Outdoors Notebook | Not a lock, but sockeye fishery seems unlikely

The Lake Washington sockeye salmon watch is under way at the Ballard Locks fish ladder, and a fishery this summer seems unlikely at this point.

This summer's forecast is 124,000 sockeye, which falls well short of the 350,000 spawning escapement goal needed to open any type of fishery in the lake.

"You can never tell with paper fish [computer generated forecasts] what the outcome will be, and we'll have to wait to see the eyes of the fish to really know what's out there," said Mike Mahovlich, a Muckleshoot tribal biologist.

Through June 19, a total of 6,595 sockeye were counted at the locks, and the single-day counts surged from 834 fish on June 18 to 2,223 on June 19.

Those numbers are right on par to what was seen at the same time last year, but only half of the recent yearly average for the same date.

"The most recent yearly average [through June 19] is around 13,000 fish, so we are only at about half of that right now, and it is still too early to forecast anything. We'll just have to wait and see," said Steve Foley, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist.

One gap in the in-season data this summer is the delay of the sockeye test fishery on the west side of Vancouver Island that usually occurs this month through July.

"There was a lack of funding to do the test fishery so that will not occur until July 14, and by then most of the Lake Washington run has passed by that area," Mahovlich said.

The preseason forecast for Lake Washington is based mainly on sockeye fry production from spawners in 2003.

"There were good sockeye fry numbers, and the fry were in fairly good shape during their second stage of life," Mahovlich said. "But the following year, as far as tracking the sockeye smolts, there was very little evidence of them in the lake, but sometimes the gear [sonar devices] has problems tracking them and you can miss them."

Mahovlich says probably the most defining factor was that last year the three-year-old class of sockeye was the lowest return they've seen in 20 years.

"If you look at historical data, that usually translates into no fishery at all the following year," Mahovlich said. "Four-year-old sockeye make up the bulk of the numbers of fish returning each year. If we get a preseason forecast number of 125,000 or more, then we are doing good this year."

But never say never.

Last year, the forecast was 210,000 sockeye, but the run was 458,005. Sport fishing was open for 18 days, which was the longest season since 1996, when it was 25 days.

Notes

• The North Seattle Boys and Girls Club Elliott Bay Salmon Derby is July 19 at the Don Armeni boat ramp in West Seattle. Cost is $25. Largest fish is worth $1,000. Tickets available at Outdoor Emporium in Seattle. Details: 206-399-3575 or 206-624-6550 or www.ElliottBaySalmonDerby.com.

• The Edmonds Laebugten Salmon Chapter of Trout Unlimited meeting is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the South County Senior Center, 220 Railroad Ave. in Edmonds. Tom Nelson of Salmon University will discuss salmon fishing in Puget Sound. Details: www.geocitiescom/edmonds_laebugten/.

• The Renton Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers meeting is 6:15 p.m. July 11 at the Kennydale Memorial Hall, 2424 N.E. 27th St. in Renton. Jim Workman will discuss king fishing in Elliott Bay and Puget Sound, and Bill Meyer of Anglers Guide Service will discuss pink fishing in local rivers. Details: 206-218-9759 or www.rentonpsa.com.

• The Conconully Chamber of Commerce has placed two tagged trout weighing 3 pounds in Conconully Lake and Reservoir, and is offering a bounty this summer of $125 for each fish. Details: 877-826-9050.

• The special fall hunting application deadline for permit hunts on deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep and turkey is Thursday.

This year's special hunts include an additional 1,700 special-draw permits for antlerless elk in the Mount St. Helens area; 12 new "any bull" permits in Game Management Unit 418 (Nooksack); an additional 22 permits in the Blue Mountains for "any bull"; and 10 additional "any moose" permits in northeast Washington.

Applications are available at state Fish and Wildlife regional offices, license vendors or http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm. Applications must be submitted by calling 877-945-3492 or at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov.

• The NOAA Science Camp for seventh- and eighth-graders is 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. July 9-13 at the NOAA Office at Sand Point in Seattle. Activities include setting up sonar devices and tracking weather balloons, practicing whale identification techniques, responding to an oil spill and reading navigational charts. The camp also takes a field trip to the Pacific Science Center to view the treasures of NOAA's Ark Exhibit. Cost is $150. Details: 206-685-9117 or www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/sciencecamp.cfm.

