Viewing the salmon run in Olympia, Tumwater

Olympia is inviting community members to watch the chinook salmon run currently happening in the city’s waters.

In a social media post, the city announced that chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are returning to their birthplaces to spawn from late August to mid-September.

“Come view these magnificent northwest icons as they make their way to Tumwater Falls!” the city said.

Community members and interested onlookers may witness the phenomenon at 5^th Avenue Bridge in Olympia as the salmon make their way to Tumwater Falls.

Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, spring salmon, tyee, winter, quinnat, or blackmouth, are native fish whose territory range from California down south to Alaska up north. A Seattle Times report says that the salmon population has shrunk to 40%, due to several factors such as losing spawning grounds to habitat alterations such as dams and waterways.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) currently classifies the chinook salmon as a protected species under the Endangered Species Act.

“Two species of chinook salmon are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, seven species are listed as threatened under the ESA, and one species is a candidate for listing under the ESA,”  NOAA explained on its website.

Olympia has salmon stewards from the volunteer group Stream Team on weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m., and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., to answer questions.

For more salmon viewing information for Olympia and Tumwater, click here.