While Lake Washington sockeye garner most of the attention, another sockeye run in the Olympic Peninsula is trying to make a comeback.
Young sockeye from Lake Ozette are migrating out to the ocean in good numbers, which has Makah tribal biologists excited about their efforts.
More than 18,000 juvenile sockeye have passed safely through the trap this past spring, which is up from only several thousand in past years.
“It’s too soon to say this is a sustained trend, but we’re definitely thrilled to see the numbers moving in a more positive direction,” said Caroline Peterschmidt, project biologist for the Makah Tribe.
Lake Ozette sockeye are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.