1
Bellevue Salmon Spawner Surveys (1999-2022)
Kelsey Creek, West Tributary,
Richards Creek, and Coal Creek
Christa Heller
Water Resource Planning
City of Bellevue, Utilities Engineering Division
450 - 110
th
Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98009
April 2023
2
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................5
1. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................6
2. SPAWNER SURVEYS AND RESULTS .................................................................................8
2.1 PROFESSIONAL SURVEY METHODS ........................................................................................8
2.2 SALMON WATCHERS PROGRAM METHODS ..........................................................................8
2.3 PROFESSIONAL SURVEY RESULTS .......................................................................................12
2.4 SALMON WATCHERS PROGRAM .........................................................................................17
3. SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................20
3.1 CHINOOK SALMON USE .......................................................................................................20
3.2 SOCKEYE SALMON USE .......................................................................................................22
3.3 COHO SALMON USE ............................................................................................................24
3.4 COASTAL CUTTHROAT TROUT AND KOKANEE USE ............................................................24
3.5 COMPARISONS WITH SALMON WATCHER OBSERVATIONS ....................................................26
3.6 RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................................27
4. REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................30
5. APPENDIX ..............................................................................................................................32
3
FIGURES
Figure 1-1. Salmon path from Puget Sound to Bellevue Streams. ............................................7
Figure 2-1. Map of 2020 survey reaches in the Kelsey Creek basin. ........................................9
Figure 2-2. Map of 2020 survey reaches in the Coal Creek basin. .........................................10
Figure 2-3. Salmon Watcher site locations, City of Bellevue, Washington 2020. ..................11
Figure 3-1. Adult Chinook Salmon returns to the Lake Washington basin. ...........................19
Figure 3-2. Abundance of naturally spawning Chinook Salmon and percent Natural-
Origin and Hatchery-Origin spawners in the Sammamish River basin. ...............21
Figure 3-3. Abundance of naturally spawning Chinook Salmon and percent Natural-
Origin and Hatchery-Origin spawners in the Cedar River basin.. ........................21
Figure 3-4. Aerial view of Mercer Slough and the lower Kelsey Creek wetlands, areas
that may be inhibiting Chinook Salmon migration to upstream spawning
areas in some years. ..............................................................................................20
Figure 3-5. Number of Sockeye Salmon adults counted passing through the Ballard
Locks (red), and the number of naturally spawning Sockeye Salmon adults
observed in the Cedar River (blue).. .....................................................................23
Figure 3-6. Lake Washington Coho Salmon returns (Natural-Origin and Hatchery-
Origin) based on fish counts at Ballard Locks......................................................24
4
TABLES
Table 2-1. Summary of fish observations in Kelsey Creek (1999-2021). .............................13
Table 2-2. Summary of fish observations in Coal Creek (2008-2022). .................................15
Table 2-3. Periodicity (timing) of salmonid stream habitat use in the Kelsey Creek and
Coal Creek basins. . .............................................................................................16
Table 2-4. Location and dates of adult Coho Salmon transplants from Issaquah
Hatchery to the Kelsey Creek basin and Coal Creek in 2013, 2014, 2019,
2021, and 2022. .....................................................................................................17
Table 2-5. Salmon Watcher volunteer numbers, hours, site visits, and total citizens
talked to between 2017 and 2022... ......................................................................17
Table 2-6. Salmon Watcher live fish observations in the Lake Washington Tributaries
(Kelsey Creek Basin and Coal Creek Basin) between 2011 and 2022 .................17
Table 2-7. Salmon Watcher live fish observations in Lake Sammamish Tributaries. ...........17
Table 3-1. Total number of outplanted male, female, and jack Coho Salmon in Kelsey
Creek per year and their spawning success (proportion of females that built
redds) ....................................................................................................................27
Table 3-2. Total number of outplanted male, female, and jack Coho Salmon in Coal
Creek per year and their spawning success (proportion of females that built
redds) ....................................................................................................................27
Table 5-1. Volunteer observers who reported data during the 2011-2022 seasons. ..............32
Table 5-2. Counts of live, dead, and redds for Chinook Salmon in Bellevue streams
for years 1999-2022. .............................................................................................33
Table 5-3. City of Bellevue anadromous salmonid spawning ground survey
implementation information (1999-2022). ...........................................................34
5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Bellevue has monitored salmon spawning in select Bellevue streams since 1999.
Two types of monitoring have been implemented: 1) professional spawning surveys by the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) or other consultants; and 2) volunteer
observations from Bellevue Stream Team’s Salmon Watcher Program. Professional surveyors
walk established spawning reaches within Kelsey and Coal Creek stream basins, count live fish,
sample carcasses and document salmon redds. Stream Team program data is collected by
volunteer Salmon Watcher observers at established monitoring locations. Salmon Watchers are
annually trained in salmon identification and commit to monitoring selected sites for at least 15
minutes twice a week.
The Kelsey and Coal Creek basins, like many other mid-sized, independent tributaries in the
Lake Washington Watershed, provide spawning and rearing habitat for Chinook, Sockeye, and
Coho salmon. The number of salmon that spawn in Bellevue streams is affected by the
abundance of the overall salmon return (hatchery and natural-origin) to the Lake Washington
Watershed, and by the physical characteristics of each stream basin.
However, salmon returns have been variable over the last decade throughout the greater Puget
Sound Region. Bellevue streams may be particularly affected due to physical barriers to fish
migration and stormwater pollutants in the stream system. Dense mats of aquatic vegetation in
Mercer Slough and the lower Kelsey Creek wetland complex may be inhibiting adult Chinook
Salmon from migrating into spawning areas located in the upper reaches of the Kelsey Creek
basin. Additionally, the greater Bellevue area is highly urbanized which may be negatively
affecting Coho Salmon, an indicator species that is extremely vulnerable to stormwater runoff
from impervious surfaces near waterways.
Understanding regional stream health is a vital concern for the City of Bellevue. In March 2022,
the City’s Utilities Department approved a new 20-year Environmental Monitoring Program
(EMP) Implementation Plan to better assess the health of Bellevue’s streams and monitor the
changes resulting from urbanization and restoration efforts (Herrera Environmental Consultants,
Inc. 2022). Under the EMP, annual professional spawning surveys have been reduced to only
include Coal Creek to allow for broad environmental monitoring using a range of new and
expanded indicators throughout the City. Kelsey Creek continues to be monitored by Stream
Team volunteers, and City staff will follow an adaptive management approach to make decisions
about whether professional surveys will resume in the future. The City will continue to address
salmon migration issues and will prioritize habitat and water quality enhancements with the goal
of increasing salmon utilization of Bellevue streams in future years.
6
1. INTRODUCTION
Chinook, Sockeye, and Coho salmon inhabit the Lake Washington Watershed and use City of
Bellevue streams for spawning and rearing, specifically those in the Kelsey and Coal Creek
basins. Chum and Pink salmon do not inhabit the Lake Washington Watershed and were not
present historically. Migratory and resident Cutthroat Trout are also present in the Lake
Washington Watershed and are common in Bellevue streams. Kokanee, a lake-bound relative of
Sockeye Salmon, have historically used Bellevue streams for spawning but have primarily been
observed in tributaries of Lake Sammamish within in the last decade.
The Lake Washington Watershed (Watershed Resource Inventory Area [WRIA] 8) is among the
most highly urbanized freshwater systems within the Puget Sound Evolutionarily Significant
Unit (ESU) for Chinook Salmon (Puget Sound Indian Tribe and WDFW 2017). In 1917 the
water surface elevation of Lake Washington was lowered nine feet in order to create the Ship
Canal, resulting in the loss of stream delta and lake littoral habitat. At the same time, the Cedar
River was diverted away from the Black River to flow directly into Lake Washington. The
original outlet of Lake Washington, the Black River, was dammed and the river drained. Since
then, anadromous salmonids have entered the Lake Washington Watershed through the Ballard
Locks and the Lake Washington Ship Canal (Figure 1-1).