• Cape Disappointment State Park and the Grassroots Garbage Gang need help for the Long Beach Cleanup 9:30 a.m. July 5. Volunteers will remove garbage at Seaview, Sid Snyder, Bolstad, Cranberry, Klipsan, Ocean Park and Oysterville. Details: 360-665-5388 or www.ourbeach.org.

• The Washington Trails Association is hosting an event titled "Families Go Hiking," a series of interactive educational clinics and guided hikes for families.

All hikes begin at 10 a.m.; reservations are required. Dates: July 21, Rattlesnake Lake, Hiking with Toddlers, coinciding with TrailsFest; Sept. 15, Park Butte-Railroad Grade, exploring nature using your five senses; and Oct. 13, Heather Lake, fabulous fall colors.

There also will be a clinic at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Seattle REI store that will teach the basics of hiking with kids of all ages, including trip planning, trail food, safety tips and what to bring on hikes. Details: 206-625-1367 or www.wta.org.

• A free shuttle service to Paradise on Mount Rainier is now operating Friday through Sunday until Labor Day.

The upper parking lot remains closed for construction work at Paradise. Visitors can park west of Paradise at the Cougar Rock Picnic Area or the lot west of Glacier Bridge to board the shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes.

The visitor center will remain open during construction, and dining at the Grill, nature walks and interpretive activities also will be available. There is no lodging at Paradise at the moment, but other options are the National Park Inn at Longmire and in communities outside the park.

The Sunrise area in Mount Rainier National park also has reopened, and offers interpretive programs at the visitor center. The snack bar at the Sunrise Lodge is currently open.

Many roads in the park remain closed due to last year's storm damage, but the Stevens Canyon Road reopened and provides access on the west side to Reflection Lake and on the east side to the Grove of the Patriarchs.

The White River Campground will open June 29. The White River Road to the campground opened last month providing access for climbers. The Mowich Lake Road is planned to open June 29 if snow on the roadway is cleared.

Due to extensive storm damage, the Carbon River Road will not be accessible by vehicles, and only by foot or bicycle. Details: www.nps.gov/mora/ or 360-569-2211.

• The Washington State Parks and Recreation Open House at Lincoln Rock in Chelan County is 1 p.m.-5 p.m. June 28.

Upgrades at the 80-acre camping park include new cabins with views of the Columbia River, air conditioning and custom furnishings. Each two-room cabin have a fire pit and picnic table. Cost is $45.

Other improvements include fencing, irrigation, foundations, tables, paths and asphalt for the parking areas.

Lincoln Rock State Park is a popular place for swimming, water-skiing, hiking trails and a variety of team sports on the large grassy field. The park also has children's play equipment, boat ramp (cost is $5 daily) and winter snow activities. The park is open from 6:30 a.m. to dusk during summer. Details: 509-226-7688 or www.parks.wa.gov.

• A new kayak skills symposium will be held Aug. 24-26 on the Lower Columbia River in Wahkiakum. The program for beginners takes kayakers through protected sloughs and islands. Advance kayakers will take on the wind, waves, and current of the open river.

Registration is limited to 60 people. Cost is $300 by July 2, and $350 after. details: www.columbiariverkayaking.com/roundup.html.

• It's the season for harbor-seal pups in the waters of the Puget Sound region, and visitors to beaches are asked to stay away from pups and their mothers, including pups that might appear to be abandoned.

The Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network reports that harbor seals come out of the water for several hours daily to regulate body temperature, interact with each other and to sleep. Those who see seals on beaches are asked to stay 100 yards away from the animals, do not feed them and keep pets away.

Mother seals may flee and leave a pup on the beach if humans approach, or may leave the pup briefly while hunting for food, but will not return when humans are present. Anecdotal reports indicate that pups have successfully reunited up to 48 hours after separation. If activity continues near the pup, the female may eventually give up trying to return. A nursing pup that is separated from its mother will not survive.

Those who see seal pups on Island or Skagit County beaches are asked to call 866-ORCANET or 360-678-3765, and the Stranding Network will assess whether there is a need to send a volunteer out to post signs or observe the pup. In the San Juan Islands, call 800-946-7227; and in Whatcom County, call 360-303-3608. To report distressed seal pups in other areas, call National Marine Fisheries Service at 206-526-6733. Details: www.nwr.noaa.gov/Marine-Mammals/upload/sealpups.pdf or www.orcanetwork.org/strandings.html.

• The North Cascades Institute and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest need volunteers from July 14 to Sept. 9 to educate day hikers, backpackers and climbers on the Heliotrope Ridge, Park Butte/Railroad Grade and Heather Meadows trails.

