Confronting New Challenges

Constructing and testing Washington’s first salmon trap in over 80 years, there is a lot to learn and many new challenges to confront on a daily basis.  One of these challenges is the presence of marine mammals, including seals and sea lions. Adapting to an increased presence of these amazing animals in 2017, the crew has constructed a large marine mammal gate at the entrance to the heart of the trap. This new modification has been incredibly successful in safely enabling passage of thousands of adult salmon into the heart and spiller of the trap, while barring entry from many curious mammals passing by. Innovations such as these continue to make 2017 a huge success!