Figure 1-1. Salmon path from Puget Sound to Bellevue Streams.
7
City of Bellevue stream systems, like many in the Puget Sound Region, are negatively affected
by urban development and increasing population growth. Increases in impervious surfaces result
in altered flow regimes (Moscrip and Montgomery 1997), impaired water quality (e.g.
introduced stormwater contaminates, increased stream temperatures) (Scott et al. 1986, Scholz et
al. 2011), and changes to natural stream processes that impact ecological structure and function
(Richey 1982, Booth and Jackson 1997). Anadromous (returning from saltwater) and adfluvial
(returning from a lake) salmonids access Coal Creek directly from Lake Washington while the
Kelsey Creek basin is connected to Lake Washington by the Mercer Slough wetland complex.
Chinook and Sockeye salmon typically enter streams early in September and spawn into late
October and early November (Table 2-3). Coho Salmon typically enter in October and spawn
through December. Adfluvial Coastal Cutthroat Trout generally enter in early December with
spawning continuing through April or May.
The City of Bellevue has monitored salmon spawning activity in Bellevue streams since 1999 by
conducting spawning surveys in coordination with professional surveyors that monitor salmon
returns throughout the Lake Washington Watershed. Survey data provides a strong foundation
for assessing trends in salmon use within Bellevue’s streams and allows for comparison to
overall salmon returns throughout the Lake Washington basin.
Concurrent with professional surveys, Bellevue streams are monitored by the Bellevue Stream
Team Salmon Watchers, a volunteer program where trained volunteers observe stream sites
throughout the salmon spawning season. Salmon Watcher data helps document the distribution
of spawning adult salmon, timing, and relative abundance. While volunteers do not walk in
streams like professional surveyors, they do watch for fish at many locations upstream and
downstream of professional survey reaches, in streams that are not part of professional surveys,
and on days when the professional surveys are not performed. Salmon Watchers can conduct
spot surveys more quickly after high flow storm events that make walking surveys difficult, and
often see fish before the professional surveyors or in stream sections located outside of the
professional survey reaches. Additionally, some Salmon Watcher sites are concentrated around
restoration project sites to better aid in monitoring fish use of habitat and fish passage
improvements. The professional salmon survey and volunteer Salmon Watcher data go hand in
hand to help us get a better picture of salmon utilization of Bellevue streams.
Bellevue Salmon Watcher opportunities are available each fall and data has been collected since
1988 as part of a regional program. As of 2016, Bellevue is the only jurisdiction continuing with
the original program. Historic data for Bellevue and King County can be found at
https://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/salmon-and-trout/salmon-
watchers/reports.aspx
8
This document reports adult salmonid spawning activity observed in the Kelsey and Coal Creek
basins during the years 1999-2022, with particular emphasis on 2022 surveys and observations.
2. SPAWNER SURVEYS AND RESULTS
2.1 PROFESSIONAL SURVEY METHODS
Salmon spawning surveys in Bellevue streams begin in late-August or early-September and are
conducted weekly until late December. During the surveys, counts of live and dead fish are
enumerated for all salmonid species, and individual redds constructed by Chinook Salmon, Coho
Salmon and Cutthroat Trout are recorded using handheld GPS units. Sockeye Salmon redds are
not recorded, as this species often spawns close together with numerous overlapping redds that
are difficult to accurately differentiate. All salmon carcasses are assessed for length, sex, origin
(natural versus hatchery), age, and egg retention. Index reaches were established for Bellevue
streams during the early 2000s with various new index reaches later added, including West
Tributary Reach-5 and Coal Creek Reach 2 in 2011, Coal Creek Reach A in 2013, and Coal
Creek Reach 2B in 2014. Currently, there are ten index reaches delineated in Kelsey Creek
(Reach A, 1-7, Wetland, and Trestle), five in the West Tributary (Reach 1-5), one in Richards
Creek, and four in Coal Creek (Reach A, 1, 2, and 2b) (Figures 2-1 & 2-2). Professional surveys
were only performed in Coal Creek in fall 2022.
2.2 SALMON WATCHERS PROGRAM METHODS
Volunteers are asked to watch their chosen site(s) for at least 15 minutes, twice a week (Figure 2-
3). Which sites are observed and for how long changes each year depending on volunteers,
weather, and other variables. Volunteers record location, start and end time, fish observed, and
additional notes. Prior to 2020, all volunteers attended a 2-hour Salmon Watcher Workshop in-
person to learn salmon identification and program instructions. No training was offered in 2020
due to the Covid-19 pandemic so only previously trained volunteers were invited to participate.
A 90-minute online training was required in 2021 and 2022 with additional information provided
via email. Because some sites may have more than one volunteer and the same fish may be
present for multiple days, fish may be counted more than once.
9
Figure 2-1. Map of survey reaches in the Kelsey Creek Watershed.
10
Figure 2-2. Map of survey reaches in the Coal Creek Watershed.
11
Figure 2-3. Salmon Watcher site locations, City of Bellevue, Washington.
12
2.3 PROFESSIONAL SURVEY RESULTS
Kelsey Creek Basin (including the West Tributary and Richards Creek): 1999-2021 Results
Summary
Chinook Salmon: Adult Chinook Salmon migration in the Kelsey Creek basin typically begins in
early September; Chinook Salmon spawning activity begins in early October, peaks in mid-
October, and is generally completed by mid-November (Table 2-3). However, Chinook Salmon
utilization of the Kelsey Creek basin was not observed between 2018 and 2021 (professional
surveyors did not observe any live fish, record redds, or recover any carcasses) (Table 2-1).
Past spawning surveys (beginning in 1999) indicate that large numbers of Chinook Salmon have
spawned in the Kelsey Creek basin in some years. The most recent spike in Chinook Salmon
spawning activity occurred in 2006 and 2007 when 90 and 77 redds were observed in Kelsey
Creek (Table 2-1). However, few Chinook Salmon have been observed in Kelsey Creek during
the last 13 years (2008-2021). When Chinook Salmon are present in the Kelsey Creek basin,
most spawn in the Kelsey Creek mainstem. Small numbers of Chinook Salmon have been
observed spawning in the West Tributary and use of Richards Creek is sporadic.
Sockeye Salmon: Over the last 13-years, the numbers of Sockeye Salmon in Kelsey Creek have
consistently been very low or zero (Table 2-1). Like Chinook Salmon, significant numbers of
Sockeye Salmon have previously used the Kelsey Creek basin. Professional surveys counted 207
live Sockeye Salmon in 2000 and 430 in 2006 (Table 2-1), demonstrating that the Kelsey Creek
basin has supported large numbers of Sockeye Salmon spawners. Sockeye Salmon migration and
spawn timing in the Kelsey Creek basin is similar to Chinook Salmon. Adults migrate into the
stream during early/mid-September, with spawning peaking in mid-October and generally
completing by mid-November.
Coho Salmon: Coho Salmon migration and spawn timing in the Kelsey Creek basin is later than
Chinook and Sockeye salmon, with adults typically migrating into the stream during mid-
October and spawning mid-November through early-December (Table 2-3). Coho Salmon
spawning activity has been observed in the Kelsey Creek basin most years that surveys were
conducted (Table 2-1), but the number of Coho Salmon spawning in Kelsey is generally small.
