On Monday, Aug. 24, the annual fall salmon run began, with the sighting of the first Chinook of the season in Issaquah Creek. The annual run draws students and visitors from across the world to see the famous Pacific Northwest fish as they head for home at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery.

From the bridge over Issaquah Creek at the hatchery, visitors will be able to witness the spawning process as the hatchery-raised fish return to their roots in the fall.

“It’s just fascinating,” said Gestin Suttle, the executive director of Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH). “We get visitors from all over the world.”

This year’s first sighting puts the fish on target for a typical season, after an early start last year.

“Last year we saw our first Chinook of the season on August 4, which is about a month earlier than usual,” she said. “Today’s sighting is more on target with when we typically see our first chinook of the season. With the prediction of cooler temps and some rain, we expect to see more Chinook soon.”

Suttle said that the Muckleshoot Tribe, which conducts the Ballard Locks fish counts, was anticipating an average chinook return this year.

“So far 3,062 Chinook have been counted coming through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard,” she said. “Most of those fish are bound for Issaquah.”

To help field questions from the many visitors coming to witness the event and teach the local children who come to visit the hatchery in the fall, Suttle said the hatchery is currently looking for volunteers.

“We’re looking for people who are interested in telling the salmon story,” she said. Volunteers give tours to the visitors, which includes lots of students during the fall, as well as Scout troops, but they also are on hand on the weekends to answer questions from the people who just happen to stop by to see what’s going on. Specific knowledge about the fish isn’t necessary beforehand, Suttle said, as FISH provides a training day.

“Volunteers just need to have an enthusiasm and interest,” she said. “We will train them from ground zero. It’s sort of a boot camp.” New docents, as the hatchery calls their volunteers, shadow experienced returners until they are comfortable to take on the tours on their own. Suttle said it’s a great set up.

“We have so many great experienced docents to take the new docents under their fins,” said Suttle. Usually, Suttle said, they have between 50 and 60 volunteers, of which 30 are really active.

“But we definitely always need more,” she said. Last year volunteers logged 2,356 hours giving tours, and another 806 hours helping the Department of Fish and Wildlife, with the salmon spawning.

As fall approaches the hatchery becomes a beehive of activity, especially with younger audiences coming on field trips.

“There is a whole variety of people, we’re really gearing up for the new season,” said Suttle. She said about 80 percent of the visitors to the hatchery in the fall are students who come to see the salmon in action.

While the hatchery is welcoming visitors to see the salmon, education coordinator Celina Steiger visits classrooms around the area to teach kids about salmon and how they can be good watershed stewards. Last year, Suttle said Steiger visited 226 classrooms in 74 schools during 2 1/2 months of the fall. She also visits with pre-school students in the fall to teach them about the fish.

“We try and hit them at every level. Our goal is to educate and empower them about watershed so they can take care of it in the future,” said Suttle.

While the beginning of the salmon run means the end of summer, it is time for celebration among FISH volunteers.

“Most people are bemoaning the rain, but the volunteers think ‘yay’ it rained so the fish are coming soon!” said Suttle. There is even a mini-competition among the volunteers at the hatchery to see who will spot the first returning fish. Suttle said some Chinook have already been at the Ballard locks, headed back to the hatchery. By mid-September the creek near the hatchery gets really busy with activity. Suttle said volunteers know when a Issaquah fish is returned because the salmon’s adipose fin on the back of the fish is clipped when they are young.

“It makes it really easy to identify them,” she said.

The fall of 2009 is expected to see an average Chinook run, Suttle said, based on counts from the Muckleshoot tribe.

Besides the Chinook and Coho salmon raised at the hatchery, usually some stray Sockeye end up running up Issaquah Creek instead of the Cedar River. The Sockeye number is expected to be low this year, she said, for reasons which remain unknown.

The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is a nonprofit organization, funded in part by the City of Issaquah and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, as well as private donations from citizens and local businesses. Those interested in volunteering can call the hatchery at 425-392-1118. Training will take place on Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. More info: on the hatchery visit Issaquah FISH.