Ballard Locks Sockeye Salmon Counts

Lake Washington sockeye salmon have been counted each year since 1972 as they enter freshwater at the Ballard Locks. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) counted the sockeye from 1972 through 1992, and currently Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and WDFW staffs conduct the counts cooperatively. Although small numbers of sockeye enter the system in May and early June, the period from the second week of June through the end of July is the standard counting interval used to determine if there are sufficient sockeye to open fishing seasons. Sockeye counts begin on June 12th each year to provide consistent data from year to year. The When the co-managers believe that the total run size includes sufficient surplus fish above the escapement goal of 350,000 sockeye, sport and Tribal fishing seasons will be opened. The pre-season forecast for the 2010 sockeye return is about 123,600. The estimate is based primarily upon fry production from the spawners in 2006 and 2007. Since lake and marine survival rates are highly variable from year to year, the actual return to Lake Washington could be higher or lower than 123,600.