In 2013 and 2014 (Table 2-1) surplus adult hatchery Coho Salmon from the Issaquah Hatchery
were transported and released into Kelsey Creek (Table 2-4) in an effort to improve natural
spawning and smolt production. However, surplus hatchery outplants were unsuccessful and
Coho Salmon observations have dropped to the low levels seen in recent years.
Coho Salmon spawning activity in the Kelsey Creek basin can be difficult to document because
stream flows are often higher during the late fall/early winter when Coho Salmon spawn, making
fish and redds difficult to locate. Additionally, many of the Coho Salmon redds on record were
13
observed in the upper reaches of Kelsey Creek (above the golf course) in mid-to-late December.
Adfluvial Cutthroat Trout are also frequently seen building redds throughout the basin during
this time. It is possible that some portion of previously recorded Coho Salmon redds were
misidentified Cutthroat Trout redds.
Table 2-1. Summary of fish observations in the Kelsey Creek basin (1999-2021).
Kelsey Creek (including Richards Creek and West Tributary)
Year
Chinook
Sockeye
Coho
Redds
Live Fish
Carcasses
Live Fish
Carcasses
Redds
Live Fish
Carcasses
1999
76
111
117
0
0
0
0
0
2000
1
17
13
207
103
0
18
13
2001
4
9
0
46
10
3
12
7
2002
5
16
12
23
6
0
0
0
2003
0
1
6
1
0
8
14
5
2004
17
20
88
12
6
0
1
0
2005
14
27
37
3
0
1
1
2
2006
90
168
220
430
162
2
2
2
2007
77
221
155
14
5
8
5
9
2008
8
25
38
0
1
12
8
0
2009
5
11
15
4
0
6
3
0
2010
0
1
1
6
0
0
0
0
2011
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
2012
0
0
0
0
0
9
30
2
2013
0
1
1
0
0
123*
294*
261*
2014
0
0
0
0
0
0*
138*
91*
2015
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2016
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2017
2
13
10
0
0
22
0
0
2018
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
2019
0
0
0
0
0
5
1
0
2020
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
2021
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
1
2022
Surveys not conducted in Kelsey Creek in 2022
(* indicates years when returned Coho Salmon adults were outplanted from the Issaquah Hatchery)
Coastal Cutthroat Trout: Coastal Cutthroat Trout are observed in the Kelsey Creek basin during
salmon spawning surveys, but surveys do not extend through the duration of the Cutthroat Trout
spawning period (Table 2-3). Adfluvial Cutthroat Trout migrate into the Kelsey Creek basin in
14
early December and begin spawning shortly thereafter. The end of the Cutthroat Trout spawning
period is not well documented in Kelsey Creek, but is likely prolonged, extending through the
end of March. Additionally, small resident Cutthroat Trout are present in Kelsey Creek year-
round.
Kokanee: Kokanee are adfluvial relatives to Sockeye Salmon and were once prevalent across the
Lake Washington/Lake Sammamish basin (Bean 1981). Kokanee were documented in a 1946
survey in Mercer Slough, but the run size was considered “poor” (Garlick 1946). The remaining
population of kokanee is now considered to be limited to Lake Sammamish tributaries (Berge
and Higgins 2003). None of the surveys documented in this report have observed kokanee
spawning activity in Kelsey Creek.
Coal Creek Basin
Chinook Salmon: 2022 was the first year since 2009 that no live Chinook Salmon or carcasses
were seen in Coal Creek. Below average rainfall late into the spawning season (only 0.26 inches
of rainfall between September 1
st
and October 21
st
) may have limited Chinook Salmon passage
into Coal Creek this year. The rest of the Lake Washington Basin also experienced mixed
returns. Larger than average returns were observed in Issaquah Creek (tributary to Lake
Sammamish) while returns to other Lake Washington tributaries (Big Bear, Little Bear, North
Creek) were slightly lower than average. Little Bear and North Creeks (tributaries to the
Sammamish River and similar in size to Coal Creek) were also affected by drought conditions
during the adult migration period and very few Chinook Salmon were observed in these streams
in 2022. Small numbers of Chinook Salmon have been observed in Coal Creek most years that
surveys have been conducted (Table 2-2). In a typical year, Chinook Salmon adult migration in
Coal Creek begins in early September with spawning activity primarily occurring in October
(Table 2-3).
Sockeye Salmon: No live Sockeye Salmon or carcasses were observed in Coal Creek in 2022 and
the last time they were observed during professional surveys was in 2019 (Table 2-2). Previous
years similarly had low or nonexistent Sockeye Salmon returns to the basin. Sockeye Salmon
adults have been observed in Coal Creek beginning in early-to-mid September, with spawning
activity generally peaking in mid-October and completed by mid-November (Table 2-3).
Coho Salmon: On November 16
th
, 636 adult Coho Salmon were outplanted from the Issaquah
Hatchery. Prior to this outplanting effort, twelve live Coho Salmon, four redds, and two
predated, pre-spawn carcasses were recorded (one female, one unknown sex). After the outplant,
an additional 114 Coho Salmon redds were recorded. Six of these were located in lower Reach 1
or Reach A and were likely not built by outplanted fish. An additional 409 live Coho Salmon and
15
105 carcasses were observed in Coal Creek after November 16
th
(Table 2-2). Of these, 49 were
female, 48 were male, and 8 were unknown (carcass was visible in the sedimentation pond but
could not be retrieved or examined). Twenty or 41% of the female Coho Salmon were pre-spawn
(100% egg retention), twenty-seven were fully spawned (0%) and three were partially spawned.
Of the 23 females that were partial or pre-spawn, 11 had signs of predation. Only three of the
107 total carcasses had adipose fins and are presumed to be of natural origin; two of those fish
were found in Reaches 2a and 2b amongst the outplanted fish. The number of Coho Salmon that
naturally return to Coal Creek is typically small. However, similar outplanting efforts in 2013,
2014, 2019, and 2021 have been implemented (Table 2-4) with the goal of increasing natural
spawning and smolt production. In 2022, three Coho Salmon redds were observed in Reach A,
five in Reach 1, sixty-one in Reach 2 and forty-nine in Reach 2b. Spawning activity began in
early November and culminated in mid-December. Based on redd location and spawn date, at
least nine of the Coho Salmon redds were from fish that would likely have naturally returned to
Coal Creek, therefore, not associated with the 2022 outplanting effort.
Table 2-2. Summary of fish observations in Coal Creek (2008-2022).
Coal Creek
Year
Chinook
Sockeye
Coho
Redds
Live Fish
Carcasses
Live Fish
Carcasses
Redds
Live Fish
Carcasses
2008
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
3
2009
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
1
2010
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
2011
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
1
2012
1
19
1
66
8
2
17
2
2013
3
8
2
1
1
152*
921*
340*
2014
2
1
0
2
0
174*
1032*
210*
2015
2
10
3
0
0
2
8
1
2016
7
13
4
17
8
13
43
15
2017
3
9
8
6
4
21
48
12
2018
0
0
2
0
0
34
39
11
2019
7
21
11
2
0
114*
521*
259*
2020
3
11
9
0
0
7
1
2
2021
3
41
15
0
0
108*
191*
96*
2022
0
0
0
0
0
118*
421*
107*
(* indicates years when returned Coho Salmon adults were outplanted from the Issaquah Hatchery)
Coastal Cutthroat Trout: Adfluvial Cutthroat Trout spawn in Coal Creek beginning in early to
mid-December. Like in Kelsey Creek, Cutthroat Trout spawning extends beyond regular
surveying efforts, therefore the end time is not well documented. Four live Cutthroat Trout were
observed between late November and mid-December on two separate redds in Reach 2b.