Volunteers will work three weekend daytime shifts on the lower segments of the high-use trails along with other mountain stewards. Volunteers must be 18 years or older with hiking skills and outdoor recreation experience. Training for the program will be held July 14 and 21, and Aug. 11 for Heather Meadows volunteers. Application deadline is June 22. Details: 360-856-5700, Ext. 209 or e-mail nci@ncascades.org.

• Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is offering a free summer lecture series, "Celebrating 20 years with Great Hits," to be held every Wednesday at 7 p.m. beginning July 11 and continuing through August. Lectures will be at the Visitor Center auditorium at the refuge, off Exit 114 from Interstate 5, eight miles north of Olympia.

Dates and topics: July 11, "Wings of Beauty," with Idie Ulch, founding president of the Washington Butterfly Association; July 18, "Restoring the Friendly Flame: Fire in the Dry Forests of the Pacific Northwest," with James Agee, University of Washington professor of forest resources; July 25, "A New Earthquake Paradigm for Western Washington," with UW geologist Brian Sherrod; Aug. 1, "Reflections on 25 Years of Rainforest Studies," with Nalini Nadkarni of The Evergreen State College; Aug. 8, "Rainbows on the Wing: Dragonflies" with Dennis Paulson, director emeritus of the Slater Museum of Natural History at the University of Puget Sound; Aug. 15, "The Future of Water, Ice, and Snow Under Global Warming," with UW professor Peter Rhines; Aug. 22, "The Secret Lives of Whales: Tracking the Movements and Underwater Behavior of Blue and Humpback Whales," with biologist John Calambokidis; and Aug. 29, "Wildlife of South Puget Sound: Ramblings about Seldom Seen Critters," with biologist Kelly McAllister. Details: 360-753-9467 or www.fws.gov/nisqually.

• East Lake Washington Audubon Society is offering a free seminar titled "The Alliance for Tompotika Conservation: New Life for the Maleo Bird," at 7 p.m. June 28 at the Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, 308 Fourth Ave. S. in Kirkland. Alliance director Marcy Summers is the speaker. The wildlife refuge, located in Sulawesi, Indonesia, is home to dozens of rare and endangered bird species. Details: 425-576-8805 or www.elwas.org.

• The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has launched a "Wear It!" life-jacket campaign. The "Be a Survivor!" essay contest entry forms are available at all West Marine stores. Contestants can submit an original story (350-700 words) that describes how someone was saved by wearing a life jacket. All entries must be received by Sept. 4. Details: www.safeboatingcampaign.com or www.cgaux.org.

• Rockport State Park on State Route 20, about seven miles east of Concrete in Skagit County, will be open for day-use only after forest health surveys found that the park's old-growth Douglas-fir forest is showing signs of structural instability and could put campers at risk.

Overnight camping by reservation is available nearby at Rasar State Park, about 18 miles west of Rockport. Those seeking other first-come, first-served camping in the area can head to Howard Miller Steelhead Park, a Skagit County facility in Rockport. Details: 360-853-8808 or www.parks.wa.gov.

• Outdoors enthusiasts, high-school seniors and others can volunteer to help restore storm wrecked Mount Rainier during a summer-long program hosted by the Student Conservation Association.

The first phase of the recovery program will run through July 28 using small groups of volunteers to remove debris, trail maintenance, and resource protection.

Areas of the park covered for work under the program are Longmire, Paradise Meadows, Sunrise-Berkeley Park, and Cougar Rock, Ohanapecosh, and White River campgrounds.

Volunteers will repair a part of Wonderland Trail June 2 on National Trails Day. Details: www.sca.org.

• Visitors to the Chief Joseph Dam are welcome to ride the electric cart to the visitor center at the top from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. now through Labor Day. Public tours of the powerhouse are also offered from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The dam is located near Bridgeport on the Columbia River. Details: 509-686-5501.

• Cape Disappointment State Park is hosting a free Lewis and Clark Expedition living-history event July 20-22 and are looking for volunteers.

Volunteers for the event titled: "Clark's Campsite" on Waikiki Beach near Ilwaco will greet visitors and explain how life was for the expedition back in 1805. Visitors will then walk to the beach where they can interact with expedition members at the camp.

The soldiers are members of the Pacific Northwest Living Historians who have conducted events at Fort Clatsop and Seaside, Ore. Details: 360-642 -- 3029 or email lcic@parks.wa.gov.

