The 2022-23 salmon spawning season is off to a dry start in the Lagunitas Creek watershed. Despite scant rain and relatively low stream flows, lots of Chinook Salmon have been seen swimming up Lagunitas Creek and spawning. In the last three weeks, the Marin Water Fisheries crew has observed 61 Chinook and 27 redds (gravel nests). This already qualifies as the largest Chinook Salmon run in the last six years and the sixth-largest run we’ve documented. We typically see Chinook Salmon spawning through December, so a record-breaking run isn’t out of the question.

The Coho Salmon run (the season’s main event) is just beginning, with only five fish observed so far. Coho typically migrate upstream in larger numbers once rain starts to muddy Lagunitas Creek. Rain is expected on Thursday and Sunday, which will hopefully provide the trigger to get the Coho Salmon running in earnest.

Eric Ettlinger,

Aquatic Ecologist