16
Additionally two redds of unknown species were found in Reach 1 in early November. Based on
the smaller size of the redds, they were likely built by early adfluvial or resident Cutthroat Trout.
It is also possible they could have been incomplete Coho Salmon redds due to the overlapping
spawning seasons.
Kokanee: No Kokanee were observed in Coal Creek in 2022. In 2020, a spawning pair of
Kokanee were observed in mid-November for the first time since professional surveys began in
Coal Creek. Little is known about kokanee spawning in tributaries to Lake Washington, but
kokanee spawning in Lake Sammamish tributaries typically occurs between October and January
and peaks in late November (Berge and Higgins 2003). Adult kokanee spawners have been
observed in other small Lake Washington tributaries including Swamp, McAleer, Lyon, and May
Creeks (J. Bower, personal communication).
Table 2-3. Periodicity (timing) of salmonid stream habitat use in the Kelsey Creek and Coal Creek
basins.
Species
Life Stage
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Chinook
Adult In-Migration
Spawning
Egg Incubation/Fry Emerg.
Juvenile Rearing
Juvenile Out-Migration
Coho
Adult In-Migration
Spawning
Egg Incubation/Fry Emerg.
Juvenile Rearing
Juvenile Out-Migration
Sockeye
Adult In-Migration
Spawning
Egg Incubation/Fry Emerg.
Juvenile Rearing
Juvenile Out-Migration
Cutthroat
Trout
Adult In-Migration
Spawning
Egg Incubation/Fry Emerg.
Juvenile Rearing
Juvenile Out-Migration
17
Table 2-4. Location and dates of adult Coho Salmon outplanted from Issaquah Hatchery to the Kelsey
Creek and Coal Creek basins in 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021, and 2022.
Year
Stream
Dates planted
Planting location
Number of Coho planted
2013
Kelsey Creek
11/13-11/20
Reach A and 1
1,150
Coal Creek
11/21
Reach 1
742
West Tributary
11/13
Reach 2
100
2014
Kelsey Creek
10/23-10/24
Reach A and 1
643
Coal Creek
10/30-11/7
Reach 1
1,573
2019
Coal Creek
11/4-11/14
Reach 1 and 2
1,049
2021
Coal Creek
11/3
Reach 2
598
2022
Coal Creek
11/16
Reach 2
636
2.4 SALMON WATCHERS PROGRAM
Volunteer Salmon Watchers have monitored over 20 different sites along Bellevue streams for
salmon over the last decade, 15 of which are consistently surveyed every year. Many of these
sites are in the Kelsey Creek and Coal Creek basins, although there are two additional sites on
Lewis Creek and one on Vasa Creek. Between 2011 and 2019 Salmon Watchers surveyed for an
average of 168.5 total hours. Volunteer numbers and hours between 2020 and 2022 were fewer
than previous years due to limited recruitment and training opportunities during the Covid-19
pandemic. Between 2011 and 2022, Salmon Watchers made 5,898 site visits to Bellevue streams,
during which they interacted with over 1,370residents. A total of 108 volunteers have
participated in the program over the last twelve years (Table 2-5).
Table 2-5. Salmon Watcher volunteer numbers, hours, site visits, and total residents talked
to between 2017 and 2022.
*108 individual volunteers have submitted data between 2011-2022. Many volunteers return every year, so this total
is the sum of individuals without duplications.
Kelsey Creek Basin: Salmon Watchers observed two live Sockeye Salmon in the Kelsey Creek
basin in 2022. These were the first Sockeye Salmon observed by volunteers in the area since
Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Total
Volunteers
33
31
27
21
25
23
23
25
24
14
18
21
108*
Volunteer
Hours
205.8
296
183.7
129.7
119.6
114.7
161.9
176.1
128.9
55.98
91.65
82.28
1746
Site Visits
656
762
615
385
434
436
580
653
472
235
361
309
5898
Residents
talked to
81
79
119
77
95
134
107
147
192
76
212
58
1377
18
2013. Very few spawning salmon have been recorded in Kelsey Creek, its tributaries, or Mercer
Slough since 2019 although Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Cutthroat Trout and unidentified
fish have been observed in the past (Table 2-6).
Coal Creek Basin: Salmon Watchers reported 182 live Coho Salmon in Coal Creek during the
2022 season. This high number was a direct result of the outplanting event that occurred in
November. No other fish were recorded this year, although Chinook Salmon and unidentified
salmonids have been frequently seen by volunteers in past years (Table 2-6).
Lake Sammamish Tributaries: Salmon Watchers make additional observations in Lewis Creek
and Vasa Creek. No live fish were seen in Lewis Creek in 2022 (Table 2-7). No live fish of any
species have been recorded in Vasa Creek, but Lewis Creek supports a population of Lake
Sammamish kokanee in some years. In 2021, 14 kokanee were reported in Lewis Creek.
Table 2-6. Salmon Watcher live fish observations in the Lake Washington Tributaries (Kelsey Creek
Basin and Coal Creek Basin) between 2011 and 2022. Light gray shading indicated years that
Coho Salmon adults were outplanted from the Issaquah Hatchery.
Salmon Watcher Live Fish Observations
Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Greater Kelsey Basin & Mercer Slough (Kelsey, West Trib, Richards Creek and Mercer Slough)
Chinook
1
10
14
0
0
0
12
1
0
0
1
0
Coho
0
0
91
40
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
Sockeye
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Trout
4
1
8
3
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
Kokanee
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Unidentified
1
5
17
1
0
0
4
9
0
0
1
0
Total
7
17
131
44
0
1
18
13
0
0
2
2
Coal Creek
Chinook
0
9
1
0
3
0
10
0
13
0
6
0
Coho
0
14
2
20
1
31
2
4
300
1
74
182
Sockeye
4
36
2
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
Trout
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kokanee
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Unidentified
1
7
0
0
8
13
12
1
37
4
12
0
Total
5
66
5
20
12
45
26
5
350
5
92
182
19
Table 2-7. Salmon Watcher live fish observations in Lake Sammamish Tributaries. No value indicates
no site visits occurred.
Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Lewis Creek - sites located in City of Issaquah
Kokanee
Volunteer data managed by King County
prior to 2017
0
1
0
0
14
0
Vasa Creek
Kokanee
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0*
0*
*Only one observation was recorded (a single site visit conducted) each of these years.
20
3. SUMMARY
3.1 CHINOOK SALMON USE
The Lake Washington Watershed is inhabited by two of the twenty-two distinct Chinook Salmon
populations that make up the Puget Sound Chinook Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU)
(Ruckleshaus et al. 2006), the Sammamish Chinook Salmon population and the Cedar Chinook
Salmon population. The Sammamish population primarily spawns in lower Issaquah Creek, Big
Bear Creek, and Cottage Lake Creek. Figure 3-2 shows the numbers of naturally spawning
Chinook Salmon adults that were observed in the Sammamish River basin between 2000 and
2022. Most (92% in 2022) naturally spawning Chinook Salmon in the Sammamish basin are
hatchery-origin spawners (WDFW Salmon Conservation Online Reporting Engine (SCORE)).
The Cedar River Chinook Salmon population spawns in the Cedar River and its tributaries, and
most naturally spawning adults (74% in 2022) are natural-origin fish (Figure 3-3, WDFW
SCORE). Most Chinook Salmon adults entering the Lake Washington basin return to the
Issaquah Hatchery (Figures 3-1, 3-3, 3-4).
Overall, Chinook and Coho salmon abundance in the North Pacific has been negatively affected
by climate change (Irvine and Fukuwaka 2011) and returns of natural-origin Chinook Salmon
have declined in the last 50 years throughout the greater Puget Sound region (Losee et al. 2019).
