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Estuary restoration with Mendy Harlow · Lightning Strikes Twice

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_01: Hello and welcome to Lightning Strikes Twice, the Seattle Aquariums podcast, where we get to spend a little extra time with the experts who appear during our Lightning Talks broadcast.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_01: My name is Carrie Garand.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_01: My pronouns are she and her, and I'm the interpretation training coordinator and a diver at the Seattle Aquarium.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm really excited because it's co-host time.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_01: With me today, I have Amy.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_01: Amy, would you like to introduce yourself?
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_03: My name is Amy Olsen.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_03: My pronouns are she, her, and I'm a research scientist at the Seattle Aquarium, and we will both be your co-hosts today.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_01: Fantastic.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_01: Now, our guest today, I am really excited to introduce or perhaps just reintroduce Mindy Harlow, who is the executive director of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much, Mindy, for spending time with us today.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_01: How are you doing?
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_02: I'm doing really well, and I really appreciate you asking me to be here again.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_02: It is a great opportunity for me to talk about salmon, which I really love, and the work that my organization has done and is doing to help restore their populations throughout Puget Sound.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_02: So thanks for having me here.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_02: Of course.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_03: Welcome.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_03: We last heard from Mendy during our lightning talk, salmon.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_03: And you can check that out along with all of our other past lightning talks on our Seattle Aquarium YouTube channel.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_03: But to sum it up, Mendy talked about the functional significance of healthy estuary habitat to Pacific salmon.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_03: Now, Mendy, we've set aside this time to talk about anything that you had to cut from your very short five-minute talk.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_03: And we're wondering if there's anything that you'd like to share with our audience today.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_02: Well, basically, salmon are these really complex species that have a very complex life history.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_02: And it's really difficult to sum everything up into five minutes.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_02: I really love seeing the audience questions, and I'm really looking forward today to having the opportunity to look at those and answer those questions in the best way that I can.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_01: But to start, there were quite a few questions that came in sort of about a salmon's process and that it goes through when it is moving from our freshwater rivers and streams.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_01: Salmon head out to the open ocean that's very salty.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_01: And then they're making a return journey back to freshwater.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_01: So they're living in both worlds.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, it's what we call being anadromous.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_01: And we had a whole slew of questions that were all around that.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_01: So, how are you feeling about salmon anatomy and physiology?
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, pretty good.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_02: I have a general, yeah, general understanding of how salmon anatomy changes as they go from freshwater water to salt water and then back into freshwater from saltwater.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_01: So much trouble.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, tell us more.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_01: Um one of the questions was like when we're thinking about an individual salmon, like how are they breathing?
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_01: Can they breathe in both fresh and salt water?
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_01: How are they doing that?
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so they are respirating in freshwater and salt water.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_02: Their gills basically go through changes when they move from salt water into freshwater and freshwater into salt water.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_02: Um so they have a process which is called osmoregulation, which is actually a process that we all use in the cells in our body.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_02: And it's basically just a fancy word for controlling bodily fluids.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_02: So specifically, when they start moving into the saltwater environment, they start taking in more water and their kidneys, they stop producing as much urine as they would have produced in the freshwater environment.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_02: So those of our listeners that remember biology classes may remember what's called a sodium potassium pump.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_02: And it's a pump in our cells that's responsible for transporting sodium ions in and out of the cell walls.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_02: So salmon cells use that sodium potassium pump to move sodium in the correct direction when they're in salt water and then in freshwater.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_02: So in the freshwater environment, they pump sodium in and out, in and out in the proper concentration.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_02: And when they come back into the freshwater, they do it in the opposite way.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_02: So they basically pump out the excess sodium and chloride chloride ions when they're in the salt water.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_02: And they also have very efficient kidneys that can remove excess salt through their urine and also their gills in their skin, similar to like seabirds and other creatures that live in the saltwater environment.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_02: So that is incredible.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_01: Salmon are doing a lot.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_01: Like just that their bodies know how to do all of these things as they're moving through these spaces.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_01: And also really cool to think about all the other animals that live in these habitats that might have some of those same adaptations.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_01: And thank you.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_01: You you got ahead of us on one of those questions, which was all about the kidneys.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_01: So you you beat us to the punch on that one, which is fantastic.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm definitely reliving like my high school bio class right now with that sodium potassium pump.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, good memories, good memories.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_01: So we're gonna level up with this next question, I think, because one of our audience members was wanting to know a little bit more, Mindy, about how we might take some of this knowledge and understanding of what salmon are doing.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_01: And can we scale this up for humans?
