The spawner survey program is a volunteer program coordinated by the annual Washington Service Corps (WSC) AmeriCorps Restoration Associate serving at Skagit Fisheries, with help from other staff, interns, and Washington Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members.

During the 2024-2025 season, 50 volunteers have gone out weekly to survey 23 streams in both the Samish and Skagit watersheds.

A spawner survey workshop is held each year to teach volunteers how to identify Pacific salmon species, salmon redds, and collect accurate data. This year we had a record number of volunteers, with 50+ people attending the workshop and committing to participate.

During the spawner surveys from October to January, data is collected on live salmon, salmon carcasses, and redds. Coho are the predominant species that are seen on our surveys, though some streams also are home to spawning chum, kokanee, and even a small number of Chinook salmon.

This year we had an incredible increase in young and excited new volunteers from Bellingham Technical College’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences program, and we are looking forward to welcoming these volunteers back as veterans next year!