about fauntleroy creek
    creek facts
    fish ladder story
  streamside education
  activities by theme
  activity descriptions
    nature walk
     streamwalk
     task cards
     let's explore
     salmon release
     salmon return
     water testing
     story circle
     link by link
     stream survey
     plants and people
 supporting resources
     directions to creek
     diagram of lower creek
     tips and tricks
     rearing salmon
     link by link materials
     stream survey materials
     project ideas
     plants and people worksheet
  field maps
  salmon monitoring
    salmon watch report
    smolt report
  reports and studies
  links  

Although we don't have evidence that salmon used to live in Fauntleroy Creek, we do know that it's the kind of year-round creek that could have supported salmon long before development destroyed access.  Community elders recall catching cutthroat trout in the creek, however, and they continue to wander in and out from the cove, especially during the annual salmon return.

Restoration currently allows coho salmon to spawn as far upstream as 45th Ave. S.W.  Since 1998, we've reserved the channel between there and the beach for our "home hatch" and released all Salmon in the Classroom fish in Fauntleroy Park.  This strategy assumes that, when they're mature enough to head for saltwater, the release fish will be strong enough to sustain their tumble downstream.  

In size and structure, Fauntleroy Creek is best suited to coho so, in order to assure students that their fish will have a chance to grow and survive, we accept only coho fingerlings for release.  If you'd like your class or group to have the experience of releasing fish but you don't have any, call us.  Thanks to an enthusiastic volunteer, we usually can provide them.

Thanks to another volunteer, we can also provide expert trouble-shooting if you're having a problem with your aquarium.  For advice that will get you through most situations, see our tipsheet, Rearing Salmon - Successfully! - in Your Classroom.  If you're stuck, call our volunteer expert, Steev Ward (206-246-2058); if he can't diagnose the problem over the phone, he'll arrange to come out, at no cost.  

In order for us to monitor the emergence of home-hatch fry, we do not accept released fish until at least late March.  Even better is to wait until May, when fingerlings will be better able to compete for food and less likely to be washed out by spring rains.  If necessary, we can arrange for a partial release to relieve your tank.  Our experience is that students tend to know if their fish have a chance; releasing is late spring helps ensure them that they do - and reinforces a message of responsible stewardship.