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_01: Very specifically, there's a lot of people in the world that might have an abundance of ocean water, but may not have access or there might be less fresh, healthy, clean water to use.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_01: And so, has there been anything that you know of that's going on that we might be able to use some of kind of that technology of what salmon are doing and be able to use that to make fresh water for humans?
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so there's definitely different technologies that desalination plants use to make salt water potable.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_02: So one method that is used currently is reverse osmosis, which works by using a semi-permeable membrane similar to a cell wall to separate water from small molecules and impurities that are found in salt water.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_02: So, yes, desalination technology currently uses a process that is very similar to the function of our cells and the cells of salmon as they remove that salt from inside of their cells.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_02: So, yes, it's currently being used.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_02: It's just an expensive process, and it would be great to see it replicated in more places where it's needed for sure.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_01: That sounds like a good opportunity for anybody who's interested in learning more or perhaps have some interesting ideas of how to scale up those sorts of things.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_01: And I love it when we can learn from one another, from our our animal counterparts, and that we can utilize some of that understanding and share that process.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_01: But I think I think we've got some other questions for you, Mindy, that take us in a slightly different direction.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, we do.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_03: Let's switch from biology and engineering and switch a little bit to toxics.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_03: Now I've heard a lot about this new chemical in Puget Sound and other areas that comes from car tires.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_03: I believe it's called 6P DQ.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_03: Is that right?
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, 6PPDQ.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_03: And so there's been a lot of concern about these toxics that come from our car tires of all of us who use cars and drive on throughout the city of Seattle and Washington and elsewhere.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_03: So have these toxics been found in the saltwater estuaries of the areas that you study?
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so as you mentioned, six ppd quinine quinone is toxin that's found in tires, and it is very deadly to salmon, unfortunately, um, even in very small concentrations.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_02: So this is really specifically a problem, especially when we have periods of dry weather, like you know, summertime, followed by a rain event that transports large concentrations of six ppd into rivers, creeks, and estuaries if they're right along a road.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_02: And in a lot of places, especially in Hood Canal and Puget Sound, there are places where the road is immediately on the estuary or right on a stream.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_02: So in places where there's not adequate stormwater treatment, this can definitely be a huge problem for salmon.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_02: So think about places where water runs directly off of a road into a salmon-bearing stream or estuary with without first being contained in a stormwater treatment pond or a bioswale or rain garden.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_02: Those are places where toxins can be removed.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_02: And with the absence of those, those toxins go directly into the environment.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_02: So some states are working on regulations that would make tire manufacturers find alternatives to that chemical, that six PPD.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_02: And here at Puget Sound, we're working really hard to develop stormwater treatment practices in areas where they're needed.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_02: So adding bile swales, adding stormwater treatment facilities so that those tire toxins don't end up in the estuary and in the freshwater environment where juvenile salmon and adult salmon live.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you for that.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_03: And you mentioned something called bioswell swales.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_03: I've never heard of that before.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_03: Can you describe that?
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so they're a place where it's basically a buffer between a road and saltwater or freshwater environment where the water has a chance to, the water that includes toxins in it has a chance to be filtered through a so both soil and through vegetation that removes those toxins before they actually go into the larger water environment.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_02: So so similar to like a rain garden.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_02: So a rain garden is typically a smaller scale where folks have maybe runoff from their driveway treated before it gets into the you know the stream or creek that that is beside their home.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_03: I love that.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_03: I love just the name rain garden as well.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_03: That makes me think of very calming, like a meditation, local plants, you know, a beautiful landscape.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_03: So I love that.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_03: In thinking about rain and things that are associated with rain, we had a question from the audience about where do salmon go during thunderstorms?
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's a really great question question, too.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_02: So there are a few places where juvenile and adult salmon seek refuge during big rain events that cause you know high velocity in rivers and creeks.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_02: One place is side channels where the flows may not be as high as they are in the main stem of a creek or river.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_02: So these side channels are typically activated only when the water in the main stem is really high and rises.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_02: So the water in the side channel is not as deep or as swift.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_02: So it provides a place to get away from that fast-flowing water that can be very tiring to swim in.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_02: Another place is in the deep pools that form near log jams that kind of cause a backwater effect where the water is flowing a lot more slowly.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_02: So this is one reason why it's really important to have complex habitat for salmon instead of waterways that are straight and narrow, such as those that we see with where levees are developed on both sides of a river so that they can just flow in one straight line out to Puget Sound.
