September 24, 2 — 5 p.m.
Young hatchery visitors get up close and personal with Glenwood Springs Chinook. Photo courtesy of Long Live the Kings
Seattle-based non-profit Long Live the Kings (LLTK) will welcome public visitors to its Glenwood Springs Hatchery on Orcas Island on Saturday, September 24, in celebration of salmon homecoming.
The event will feature tours of the hatchery, holding ponds, and grounds; science displays; and opportunities to learn how this unique natural-rearing facility has supported a popular Chinook fishery in the North Sound for over two decades without endangering wild fish.
This is a particularly special year at Glenwood Springs, as more than 1,300 Chinook have already returned to the hatchery and there are many more jumping in the bay, preparing to climb the ladder. This is great news for the program, which, between 2004 and 2009, had less than 50 Chinook return each year.
After numerous modifications to the hatchery program and one year of importing eggs from other programs to ensure they have enough fish to rear and release, they are thrilled to see the strong returns.
It is also the 25th anniversary year for Long Live the Kings, so this is a wonderful birthday gift and gives the hatchery (and the Orcas community) much to celebrate.
Glenwood Springs is located at 1649 Olga Rd. visit their website, or contact Carol McGrath at (206) 382-9555, x21 or cmcgrath@lltk.org for more information.
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When we first moved to the island 25 years ago we volunteered at the hatchery for about 10 consecutive years. It is tremendous what the Youngrens have done and rewarding to know the program thrives!
Fantastic!!!!!!