Where Have All the Salmon Gone?

Spotted Owl. Bald Eagle. Orca. Many of these popular Pacific Northwest species have received a lot of attention because they have faced threats from human disturbances in our area. How are the salmon doing?

Through this assignment, you will . . .

• • Graph salmon population trends from data provided

  • Map the threatened/endangered status of local fish species

• Analyze human impacts on salmon health

Part 1: Salmon Data over Time:

Using Washington state data, graph the populations of salmon species over the years. Use different colors for the different species.

Then, read this time line of historical events.

In your journal, please respond ...

1. For each salmon species, is the population increasing or decreasing over time?

2. From reading the time line, what are some specific events in history that cause the salmon populations to decrease? Give 2 examples.

3. How does the life cycle of the Pink salmon affect its population from year to year?

Part 2: Are Salmon on the Olympic Peninsula Endangered?

We are going find out what fish species are endangered or threatened on the Olympic Peninsula.

First, read about the Endangered Species Act.

Go to the WA Fish and Wildlife website Threatened and Endangered Species page.

Search by animal type and enter "fish."

Scroll through the species list and find the fish. Be sure to look for salmon as well as steelhead and trout.

In your journal, please do the following...

• Describe what is the difference between a threatened and endangered species listing.

  • Write down which fish species are endangered (E) and which are threatened (T) in our state and/or region.

Optional:

Go to US Fish and Wildlife website Endangered Species Program: Species Search Map.

Click on Washington state.

Scroll through the species list and find the fish.Be sure to look for salmon as well as steelhead and trout.

Then, work as a group. Using the Endagered Species Act (ESA) information, add to our map the regions where fish species are endangered on the Peninsula. Use different colors or symbols to represent each species. Plan ahead before you start working: how will you show the areas where species overlap? Make sure to add the new colors or symbols to the map key.

Part 3: What's Affecting the Salmon?

Please read the Seattle Times article on the Puget Sound salmon crisis: "Puget Sound Salmon on the Brink"

In the article, Will Stelle, head of the federal fisheries recovery program, says that the problem of the salmon decline needs to be solved by "a thousand stitches." He is responding to a common phrase of "death by a thousand cuts." Many people say that the salmon are declining due to a "death by a thousand cuts" meaning that there are thousands of little things affecting salmon. The overall result is that the salmon populations are declining.

In your journal, brainstorm a list of what you think is causing salmon populations to decline.

Then as a class, combine your lists into a large list on the whiteboard. How many did you come up with?