th Ave NE, Redmond, WA

To help us plan for the expected attendance, please RSVP “Be there” to Chapter President Steve Laing at stevemlaing@gmail.com.

Kokanee Work Group News

Captive Kokanee Yield Thousands of Fertilized Eggs, Promising Record Fry Release in 2024

Tray of fertilized kokanee eggs

Investments in the kokanee captive brood stock and hatchery supplementation programs are paying off. Nearly 18,000 kokanee eggs successfully fertilized and “eyed” during the first stage of salmon development this past January. Thanks to the technology of cryo-banking and expertise of King County’s Environmental Lab, kokanee milt, or sperm, collected in prior years fertilized eggs from the current year, helping to maintain the genetic diversity of our unique Lake Sammamish Late-Run Kokanee for years to come.    

Kokanee Returns Improved in Fall 2023

Kokanee salmon in spawning colors

In January, the Kokanee Technical Committee reviewed spawning survey results and developed the final 2023/24 estimates of 279 spawning kokanee in Lake Sammamish, which is three times greater than the 2022/23 return of 81 spawning kokanee. While 279 is an improvement, the estimate is still in the low abundance zone for the population.  

 

Remote Stream Incubators at Work - Thank You, Trout Unlimited!

Photo featuring Dave Kyle, Lake Washington Basin Program Manager of Trout Unlimited 

Our KWG partner, Dave Kyle of Trout Unlimited, spent his New Year’s Day in the field, planting over 1,300 freshly fertilized kokanee eggs in a remote stream incubator on Zackuse Creek. By reintroducing kokanee in Zackuse Creek, the aim is to jumpstart recolonization following a culvert replacement that now allows access to the upstream portion of the creek. Signs appear positive as nine spawning kokanee were counted returning to Zackuse Creek this past season. Thank you, Dave, for your tireless efforts operating remote stream incubators to bring late-run kokanee back to their historic creeks. The next generation of kokanee are in good hands!  

EastLake Sammamish Trail Completed

Eastlake Sammamish Trail Completed

The trail completion includes six new fish-passable culverts which improve water quality, enhance habitat, and increase access to spawning grounds for the Lake Sammamish Kokanee.

Photo Credit: King County Parks

The Race to Curb Toxic Effects of Tire Wear Road Runoff

Nearly half of all Coho salmon returning to Puget Sound streams each year die before they can spawn. Long attributed to toxic stormwater runoff washing into streams, the specific chemicals responsible for this pre-spawn mortality went unidentified until a team of researchers from UW Tacoma, UW, and WSU Puyallup, began studying particles from new and used tire wear.

Coho salmon. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Through several years of detailed laboratory testing of more than 2,000 tire-born chemicals, many of them unknown, and observing their effects on juvenile hatchery Coho salmon, in 2021 the team discovered a molecule known as 6PPD-Quinone (6PPD-q) to be the “smoking gun.” Just one millionth of a gram of 6PPD-q per liter of water produces a lethal concentration. That’s equivalent to one drop of compound in an Olympic-size swimming pool.

To learn about the latest research and concerns about this toxic chemical, here is a link to a detailed article titled Scientists Worldwide Immersed in Studies of Deadly Tire Chemical.

Welcome to our new website!

As we head into 2024, we are starting off with a fresh, new look and way to keep our members up to date on the latest happenings with the Three Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited. We encourage you to check back frequently, as we’ll be adding new information, pages, and blog posts. Thank you for your support, participation, and membership! We look forward to seeing you at one or more of our events and activities as the year unfolds!