The declining seasonal returns to Bellevue streams are reflective of these regional trends. In
2022, the Sammamish Chinook Salmon population and the Issaquah Hatchery had slightly
higher Chinook Salmon returns compared to the last ten years while returns to the Cedar River
remained relatively stable (Figure 3-1).
Figure 3-1. Adult Chinook Salmon returns to the Lake Washington Watershed.
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
Lake Washington Chinook
Sammamish Chinook Cedar Chinook Hatchery Return
21
Figure 3-2. Abundance of naturally spawning Chinook Salmon and percent Natural-Origin and
Hatchery-Origin spawners in the Sammamish River basin.
Figure 3-3. Abundance of naturally spawning Chinook Salmon and percent Natural-Origin and
Hatchery-Origin spawners in the Cedar River basin.
The number of Chinook Salmon spawning in Kelsey Creek and Coal Creek is affected by the
size of the overall Chinook Salmon return (hatchery and natural-origin combined) to Lake
Washington and is influenced by the physical characteristics of each stream basin (such as
physical barriers to adult migration and water quality impairments). The relatively large Chinook
Salmon escapements to the Kelsey Creek basin between 2004 and 2007 were influenced by large
overall returns of Chinook Salmon to the Lake Washington Watershed during those years (Table
2-1, Figure 3-1). There were no Coal Creek basin professional surveys conducted between 2004
and 2007, although Salmon Watchers observed six Chinook Salmon in the Coal Creek basin
during that time. Carcass surveys from 2006 and 2007 (years when carcass sample sizes were
greatest) indicated that approximately 80% of the Chinook Salmon spawning throughout the
Kelsey Creek basin were hatchery-origin fish, likely from the Issaquah Hatchery program. The
lack of Chinook Salmon spawning activity in the Kelsey Creek basin since 2007 may be
influenced by lower overall Lake Washington Watershed returns from 2008 to 2017, however
habitat and water quality conditions are more likely inhibiting Chinook Salmon utilization.
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
Naturally Spawning Sammamish Chinook
92%
8%
Hatchery-Origin Spawners
Natural-Origin Spawners
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
Naturally Spawning Cedar Chinook
26%
74%
Hatchery-Origin Spawners
Natural-Origin Spawners
22
Degraded water quality, altered hydrology (including stream channel modifications), dense mats
of aquatic vegetation in Mercer Slough, and beaver activity in lower Kelsey Creek in years with
low September stream flow during the adult migration period are likely preventing Chinook
Salmon from entering Kelsey Creek (Figure 3-4).
Figure 3-4. Aerial view of Mercer Slough and the lower Kelsey Creek wetlands, areas that may be
inhibiting Chinook Salmon migration to upstream spawning areas in some years.
3.2 SOCKEYE SALMON USE
As with Chinook Salmon, the Kelsey Creek and Coal Creek basins provide spawning and rearing
habitat for Sockeye Salmon, but do not support self-sustaining populations. Two populations of
Sockeye Salmon inhabit the Lake Washington Watershed; a relatively small (1,000-5,000
spawners per year) population that spawns in tributaries to the Sammamish River (Big Bear,
Little Bear, Cottage Lake, and North Creeks) and a larger population (10,000-100,000 spawners
per year) that spawns in the Cedar River and its tributaries. In addition to the two naturally
spawning populations, a hatchery program established in 1991 annually releases between 2 to 20
million Sockeye Salmon hatchery fry into the Cedar River. Most adult Sockeye Salmon returning
to the Lake Washington Watershed are natural-origin fish from the Cedar River; adult hatchery-
Mercer Slough
Kelsey Creek
Wetland Area
23
origin Sockeye Salmon from the Cedar Hatchery are a close second in terms of abundance, and
natural-origin Sockeye Salmon returning to the Sammamish River tributaries are a distant third.
Historically, between 500 and 5,000 Sockeye Salmon spawned in shallow-water areas with cold
water upwelling around Lake Washington (primarily around Mercer Island), however Sockeye
Salmon have not been observed spawning along the Lake Washington lakeshore in recent years.
Figure 3-5. Number of Sockeye Salmon adults counted passing through the Ballard Locks (green), and
the number of naturally spawning Sockeye Salmon adults observed in the Cedar River
(blue).
Sockeye Salmon that use Kelsey and Coal Creeks for spawning are likely adult fish from the
Cedar River populations (both natural and hatchery-origin) that strayed into Bellevue streams.
Years with higher levels of Sockeye Salmon spawning activity in Kelsey and Coal Creek are
likely associated with years when there are large overall Sockeye Salmon returns to Lake
Washington. Relatively large numbers of Sockeye Salmon were observed in Kelsey Creek in
2000 and 2006 (Table 2-1), years when there were high overall returns to Lake Washington
(Figure 3-5). However, years with high overall Sockeye Salmon returns to Lake Washington do
not always translate into increased Sockeye Salmon spawning in Bellevue streams, indicating
that local conditions (habitat and water quality conditions or barriers to migration) throughout
the Kelsey Creek or Coal Creek basins may also affect the number of returning Sockeye Salmon.
In 2002 and 2004, large numbers of Sockeye Salmon returned to Lake Washington, yet relatively
small numbers of Sockeye Salmon were observed in the Kelsey Creek basin.
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Sockeye Past Ballard Locks Naturally Spawning Cedar River Sockeye
24
3.3 COHO SALMON USE
Naturally spawning Coho Salmon are not well monitored in the Lake Washington Watershed.
Historically, Kelsey Creek and its tributaries were a major producer of Coho Salmon (Report
1948), but populations have declined significantly with increased land use. Infrequent spawning
surveys of the basin between 1976 and 1981 found between 3 and 80 returning adult Coho
Salmon (Scott et al. 1986, WDFW unpublished data set 1976-1981). Valley Creek, a tributary to
Kelsey Creek, particularly contributed to the productivity of the Kelsey Creek basin as a whole.
Spawning surveys in 1981 found more Coho Salmon spawners per river mile in Valley Creek
compared to Kelsey Creek (Morrice and Johnson 1982). Another study in 1981 found 50 times
as many juvenile Coho Salmon per square meter in Valley Creek as the mainstem of Kelsey
Creek (Scott et al 1986).
Less information is known about the historical Coho Salmon populations in Coal Creek. Coal
tailings from the coal mining in the basin significantly decreased existing fish populations in the
late 1800s (Report 1948). Coho Salmon were transplanted from the Issaquah Hatchery in the
mid-1940s to help restore a natural run (Report 1948) and from 1994-1997 between 9,000 and
13,800 juvenile Coho Salmon were planted by WDFW (Kerwin 2001). Broadly, wild
populations of Coho Salmon have declined significantly throughout the Puget Sound (Losee et al
2019). Natural Lake Washington Coho Salmon escapement peaked at over 30,000 in 1970 (Fresh
[c.1990]), however fish counts at the Ballard Locks indicate that in recent years 85-90% of adult
Coho Salmon entering the Lake Washington system are hatchery-origin fish returning to
Issaquah Hatchery (Figure 3-6). Coho Salmon that utilize habitat throughout the Kelsey and Coal
Creek basins are likely a combination of hatchery-origin adults from the Issaquah Hatchery
program and small numbers of naturally spawned fish from these basins.
Figure 3-6. Lake Washington Coho Salmon returns (Natural-Origin and Hatchery-Origin) based on
fish counts at Ballard Locks from 2002 through 2022.
