Hatchery Salmon Hatchery alive with activity again

Published 11:00 am Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Like clockwork, almost, the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery turns into a hive of activity in early September, as the chinook run brings the famous fish to Issaquah Creek.

The hatchery opened its fish ladder on Monday, Sept. 7, and now an estimated 300 chinook are in the facility’s holding pond.

These chinook are the first wave of the 2009 season’s salmon run.

They are usually joined by some sockeye, with coho expected to arrive in a few weeks.

The hatchery raises chinook and coho salmon and expects the 3- to 5-year-old fish to return to Issaquah Creek from now through November or early December. Hatchery personnel expect to spawn 1,000 chinook and 1,200 coho this year, with a goal of collecting 2 million chinook and 1.5 million coho eggs.

The hatchery is free to the public during daylight hours, seven days a week. It is located at 125 W Sunset Way, Issaquah.