Contact: Carolyn Duncan, DNR, 206-296-8304 Watch and learn about salmon in the Cedar River
Bring your family to the Cedar River Saturday to learn about the epic journey that takes place each fall as salmon return to spawn. Beginning this weekend, volunteer naturalists will be at three spots along the river to explain the natural and human history of the river, the life cycle and habitat needs of fish and the current threats to the health of salmon runs. The naturalists will be at sites where you are likely to see sockeye and chinook salmon.
"Our naturalists are people who care enough about our quality of life and the role salmon play in our environment that they are willing to spend their personal time learning and teaching the story of the Cedar River," said Nancy Hansen, manager of the Water and Land Resources Division of King County’s Department of Natural Resources. The 25 volunteers have spent more than 20 hours in classroom and field training to prepare for the Cedar River Salmon Journey program.
Volunteer naturalists will be at Riverview Park, Cavanaugh Ponds and Landsburg on the Saturdays of October 17th and 24th and November 7th between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. See below for directions to the river sites.
The volunteers will also have information for people who want to do things at home that will help save salmon.
Sponsors of the Cedar River Salmon Journey program are: Cedar River Council, the Renton Parks Department, the King County Park system, the Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Public Utilities and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Partial funding is by a generous grant from The Boeing Company.
Directions:
Parking lot is located on South-side of Hwy. 169 (also known as Maple Valley Hwy.) approximately 2 miles from 405 overpass, between Bingo Hall and Cedar River Store. BE CAREFUL turning in and out of parking lot - on blind curve! If lot is full, go to Maplewood Roadside Park parking lot immediately west of Riverview Park and walk back to Riverview along Cedar River Trail.
Cavanaugh Pond is located on the north side of Hwy. 169, immediately adjacent to the Riverbend Mobile Home Court (less than 1 mile east of 149th Ave. SE intersection). Follow the fish signs. Park in Mobile Home Court parking lot.
From Hwy. 169, go to Four Corners Shopping Center (approximately 2 miles south of Hwy. 18 interchange). Turn left at Dairy Queen onto Kent-Kangley Rd. (also known as Hwy. 516). Go approximately 4 miles, turn left onto Landsburg Rd. SE at Ravensdale Store/Post Office. Go 2 miles, cross Cedar River, turn right into Landsburg Park.
For more information on salmon in the Cedar River visit http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/basins/journey.htm.