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_02: If you have more areas where there is refuge for salmon, we will have larger numbers of juveniles that survive those storm events and then larger numbers of adults as they return to spawn able to spawn.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_02: Also, is a really, I just want to touch on this too.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_02: When we have those high-velocity events, oftentimes the riverbed gets eroded, and unfortunately, a lot of salmon eggs end up leaving as well as you know, the gravels and finds that are found on the bottom of the creeks during those big high flow events.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_02: But if we have complex habitat with large wood and um kind of sinuous flow to the channels, the water slows down and we don't lose as much gravel or salmon reds.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_03: That makes so much sense.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_03: Trying to put myself into a little salmon and imagining, you know, you're swimming along, and then all of a sudden the water becomes just so much more turbulent and the velocity increases, and you're like exhausted trying to swim, you know, keep your space.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_03: So I imagine having those uh refuges or areas to take a rest are so important.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_03: So thank you for answering those questions.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like as a research diver, Amy, you had to have experienced a high situation that came out of the middle of nowhere.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_03: So well, some of my most complex diving is in Mia Bay, and the water velocity and force of the water moving is some of the highest currents I've ever swam in.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_03: So next time I'm in those situations, I'll just imagine I'm a little salmon.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_01: Channel our inner salmon to be like, I got this, I need to find some refuge.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_01: Where's my big log?
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um exactly.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_01: I I can appreciate as much as I love to listen to a good thunderstorm.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I I prefer refuge as well.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_01: Uh as a salmon.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_01: I I'd rather be inside watching from afar, somewhere safe, somewhere cozy until it's over.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_01: All right.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_01: So we still have more questions for you, Mindy, but we are going to take a quick break, and we'll be back with you and and everybody else in just a minute.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_00: Calling all adult ocean lovers, join us at After Hours, the one evening each month when adults take over the Seattle Aquarium.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_00: At this 21 Plus event, you can experience our habitats at night, taste delicious food and drinks, enjoy special programming, and more.
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_00: Find more info, plus upcoming dates and themes at SeattleAquarium.org slash after hours.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_00: And now back to the show.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_01: And we're back.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_01: So let's go ahead and dive into a few more questions for you, Mindy.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_01: We've got a few more that came through that are sort of about populations.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_01: How are our salmon doing?
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_01: We did have some listeners.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_01: It sounds like they had a really amazing experience when they were younger.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_01: They had an opportunity not just to learn about salmon at school, but to also raise salmon in their classroom.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_01: And they're we're just kind of wondering in general, are salmon populations increasing, decreasing?
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_01: How are they doing?
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's a really great question.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_02: And it really depends on what population we're talking about.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_02: In some places where we have been working to, you know, restore salmon habitat, we are seeing some gains in salmon population trends.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_02: In other places, numbers may be decreasing due to habitat degradation.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_02: And unfortunately, with climate change, salmon are definitely fighting an uphill battle.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_02: So my organization is one of the regional fisheries enhancement groups throughout the state of Washington that does habitat restoration and environmental education.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_02: And we're really working hard to restore habitat in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change so that salmon have a fighting chance in this uphill battle that they're fighting.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_01: And you and your organization were involved or are actively involved, I should say, in the Decabush River Estuary Restoration Project.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_01: And we're wondering a little bit about do you all how how might you see populations?
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_01: Do you do you anticipate that changing, increasing with the restoration?
