As spring unfolds across the region, thousands of young coho salmon are beginning a remarkable, but often unseen, journey from their freshwater birthplaces to the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. Known as the “silent migration,” these juvenile coho—or smolts—make their way through urban waterways, including the Colquitz River, navigating culverts, pollution, and development on their path to the sea.
To shine a light on this critical phase of the salmon life cycle, Peninsula Streams Society is operating a smolt trap on the Colquitz River for its second year. Staff and dedicated volunteers are out daily, carefully counting and identifying juvenile salmon and sea-run cutthroat trout as they pass downstream. The information collected helps assess the health of fish populations and the broader ecosystem, guiding ongoing habitat restoration efforts.
