• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism Logo

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism

Travel, Hotel and Visitor Information

Bellingham Outdoors Animated Logo
  • Home
  • Places to Stay
    • Hotels / Resorts
    • Vacation Rentals / Bed & Breakfasts
    • Camping / RV Parks
    • Hotel Packages / Special Rates
    • Park n’ Fly Hotel Packages
  • Places to Eat
    • Restaurants
    • Craft Breweries
    • Wine, Spirits & Wineries
    • Coffee Shops & Sweets
  • Things to Do
    • Events Calendar
    • Annual Events
    • Agricultural
    • Attractions
    • Bicycling
    • Bird Watching
    • Cannabis
    • Casinos
    • Fishing
    • Golfing
    • Hiking
    • Itineraries
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Parks & Playgrounds
    • Running
    • Scenic Drives
    • Shopping
    • Snowsports
    • Spas & Health
    • Theaters & Music
    • Tours
    • Water Adventures
    • Summer Activities
    • Fall Activities
    • Winter Activities
    • Spring Activities
    • Whatcom Arts Project
  • Outdoors
    • Bicycling
    • Bird Watching
    • Fishing
    • Golfing
    • Hiking
    • Multisports
    • Parks & Playgrounds
    • Running
    • Scenic Drives
    • Snowsports
    • Water Adventures
  • Getting Here
    • Maps
    • Ground Transport
    • Air Transport
    • Water Transport
    • US/Canada Border
  • Blogs
  • Communities
    • Bellingham
    • Birch Bay
    • Blaine
    • Downtown Bellingham
    • Fairhaven Historic District
    • Ferndale
    • Lummi Island
    • Lynden
    • Mt. Baker
    • North Cascades
    • Point Roberts
    • Sumas
  • Media
    • Media Request Form
    • Articles & Coverage
    • Press Releases
    • Photo Contest
  • About Us
    • Contact
    • Weather
    • Request Information
    • Jobs & Volunteer
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Industry Resources
    • Membership
    • Member Directory
    • Services
      • Event Planning
      • Relocation
      • Business
      • Education
      • Financial
      • Medical
      • Out of Area
Home / Insider Blogs / Chasing Chums up Chuckanut Creek with NSEA

Chasing Chums up Chuckanut Creek with NSEA

By Todd Elsworth / October 31, 2016

The only thing that I like better than eating fresh salmon is watching them in their final struggle to spawn up our local Bellingham creeks. That opportunity is about to present itself in the coming weeks with the returning Chum Salmon.

ChuckanutSalmonNSEA

Our local fish-loving organization, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (aka NSEA), leads tours throughout town during the month of November.

Here is their 2016 Salmon Viewing Schedule:

Oyster Creek Salmon Viewing Tour
Saturday, November 5, 2016
12:00pm 3:00pm

Arroyo Park Salmon Viewing Tour
Saturday, November 12, 2016
12:00pm 3:00pm

I took my family out last year and we learned a boat load from the NSEA interpreters stationed next to Chuckanut Creek in Arroyo Park.

ChuckanutSalmonNSEAtable

There is a bit of a scavenger hunt for the kids to enjoy as they walk along the trail and answer questions that are tagged along the trail.

ChuckanutSalmonNSEAkids

And then there’s the “images of death” that show the cycle and part of the natural surroundings. Salmon carcasses strewn about along the creek, trophies of the journey they have endured. They begin to rot and become part of the nutrients that wash downstream and settle in the sediment, spawning lives beyond their own.

ChuckanutSalmondead

Some linger in shallow pools waiting to gather enough energy to jump up to the next space and select where they are going to do their duty. They sit so still, conserving their energy, that it’s hard to tell if they are even still alive!

ChuckanutSalmonmolt

Then again, this is the end. Some are stuck in the most precarious situations at the end of their lives. We just hope that they were able to accomplish what they showed up to do.

ChuckanutSalmoneye

Spawn ON!

From Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association:

Bear witness to the final leg of the salmon journey: spawning the next generation!

This is a must see for anyone who might be new to the Pacific Northwest – the earlier you see it, the quicker you’ll understand why salmon are emblematic. (This would probably make a pretty cool first date too!)

Complimentary warm beverages will be available, open to all ages, no cost and no RSVP needed to attend. How cool is that? Open house style, visit anytime between 12-3pm on either or both of the two dates!

What type of salmon might I see? Chum salmon (Onchorynchus keta)

What if I have questions? NSEA naturalists are partnering with Skagit Fishery Enhancement Group (SFEG) experts and will be available to answer questions and help visitors view salmon in our local creeks as they return from the sea.

What should I wear/bring? Dress warmly, wear sturdy shoes, bring a camera, binoculars and/or a sketch book to make a record of the mini miracle you’ll see.

Special Note to Pet Owners: Please leave your 4-legged friends at home so as not to disturb the salmon while spawning – their energy is already limited and additional stress can be lethal at this final stage in their lifecycle.

 

Share:

Filed Under: Insider Blogs Tagged With: Arroyo Park, Bellingham, Chuckanut Creek, Fairhaven, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Oyster Creek, Salmon, salmon runs in Whatcom County, Salmon spawning, spawning, things to do in Bellingham WA, Whatcom County, where to see salmon spawn near Bellingham

About Todd Elsworth

As the co-Executive Director of Recreation Northwest and the founder of the Bellingham Traverse, Todd promotes outdoor recreation and brings people together to enjoy, preserve and improve the places where we play. He enjoys biking, hiking, paddling, skiing and will try anything twice.

Get connected at RecreationNorthwest.org.

Footer

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
Visitor Center Located at I-5 Exit 253
904 Potter Street, Bellingham, WA 98229

Hours: Due to COVID-19, the Visitor Center is open limited hours: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm. Masks required.

Phone: 360-671-3990
Email: tourism@bellingham.org

Join

Sign up to receive Bellingham Whatcom County events & information!

Share

site by highwaters.net