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe you can tell us and remind us a little bit about like what's happening with that restoration project right now.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and our our hope obviously would be that that results in an increase in Sami pop pop salmon populations in that area.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, definitely.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_02: So we're working with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Army Corps of Engineers and the State Department of Transportation on restoring the Ducabush estuary.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_02: So basically, we're removing the Highway 101 causeway that cuts right through the middle of the estuary and replacing it with a full estuary spanning bridge.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_02: So that will result in many, many more acres of estuary habitat for juvenile salmonids to utilize as you know, natal estuary habitat.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, they, as I talked about during the lightning talk, you know, salmon really need those estuaries to go through those physiological changes that we were talking about before.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_02: But also it's a place where they it's very productive.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_02: And so they're eating a lot of little microorganisms that live in the estuary.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_02: So when we increase the amount of estuary habitat available for juveniles, more of those juveniles will survive and go out to sea.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_02: So, yes, we definitely expect that the salmon species that spend a lot of their juvenile life cycle in estuaries will their populations will increase and we'll see larger numbers of those adults returning in three, four years.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_01: So fingers crossed.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_01: And shout out for the fisheries enhancement group.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_01: I have to admit, Mindy, that I didn't realize that they were like all over Washington.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_01: So any folks listening from Washington State, you too have an enhancement group out there and so many opportunities to get involved as well.
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_01: So we'll we'll be touching more on that at the end of just how we can how we can follow up with you, Mindy, how might people get more involved with their own enhancement groups that could be in their own backyard?
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_01: I think that's a a really wonderful way to be able that we can connect with our salmon right here, our our very own underwater neighbors, as I like to think of them.
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna sneak in one of my own questions, if that's okay.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_01: Because it was tied to your conversation, what you shared in your lightning talk about the Decabush estuary, and had mentioned that the restoration there would also increase and allow the natural tidal flow in the area.
• 18:53
  SPEAKER_01: And I was just wondering, what is it about the tidal waters and the tidal flow that's really helpful and good for salmon?
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_02: So again, it's where, so when we have fresh water and salt water coming together, it creates an environment that's not as salty as it would be if they were actually out in this in the ocean or in Hood Canal.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_02: And it's not as fresh as it would be as if they were in the stream.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_02: So it's more of that middle ground where they get to go through that slow physiological change rather than just in a very abrupt shift in the salinity that they're living in.
• 19:28
  SPEAKER_02: So that's one thing that's really important about that tidal flow.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_02: But then also, as I mentioned earlier, estuaries are really productive environments, and it's because of that change in water depth and water salinity throughout the day.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, we have a high tide and a low tide happening a couple of times per day.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_02: And that high tide and low tide brings in nutrients from the salty environment into that estuary, and which basically provides food for juvenile salmon.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_02: So it's very, very productive nutrient-wise.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_01: Very cool.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you for letting me sneak in my own question.
• 20:03
  unknown: Yes, of course.
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_03: So we had a couple of audience questions kind of specific to action items, what folks could or should not do to help salmon.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_03: I think we'll start by talking about uh property owners.
• 20:18
  SPEAKER_03: So this question from this audience member says, We have a creek on our property that feeds into the Hood Canal.
• 20:24
  SPEAKER_03: Is there something property owners should do or not do to help salmon?
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_02: Great.
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, and I'm really glad that this property owner answered or asked this question because I'm really excited to answer it.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_02: Because there are so many things that streamside landowners can do to help salmon.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_02: First, making sure that there's adequate streamside vegetation.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_02: So this is critical because trees and shrubs provide shade that keep the water cool during the hot summer months.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_02: And additionally, the trees that grow on the sides of rivers and streams help provide that complex habitat through large wood recruitment.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_02: So when you have a flood event, a tree might fall down into the water, which creates that habitat that those adults and juveniles need to seek refuge during high flow events.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_02: So they definitely provide shelter for salmon and then shade the water to make it cooler.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_02: So another thing that landowners can do to help salmon is to make sure that they're not letting toxins get into the water from their property.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_02: So these toxins might be from failing septic systems or from lawn fertilizers or even something as simple as like the detergent that you might use to wash your car in your driveway.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_02: So all of these create excess nutrients and toxins that can change the pH and oxygen availability of the water that salmon and other aquatic species depend on for survival.
• 21:54
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, folks can reach out to their local conservation district.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_02: Or their WSU Extension Office or their Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group to help them come up with a plan to develop rain gardens or plant areas along their creek, or if they live on Hood Canal, do some plantings right along the canal that will help with that and help salmon.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_02: And it's, I think it's really important to point out that there are lots of resources in every community that can help folks learn about how they can better live with the stream that's right next to their property.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_03: I'm gonna assume that for some of our listeners, they might not live directly by a stream, creek, or even a large water body like the Puget Sound.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_03: Is there anything that these particular members of the community can do to help salmon populations from afar?
• 22:51
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, definitely.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_02: So volunteering is a really great thing that folks can do if they want to help salmon populations.
