10/06/2007

Associated Press

The 32,000 chinook salmon swimming from Puget Sound into east King County rivers are the largest number since counts of the threatened fish began in 1995 at the Ballard locks in Seattle.

Washington Fish and Wildlife Department biologist Steve Foley says it's an exceptional survival for hatchery fish released from Issaquah and fish that spawn in the Cedar River.

However, numbers of returning sockeye and coho salmon are below average, according to the counts conducted by the Muckleshoot Tribe.

Issaquah is celebrating fish this weekend with the annual Salmon Days Festival. Events include a parade, barbecue, arts and crafts and entertainment.

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com