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Lake Washington Coho
Hatchery Origin Coho Natural Origin Coho
25
Bellevue streams may be supplemented by the release of small numbers of Coho Salmon fry
raised from eggs donated by the Issaquah Hatchery in partnership with educational Salmon in the
Classroom programs and private individuals. Most allocations are marginal; about 200 eggs for
classroom programs and 5,000 eggs for two private incubation projects, one located in Reach 7
of Kelsey Creek and second located near the mouth of Coal Creek. It is expected that these
educational Coho Salmon fry releases typically experience poor survival to adulthood. Hatchery-
origin Coho Salmon fry released from these sites are not marked and therefore any returning
adults would be counted as natural-origin fish.
In 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021, and 2022 the City of Bellevue worked with the Muckleshoot Indian
Fisheries staff to release adult Coho Salmon from the Issaquah Hatchery to the Kelsey and Coal
Creek basins. There was poor spawning success for fish released to the Kelsey Creek basin
(Table 3-1).
Table 3-1. Total number of outplanted male, female, and jack Coho Salmon in Kelsey Creek per year
and their spawning success (number of redds/number of females).
Kelsey
Year
Females
Males
Jacks
Male + Female
Total
Redds
Spawning Success
2013
NA
NA
NA
1150
123
NA
2014
294
349
0
643
0
0.0%
In comparison, releases in Coal Creek had spawning success rates (the proportion of females that
built redds) that ranged between 21.4% and 44.0% over the five years that outplanting occurred
(Table 3-2). The higher-than-average adult Coho Salmon returns to Bellevue streams (especially
Coal Creek) observed in 2016 and 2017 were likely a result of the hatchery Coho Salmon adult
outplanting that occurred in 2013 and 2014 (Table 2-4).
Table 3-2. Total number of outplanted male, female, and jack Coho Salmon in Coal Creek per year and
their spawning success (number of redds/number of females).
Coal
Year
Females
Males
Jacks
Male + Female
Total
Redds
Spawning Success
2013
NA
NA
NA
742
152
NA
2014
540
1032
1
1572
173
32.0%
2019
533
516
NA
1049
114
21.4%
2021
263
335
50
598
108
41.1%
2022
248
285
103
533
109
44.0%
This suggests Bellevue streams are capable of producing natural-origin Coho Salmon through
good in-gravel survival and juvenile rearing, and that the practice of using adult transplants from
26
Issaquah Hatchery may be an effective tool for augmenting Coho Salmon returns in these
streams in future years.
Coho Salmon are considered an important sentinel species for stormwater and water quality in
urban streams (Spromberg and Scholz 2011). Observations of Coho Salmon pre-spawn mortality
and impaired swimming ability (loss of equilibrium, circular surface swimming, gaping, and
immobility) have been linked to urban areas with more roads and impervious surfaces (Feist et
al. 2018). These symptoms can affect as much as 90% of the returning fall run in urbanized areas
(Spromberg and Scholz 2011). Recently, researchers from the Center for Urban Waters in
Tacoma, the University of Washington, and Washington State University were able to identify
that a chemical biproduct of automobile tires leaching onto roadways is the source of the
observed Coho Salmon mortality (Tian et al. 2020). Proper filtration of stormwater through soil
systems can mitigate the effects of the pollutants (Spromberg et al. 2016) but these mitigation
strategies are not widely used at this time. Investigating options to improve water quality and
stream habitat in Bellevue streams may be vital to improving the success of Coho Salmon returns
in the future.
3.4 COASTAL CUTTHROAT TROUT AND KOKANEE USE
Coastal Cutthroat are common in Bellevue streams, particularly the Kelsey Creek basin where
they have been found to be the most prevalent salmon species that spawn in the basin (Scott et al.
1986). Spawning surveys are not well documented for Cutthroat Trout, and their exact use of
Bellevue streams is not well known. However, they are considered to be abundant in Lake
Washington and have a great enough population to support year-round sport fisheries. Their
presence and overlapping run time with Coho Salmon may also have inflated past assessments of
Coho Salmon redds and may be worth further investigation.
The 1946 Washington Department of Game surveys reported the Kokanee run in Coal Creek as
“excellent” and documented a “poor” run in Mercer Slough (Garlick 1946), but there is very
little information about Kokanee spawning in Bellevue streams since that time. It is widely
considered that the one prevalent Lake Washington/Lake Sammamish Kokanee population has
been reduced from three historic runs, to one exceptionally small population that exclusively
spawns in Lake Sammamish tributaries (Berge and Higgins 2003). A spawning pair discovered
in Coal Creek Reach A in 2020 was exceptional and is important to note.
3.5 COMPARISONS WITH SALMON WATCHER OBSERVATIONS
Salmon Watcher data is generally consistent with professional salmon spawning surveys but
allows for a greater observation area. This is particularly true now that professional spawning
surveys have ceased in the Kelsey Creek basin with the adoption of a new EMP Implementation
27
Plan. Data collected by volunteers is a cost-effective way to continue to observe the basin and
may help determine if future professional surveys should resume. In several cases, Salmon
Watchers have observed fish presence that the professional surveys did not record. One example
is the kokanee returns observed in Lewis Creek (stream site 327), a known spawning location of
the remaining population in Lake Sammamish. Another important Salmon Watcher observation
was made upstream of the professional survey reaches in West Tributary in 2018. While those
fish were not positively identified to species, reported behavior and timing suggest that they were
likely Coho Salmon. In Coal Creek, the timing of Salmon Watcher observations generally
matches professional survey observations, but species identification has not always been
consistent. Chinook, Sockeye and Coho salmon may all be present concurrently in Coal Creek
and volunteers can have difficulty differentiating between them. Salmon Watchers are also more
likely to report a sighting as an unknown species. However, general descriptions and
comparisons to the professional spawning surveys can inform the most likely identification,
making this information valuable.
3.6 RECOMMENDATIONS
Maintaining and restoring streams and riparian corridors is an increasingly difficult task in urban
stream systems like the Kelsey and Coal Creek basins. Sustaining and restoring natural stream
processes that support salmon life stages maintains public interest and inspires people to work
toward preserving this important natural resource. The following recommendations, used in
conjunction with on-going stream environmental monitoring, will help maintain and enhance
interest in restoring naturally producing salmon and restoring salmon spawning and rearing
habitat in Bellevue streams.
• Continue support of Bellevue Utilities Environmental Monitoring Program.
• Support and implement projects, programs and policies identified in the fourth coming
City Watershed Improvement Plan (2023) and forthcoming Watershed Management Plan
to help improve the health of Bellevue Streams.
• Continue monitoring adult salmon returns in Coal Creek using professional weekly
surveys, and in the Greater Kelsey Creek Watershed using volunteer programs and/or
streamside property owner observations.
• Monitor conditions in Mercer Slough and the Kelsey Creek fish ladder to ensure there is
unimpeded fish passage during the adult migration season (mid-August through
October).
28
• Encourage property owner best management practices for overall watershed health, with
specific emphasis on streamside properties (i.e. riparian plantings, eliminating use of
pesticides/herbicides, discourage riprap/velocity increasing bank armoring, cleaning up
after pets, keep pets out of streams, limit access points to reduce disturbance/erosion,
etc.).
• Encourage invasive species management, community awareness, and control efforts,
specifically for reducing the spread of New Zealand Mudsnails and knotweed, but also
for other new and emerging non-native species (e.g. Asian Clawed Frog).
• Continue to release Coho Salmon adults from the Issaquah Hatchery to the Coal Creek
basin to encourage natural spawning and smolt production.
• Provide outreach opportunities for the general public about salmon utilization of Bellevue
streams, how they can contribute to the success of salmon and reduce the effects of
urbanization on our streams and watersheds.