• Sea Sense the Women's Sailing & Powerboating School is hosting two boating courses for women in the San Juan Islands. The sailing class is July 15-21, and the powerboating course is July 28-Aug. 3 and Aug. 5-11. Cost is $2,195 for sail and $2,895 for power classes. Details: 800-332-1404 or www.seasenseboating.com.

• The world's top mountain bikers will head to Whistler Mountain Resort in British Columbia for the Kokanee Crankworx Mountain Bike Festival on July 21-29.

The festival will offer a wide range of mountain biking events, free daily concerts, drop-in clinics, latest in bikes and gear, pro demonstrations and a wide range of other activities. Details: www.crankworx.com.

• Alaskan fishing guide Dick Lange will host a seven-week classes titled: Fly Fishing 102, Fly Fishing for Salmon and Trout

The course is held once-a-week from 6:30-8:30 p.m. beginning July 11 at the Parks and Recreation Center Building in Woodinville.

Cost is $39 for Woodinville residents and $44.85 for non-residents, plus $10 for course manual. Details: 425.398.9327 or www.ci.woodinville.wa.us.

• The Rosario Resort & Spa on Orcas Island is offering a "Take a Hike, Clear a Trail, Enjoy a Vacation" travel package now through Sept. 3.

The three-hour-a-day program offers guests a chance to prepare trails for the Moran State Park's summer season and maintain them. Guests who volunteer will receive a special "green" rate of $119 per night, a 40 percent discount. Participants will also receive a 15 percent discount at Rosario's Avanyu spa.

Many cleanup sites will require three to four mile hikes, while others are accessible by vans provided by the resort. Activities will include brushing trails and removing unwanted weeds. Details: 866-801-ROCK or www.rosario.rockresorts.com.

• The Cycle Washington Memorial two-day bike ride from Seattle to Wenatchee is July 21-22. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Jill Spanjer Foundation and the Washington State RSVP Association. Details: www.cyclewamemorialride.com.

• The Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall holds numerous outdoors events, including a monthly "Tracking Club," that meets in Sultan on the third Saturday of each month now through May (but not December) from 9 a.m. to noon.

The program is open to naturalists, hunters and people curious about learning to identify, follow and understand stories written in tracks left by animals on the Skykomish River shoreline. Details: 425-788-1301 or www.wildernessawareness.org.

• The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group is looking for volunteers for the wild salmon recovery program now through June. Details: 360-275-3575 or email Chris Daniel at chris@hcseg.org.

• Alpine Ascents International Inc. will begin offering a variety of guided climbs and instructional programs on Mount Rainier starting next year. The group has scheduled more than 30 expeditions and more than 50 training courses in 14 countries, including the Arctic and Antarctic regions. These expeditions range from six-day training courses in the North Cascades and Alaska to three-month expeditions to Mount Everest to summit climbs and courses on Mount Rainier. Details: 206-378-1927 or www.AlpineAscents.com.

• The Washington Trails Association offers statewide trip reports and trail conditions. Details: www.wta.org.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offers various public classes through the year. The public also is invited to club meetings on the third Thursday of each month, at the Haller Lake Community Center, 12579 Densmore Ave N., in North Seattle. Details: 206-684-7524.

• The Emerald Sea Dive Club offers year-round activities including the big buddy program and weekly and monthly dives. The club meets on the first Wednesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. at Alfy's Pizza, 4820 196th S.W. in Lynnwood. Details: 425-775-2410 or www.emeraldseadiveclub.org.

• The Seattle Audubon Society offers field trips and classes every month. Details: 206-523-4483 or www.seattleaudubon.org.

• Northend Bassmasters is accepting new members who want to learn more about bass fishing. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway (Canyon Park) in Bothell. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

• Local Escapes, a local-based travel planner and tour operator, offers a two-night guided exploration of the Olympic Peninsula's rainforest, mountains and coastline.

The personal guided package offers snowshoeing, hiking and other recreational activities. The cost is $950 per person and includes two-night accommodations; transportation; all equipment including snowshoes, poles and raingear; park entrance fees and all meals and refreshments. Details: 877-780-4162 or www.localescapes.com.

• The Washington Audubon Society has unveiled a new section of the Great Washington State Birding Trail to include the Olympic Loop in the Olympic Peninsula.

The new route features more than 200 of Washington's 365 bird species. The trails are usually self-guided driving tours to places where birds are likely to be seen, and some include water routes where visitors can paddle canoes or kayaks. Copies of the trail maps can be ordered at www.wa.audubon.org.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com