Last week’s rain raised flows in Lagunitas Creek and brought in the season’s first surge of Coho Salmon! Immediately following the rain, Marin Water crews counted 19 Coho and 20 Chinook Salmon in the upper creek. For just a few hours, flows out of San Geronimo Creek were high enough to allow salmon to navigate through the bedrock pools known as The Inkwells, and we confirmed this week that Coho Salmon are now spawning in that creek.

More fish arrived with this week’s rain, including three tagged Coho Salmon that were detected by our antenna near Point Reyes Station. The parking lot at the Leo T. Cronin Fish Viewing Area has been full in recent days, with people watch both Coho and Chinook Salmon spawn. The next significant rain is forecast for Saturday morning, which means that Coho will likely be jumping at The Inkwells on Sunday. I recommend getting to the Fish Viewing Area early, and biking or carpooling if possible.

-Eric Ettlinger
 Aquatic Ecologist