29
4. REFERENCES
Anchor QEA. 2012. 2011 salmon spawner surveys Kelsey Creek, West Tributary, Richards
Creek, and Coal Creek: Bellevue spawner surveys. Prepared for City of Bellevue, Utilities
Engineering Divisions, Watershed Planning Team.
Bean, T.H. 1891. Kennerly’s salmon. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc., Twentieth Annual Meeting,
Washington, D.C.
Berge, H.B., and K. Higgins. 2003. The current status of Kokanee in the greater Lake
Washington Watershed. Technical report by the King County Department of Natural
Resources and Parks, Seattle Washington.
Berge, H.B., M.L. Hammer and S.R. Foley. 2006. Timing, abundance, and population
characteristics of spawning Chinook Salmon in the Cedar/Sammamish Watershed.
Technical report by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks and
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Feist, B.E., E.R. Buhle, D.H. Baldwin, J.A. Spromberg, S.E. Damm, J.W. Davis, and N.L.
Schiltz. 2018. Road to ruin: conservation threats to a sentinel species across an urban
gradient. Ecological Applicants 27(8):2382-2396.
Fresh, K.L. [c. 1990s.] Lake Washington fisheries: A historical perspective. State Department of
Fisheries. Historical Lake Washington Chinook Salmon Records 7:3
Garlick, L.R. 1946. Report on check of silver trout run in Lake Washington tributaries.
Unpublished report. Washington Dept. of Game, Olympia
Irvine, J. R., and Fukuwaka, M. 2011. Pacific salmon abundance trends and climate change.
ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68(6):1122–1130.
Losee, J., N.W. Kendall, and A.M. Dufault. 2019. Changing salmon: An analysis of body mass,
abundance, survival, and productivity trends across 45 years in Puget Sound. Fish and
Fisheries, 00:1-18.
Hahn, P.J.K., M.C. Mizell, C. Kraemer and P. Castle. 2003. Assessment of Chinook Salmon redd
life and spawner escapement in the Skagit, Stillaguamish, and Snohomish River systems,
2001. Report to U.S. CTC and U.S. NMFS. Washington Department of Fisheries, Olympia,
WA.
Herrera Environmental Consultants, Inc., 2022. Bellevue Utilities Environmental Monitoring
Program: Implementation Plan. Prepared for City of Bellevue, Bellevue Utilities
Department.
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Hilborn, R., B.G. Bue and S. Sharr. 1999. Estimating spawning escapements from periodic
counts: a comparison of methods. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science
56:888-896.
King County. 2016. 2015 volunteer salmon watcher program annual report: Lake Washington
watershed and other Puget Sound streams. Prepared by Jennifer Vanderhoof, Water and
Land Resources Division. Seattle, Washington.
King County Water and Lands Resource Division (WLRD). 2016. Lake Washington/
Cedar/Sammamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan.
Morrice R. and A. Johnson. 1982. Salmon spawning ground report- 1981. Washington
Department of Fisheries. Olympia, Washington.
Moscrip A.L. and D.R. Montgomery. 1997. Urbanization, flood frequency, and salmon
abundance in Puget Sound lowland Streams. Journal of the American Water Resources
Association 33(6)1289-1297.
Puget Sound Indian Tribes and the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). 2017.
Comprehensive Management Plan for Puget Sound Chinook: Harvest Management
Component.
Richey, J.S. 1982. Effects of urbanization on a lowland stream in western Washington. PhD.
Dissertation, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Report on the condition of spawning tributaries of the Lake Washington watershed. 1948.
Historical Lake Washington Chinook Salmon Records 4:17
Ruckleshaus, M.H., K.P. Currens, W.H. Graeber, R.R. Fuerstenberg, K. Rawson, N.J. Sands, and
J.B. Scott. 2006. Independent populations of Chinook Salmon in Puget Sound. U.S. Dept. of
Commerce, NOAA Technical Memo. NMFS-NWFWC-78.
Scholz, N.L., M.S. Myers, S.G. McCarthy, J.S. Labenia, J.K. McIntyre, G.M. Ylitalo, L.D.
Rhodes, C.A. Laetz, C.M. Stehr, B.L. French, B. McMillan, D. Wilson, L. Reed, K.D.
Lynch, S. Damm, J.W. Davis, and T.K. Collier. 2011. Recurrent die-offs of adult coho
salmon returning to spawn in Puget Sound Lowland Urban Streams. PLoSOne 6(12)
e28013.
Scott, J.B., C.R. Steward and Q.J. Stober. 1986. Effects of urban development on fish population
dynamics in Kelsey Creek, Washington. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
115:555-567.
Smith, C. and P. and Castle. 1994. Puget Sound Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
escapement estimates and methods – 1991. Northwest Fishery Resource Bulletin. Project
Report Series No. 1.
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Spence, B.C., G.A. Lomnicky, R.M. Hughs, and R.P. Novitzki. 1996. An ecosystem approach to
salmonid conservation. TR-4501-96-6057. Management Technology. 356 p.
Spromberg J.A. and N.L. Scholz. 2011. Estimating the future decline of wild Coho salmon
populations resulting from early spawner die-offs in urbanizing watersheds of the Pacific
Northwest, USA. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 9999.
Spromberg J.A., D.H. Baldwin, S.E. Damm, J.K. McIntyre, M. Huff, C.A. Sloan, B.F.
Anulacion, J.W. Davis, and N.L. Scholz. 2016. Coho salmon spawner mortality in Western
US urban watersheds: bioinfiltration prevents lethal storm water impacts. Journal of
Applied Ecology 53:398-407.
Tian Z., H. Zhao, K.T. Peter, M. Gonzalez, J. Wetzel, C. Wu, X. Hu, J. Prat, E. Mudrock, R.
Hettinger, A.E. Cortina, R.G. Biswas, F.V.C. Kock, R. Soong, A. Jenne, B. Du, F. Hou, H.
He, R. Lundeen, A. Gilbreath, R. Sutton, N.L. Scholz, J.W. Davis, M.C. Dodd, A. Simpson,
J.K. McIntyre, E.P. Kolodziej. 2020. A ubiquitous tire rubber–derived chemical induces
acute mortality in Coho salmon. Science 371(6525):185-189
Watershed Company, 2009. 2008 salmon spawner surveys: Kelsey Creek, West Tributary,
Richards Creek and Coal Creek. Prepared for City of Bellevue, Contracting Services.
Whiley, T. 2009. Review of storm-event water quality data – City of Bellevue. Washington State
Department of Ecology Publication no. 09-10-038.
32
5. APPENDIX
Table 5-1. Volunteer observers who reported data during the 2011-2022 seasons.
