We are very fortunate to have two outstanding underwater photographers helping us raise awareness of the incredible abundance and resiliency of the Butte Creek salmon population. We are also filming with a GoPro focusing on the many juveniles who are spending the summer with us! These fish will go out as yearlings with the first fall rains. Their success rate is many time better than the young of the year juveniles which is the predominant salmon life history in Butte Creek. Their return rate is much lower but there are many more. All told, this life history diversity is part of the success story on Butte Creek.
Sage Ono, https://www.sageonophotography.com/, captured these rearing juveniles in the Helltown area on May 14th. They are around 60 to 70 millimeters, or 2 to 3 inches.
Anton Sorokin, https://www.antonsorokin.com/, spent a lot of time on the bottom of the creek to capture this image. The physical size of this years fish is remarkable. Most fish are in the 36-40 inch range and weighing 15-25 pounds. More later on this incredible run.