This is the first Creek Notes of the salmon spawning season, and we’re sending it out a bit early to share some exciting news.

Early Season Surprises

Adult salmon are already making their way into Lagunitas Creek! During a snorkel survey on Sept. 19, staff were surprised to spot an adult Chinook salmon. Even more unexpected, two pink salmon were recently observed far upstream. Small numbers of pink salmon were seen in Lagunitas Creek between 2017 and 2021 but had not been detected again until now. These fish may be offspring of undetected spawning in 2023 – or strays from a population much farther north.

Explore the New Spawner Dashboard 

We’ve created a new way to explore the story of salmon in Lagunitas Creek: the Spawner Dashboard. This interactive tool lets you dive into more than two decades of data on salmon and steelhead numbers and spawning locations, going back to 1999. For those who like to get into the details, the dashboard offers a closer look at trends, comparisons and more timely updates as the season progresses.

Looking Ahead

What can we expect for the Coho migration this year? While we won’t see a repeat of last year’s remarkable return of over 1,300 spawners across the Watershed, there’s still reason to be optimistic. This year’s return will be the offspring of about 200 Coho that spawned three years ago. Last spring, moderate numbers of large smolts entered the Pacific Ocean, with many returning as “jacks” (two-year-old males) last winter.

Taking smolt size, jack observations, and ocean conditions into account, our team predict this year’s Coho run will be around 400 fish – smaller than average but still double the size of the parent generation. The first fish are expected to arrive in early November, with peak spawning likely after December rains. Stay tuned to the Spawner Dashboard and future Creek Notes for updates throughout the season.

Track Data on the Dashboard

Want to dive into more details of Marin Water’s fish monitoring work? Check out the Lagunitas Creek Spawner Dashboard.