Peggy Albin
Audrey Gao
Ed Niblock
Marisol Asselta
Preston Glidden
Steve Palmen
April Atwood
Laurie Gogic
Betty Peltzer
Kathleen Auld
Doug Greaves
Cindy Reed
Ruth Bacha
Ron Green
David Reitz
Hilary Barnes
Faye Haas
Kevin Ruuhela
Diane Bell
Erica Halford
Phil Sandifer
Bryan Bendix
Cameron Haslam
Martha Schindler
Marilyn Blue
Evelyn Heath
Henry Shirinyan
Tom Blue
Jana Hindman
Neil Skilton
Cindy Boyer
Neal Hines
Tim Skilton
Richard Brashen
Jeff Hsia
Mary Smith
Joe Carrol
Bev Jennings
Scott Smouse
Heather Chaney
Jeremy Jones
John Spilker
Eric Chaney
Kevin Jones
Brent Spurgeon
James Chaney
Leah Juhle
Catherine Spurgeon
Michael Chaney
Tatsu Komada
John Stephenson
Kellene Collins
Janusz Komorowski
Becky Stephenson
Kate Conant
Tommy Kraft
Gregg Takamura
Paul Cooper
Debra Kumar
Surys Tewari
Nancy Daar
Dylan Larrivee
Roshni Tewari
Karen Dawson
Jim Laughlin
Lew Thorson
Harriet Dempsey
Rich Leighton
Gazel Tan
Lisa Denbeste
Ken Mackey
Krys Tierney
Tianmin Ding
Kurt Manning
Kay Tokuda
Siyao Ding
Alina Marshall
Gary Tribble
Carol Druse
Maria Marshall
Carla Trsek
Greg Druse
Lynn McKay
Calvin Wang
Harry Dursch
Krys McMahon
Leslie Waters
Art Eash
Jim McRoberts
Nancy Weisel
Ilya Elkin
Jeff Mendenhall
Barb Williams
Gary Emerson
Dave Mickelson
Steve Williams
Kelly Fine
Chris Mitchell
Gregg Wilson
Ernie Frankenberg
Mary Alice Moran
Karen Winter
Hon Cheung Fung
Danny Murray
Kyoko Yoshikawa
Jeannette Gaines
Anna Murray
Jon Aaron Yurchak
33
Table 5-2. Counts of live, dead, and redds for Chinook Salmon in Bellevue streams for years 1999-
2022.
Color indicates a survey was performed.
AUG
1999 11 69 31
111
2000 0 1 4 4 3 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0
17
2001 4 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9
2002 0 1 4 0 5 3 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
16
2003 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1
2004 0 2 0 0 2 2 9 2 3 0 0 0 0
20
2005 0 3 2 2 11 2 3 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
27
2006 12 29 10 35 51 31 0 0 0 0 0
168
2007 5 3 15 17 55 72 23 22 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
221
2008 6 9 2 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25
2009 0 0 1 3 0 3 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11
2010 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2
2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
2012 0 0 0 0 0 5 3 4 5 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
19
2013 1 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9
2014 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1
2015 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10
2016 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 6 2 1 0
13
2017 0 0 0 0 4 8 6 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22
2018 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
2019 0 1 0 6 8 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21
2020 0 0 0 0 8 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11
2021 0 0 0 3 12 18 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
41
2022 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
1999 5 39 73
117
2000 0 0 1 3 2 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 0
13
2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
2002 0 1 1 0 0 4 6 0 0 0 0 0 0
12
2003 0 0 0 0 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6
2004 0 2 2 4 0 5 22 8 37 8 0 0 0
88
2005 0 1 2 0 13 8 9 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
37
2006 23 18 17 22 84 37 17 1 0 1 0
220
2007 1 0 5 7 15 18 64 24 16 4 1 0 0 0 0 0
155
2008 6 4 20 2 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
38
2009 0 0 0 1 1 4 5 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15
2010 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1
2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1
2012 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1
2013 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3
2014 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
2015 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
3
2016 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0
4
2017 0 0 0 0 1 5 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18
2018 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
2
2019 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9
2020 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9
2021 0 0 0 1 1 9 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15
2022 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
1999 1 45 30
76
2000 1
1
2001 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
4
2002 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5
2003 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
2004 0 0 0 0 1 3 10 1 2 0 0 0 0
17
2005 0 0 0 0 3 4 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14
2006 4 10 14 12 36 12 2 0 0 0 0
90
2007 0 0 0 4 9 34 15 12 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
77
2008 0 4 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8
2009 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3
2010 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1
2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
2012 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1
2013 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3
2014 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2
2015 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2
2016 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 1 0 0
7
2017 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5
2018 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
2019 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7
2020 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3
2021 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3
2022 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0
Week 2
Live
Carcass
Redd
Week 48
Week 49
Week 50
Week 51
Week 52
Week 1
Bellevue
Streams
Chinook
Week 45
Week 46
Week 47
TOTALS
Week 35
Week 36
Week 37
Week 38
Week 39
Week 40
Week 41
Week 42
Week 43
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANUARY
Week 44
34
Table 5-3. City of Bellevue anadromous salmonid spawning ground survey implementation information (1999-
2022).
Year
Kelsey
Creek
West
Tributary
Richards
Creek
Coal
Creek
Data
Format
Surveyor
Reporting
Agency
1999
X
Excel
?
2000
X
X
Excel
?
2001
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
Taylor Assoc.?
2002
X
X
X
Excel
Watershed Co.
Watershed Co.
2003
X
X
X
Excel
Watershed Co.
Watershed Co.
2004
X
X
X
Excel
Watershed Co.
Watershed Co.
2005
X
X
X
Excel
Watershed Co.
Watershed Co.
2006
X
X
X
Excel
Watershed Co.
Watershed Co.
2007
X
X
X
Excel
Watershed Co.
Watershed Co.
2008
X
X
X
X
Excel
Watershed Co.
Watershed Co.
2009
X
X
X
X
Excel
Watershed Co.
Watershed Co.
2010
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
2011
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
Anchor QEA
2012
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
2013
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
2014
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
2015
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
2016
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
2017
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
WDFW
2018
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
2019
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
WDFW
2020
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
WDFW
2021
X
X
X
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
Bellevue/WDFW
2022
X
SGS / Excel
WDFW
WDFW
Source: WDFW Spawning Ground Survey (SGS) database, Anchor 2012, The Watershed Company 2008.
35
Table 5-4. Survey Reach Descriptions.
Stream
Reach
Reach Description
RM
Start
RM
Stop
Kelsey Creek
Trestle
I-405 to 121st Ave SE
1.9
2.0
Kelsey Creek
Wetland
Lake Hills Connector to Kelsey Creek Farm
2.2
2.4
Kelsey Creek
Reach A
Kelsey Creek Farm to footpath on right.
3.0
3.2
Kelsey Creek
Reach 1
Foot path on right to Kelsey Creek Park
footbridge.
3.2
3.4
Kelsey Creek
Reach 2
Footbridge to third bridge on golf course.
3.4
3.6
Kelsey Creek
Reach 3
Third golf course bridge to first cement
weir/pump house on river left.
3.6
3.8
Kelsey Creek
Reach 4
First cement weir to brown bridge with
stone posts.
3.8
4.0
Kelsey Creek
Reach 5
Brown bridge with stone posts to NE 8th St
culvert.
4.0
4.4
Kelsey Creek
Reach 6
NE 8th St (at 132nd) to Valley Creek/140
th
Ave NE.
4.4
5.1
Kelsey Creek
Reach 7
Valley Creek/140
th
Ave NE to 148th Ave
NE.
5.1
5.8
Richards Creek
Confluence
Confluence with Kelsey Creek to
intersection of Lake Hills Connector Rd and
Richards Rd.
0.0
0.3
West Tributary
Reach 1
Confluence with Kelsey Creek to first
footbridge in Kelsey Creek Park.
0.0
0.3
West Tributary
Reach 2
First footbridge to second footbridge.
0.3
0.5
West Tributary
Reach 3
Second footbridge to golf course boundary.
0.5
0.7
West Tributary
Reach 4
Golf course southern boundary to northern
boundary.
0.7
0.9
West Tributary
Reach 5
Private property to NE 8th St.
0.9
1.3
Coal Creek
Reach A
Skagit Key to I-405 culvert.
0.0
0.6
Coal Creek
Reach 1
I-405 (119th Ave SE) to Coal Creek
Parkway.
0.7
2.2
Coal Creek
Reach 2
Coal Creek Parkway to first footbridge on
left (second tributary on the left when
walking upstream).
2.2
2.4
Coal Creek
Reach 2b
First footbridge to third footbridge.
2.4
3.5
