Devon Cantrell, 9, of Ballard, an Earthkeepers Daycamper at Carkeek Park, releases small fry slamon into an "imprint pond" during the park's Earth Day celebration.
The 29th Annual Carkeek Park and Piper's Creek Watershed Earth Day celebration took place Saturday, April 18 and dozens of volunteers, including boy scouts, canvassed the park and nearby neighborhood for trash to pick up and watershed resident outreach.
They returned to tour the onsite King County Weather Treatment Plant and Pumping Station. Some kids released baby salmon into an "imprint" pond.
"Small fry salmon learn the taste and smell of the water in Piper's Creek and return in four years because they will then recognize their address here," said Bill Hagen, Carkeek Park Salmon team leader. "They're hatched at the Suquamish Tribe's Grovers Creek Salmon Hatchery. They stay here for 10 days and then go off into Piper's Creek. "
Area environmentalist and activist Nancy Malmgren organized the event.
Said Hagen, "The Malmgrens created this whole hatchery system."
Contact Nancy Malmgren for more information: (206) 363-4116.