• 22:57
  SPEAKER_02: So volunteering for their local regional fisheries enhancement group or their conservation district to go out and do tree plantings in other areas or litter pickups.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_02: So a lot of times when you see garbage on the side of the road, it ends up in Puget Sound or in some local waterway, which is definitely not good for salmon or other aquatic species.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_02: So volunteering is a really good thing that anybody can do to help salmon throughout Puget Sound.
• 23:24
  SPEAKER_02: And also just making sure that you're talking with other people about what you know.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_02: So if you've learned something about salmon today or from the lightning talk that was given a few weeks ago, you can definitely talk with other people about what you know so that they become curious and want to learn more as well.
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_02: I believe that if we all know a lot or even just a little about the world around us, we will end up taking better care of it in the long run.
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_03: I couldn't agree more.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you so much for those answers.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, Mindy, you're almost off the hook for today, but we've got one final question for you.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_01: And it's about perhaps if we see salmon in a local river, stream, creek, are we allowed to just as community members to catch a young salmon and maybe raise it at home?
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_02: No, well, that sounds really fun.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_02: Um, it's actually not allowed.
• 24:21
  SPEAKER_02: Um it requires a permit to raise salmon in aquariums, and it wouldn't necessarily be a good situation for that salmon.
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_02: However, our organization, as well as 14 other organizations throughout the state, do run a program in local schools that's called Salmon in the Schools.
• 24:40
  SPEAKER_02: We're working with the regional fisheries enhancement groups throughout the state and other nonprofit organizations to make sure that all kids have good knowledge of the salmon life cycle and get to see salmon raised in aquariums in their school.
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_02: And at the end of their time in the aquarium, they get to release these juvenile salmon fry into their local creeks so that they can swim out into Puget Sound or Hood Canal and live out their life cycle.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_02: So, no, it requires a permit, but there are opportunities for folks to see those juvenile salmon raised in aquariums at school.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_01: And definitely check out your local rivers and streams.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_01: I I can't recommend it enough.
• 25:23
  SPEAKER_01: It's so much fun to head out and see salmon in their natural habitat making their amazing life journey.
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_01: So if that isn't an option, perhaps to have it in your school, that is also a good thing to keep in mind that there's lots of places that you can see salmon along the way.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_03: I wanted to plug a third option is that you can always come down to the Seattle aquarium if you'd like to see salmon of various life stages up close and personal.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_03: And we have many programs that help to educate any visitor that comes in on the local salmon as well.
• 25:58
  SPEAKER_03: Just to plant that seed.
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_01: Please do come and visit.
• 26:03
  SPEAKER_01: We work with a lot of local hatcheries as well to bring salmon in, usually as eggs.
• 26:08
  SPEAKER_01: I know we had some that just hatched out and have their little yolk sacks and they're kind of wobbling around their habitat at the moment as they continue to grow.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_01: They're so cute.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I absolutely love them.
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much for that.
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I can't believe it, but we're at the end.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_01: That is it for this episode of Lightning Strikes Twice.
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_01: Mindy, we can't thank you enough for being here today and carving out a little extra time.
• 26:36
  SPEAKER_01: We've learned so much about salmon and especially ways that we might be able to engage and helping to care for these amazing animals.
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_01: But if that wasn't enough and people want to learn more, where should they go to find out more info?
• 26:52
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so a really great place to start is your local regional fisheries enhancement group.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_02: As we mentioned before, everyone has one in their backyard.
• 27:01
  SPEAKER_02: So reaching out and doing some volunteer work or uh learning from their staff about salmon that live in their neighborhoods would be a good place to start.
• 27:09
  SPEAKER_02: And if you want to learn more about my organization, we are the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group.
• 27:14
  SPEAKER_02: And our facility is located in Belfare at the tip of the Hood Canal at a place that's called the Salmon Center.
• 27:20
  SPEAKER_02: We have a great education facility there.
• 27:22
  SPEAKER_02: If you want to come visit and learn more from my staff, you're more than welcome.
• 27:27
  SPEAKER_01: I'm headed to Belfair soon, I think.
• 27:31
  SPEAKER_03: And thanks so much to you, whoever is listening, for joining us today.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_03: We appreciate you as well.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_03: Please keep an eye out for our next regular lightning talks.
• 27:41
  SPEAKER_03: Until then, stay curious.