Fall is nearly here, and that means that salmon populations around the Puget Sound will be making the journey to area streams and rivers to spawn.

There is a multitude of salmon-watching opportunities available now and for a few months to come around the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed.

Sockeye, chum, coho and chinook salmon can be seen at parks and other locations at events sponsored by a variety of partners around the watershed. In many cases, naturalists are available to help you spot salmon and learn about their lifecycle and what we all can do to protect them.

Salmon should be available for viewing on these dates at these locations:

Best viewing through September (free tours/talks twice a day): Chittenden Locks in Seattle (Ballard). For more info: 206-783-7059 or search Web for “Chittenden Locks.” Sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

September 27 and Oct. 10 (10 a.m.-12 p.m.) and Nov. 1 (time to be determined): Along the Sammamish River Trail south of 85th Street Bridge, Redmond. For more info: 425-556-2822 or pholte@redmond.gov. Sponsored by the City of Redmond

October 3 (1-4 p.m.), Oct. 7 (3-6 p.m.) and Oct. 10 (1-4 p.m.): On Cottage Lake Creek in Woodinville, Tolt Pipeline bridge. For more info: 425-788-5083 or www.watertenders.org. Sponsored by Water Tenders

October 17 (11 a.m. -1 p.m.): Issaquah Salmon Hatchery on Issaquah Creek, 125 W. Sunset Way, Issaquah. For more info: 425-392-8025 or www.issaquahfish.org. Sponsored by Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH)

Late September to mid-November: Bear Creek in Redmond, 12526 Avondale Rd NE. (behind Classic Nursery). For more info: Linda at 425-882-1846 or lyhussey@comcast.net. Sponsored by Redmond Organization for Shared Environments

Throughout October: Mercer Slough fish ladder on Kelsey Creek in Bellevue. Call or e-mail first: 425-452-5200 or streamteam@bellevuewa.gov. Sponsored by the City of Bellevue

October 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31 and Nov. 1 (11 a.m.-4 p.m. each day): Five locations along the Cedar River near Renton. For more info: 206-245-0143 or www.cedarriver.org. Sponsored by Friends of the Cedar River Watershed

On weekends from Nov. 7 to Dec. 13 (and Nov. 27 with special activities) (11 a.m. – 2 p.m. each day): Piper’s Creek in Seattle’s Carkeek Park. For more info: 206-684-0877 or www.seattle.gov/parks/environment/carkeek.htm. Sponsored by the City of Seattle.

For more information on any of the sites, visit www.kingcounty.gov/salmon and click on Salmon SEEson, or call 206-296-8016. There also are links there to learn how to protect salmon and their habitat this fall – and year-round.