It’s fall and that means the Kitsap Salmon Tours are coming! This year’s tour takes place Nov. 1st, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at locations around Kitsap County, including at the Preserve. The events are free to attend and have historically brought hundreds of individuals to the Preserve and the other stops. These tours are important because it’s our time to talk about the life cycle of salmon and what salmon need in order to thrive. This resonates with us because the Preserve is home to one of the healthiest salmon runs in Western Washington.
Visitors can stop at various stream sites across the county to explore all things salmon with biologists, local environmental organizations, and trained docents. Attendees will have fun opportunities at the locations, such as interactive activities through Kitsap Regional Library, salmon coloring stations for our youngest visitors, games and much more. The highlights at the Preserve are the guided walks and one-on-one time with salmon experts from a variety of backgrounds. At the headwaters of Chico Creek in Hidden Valley, visitors can also observe salmon choosing whether Lost or Wildcat Creek is their natal stream. Salmon are known to spawn within meters of where they themselves hatched. At Salmon Tours, visitors can visit both the Chico Creek Estuary and the beginning of Chico Creek too.
The more we know and share about our local salmon species and their lifecycles, the more everyone will understand the role all of us play in their survival. Bring your family, gather your friends, and prepare your questions. Join us in experiencing this remarkable migration firsthand.
In support of Kitsap Salmon Tours and all the spawning salmon, Keta Legacy Foundation has worked with Bremerton Kitsap Access Television (BKAT) to produce a salmon viewing etiquette public service announcement. This PSA is expected to start airing soon. We encourage you to watch the PSA to learn about how to be a thoughtful salmon watcher.
– Katha Miller-Winder, President