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Smolt - A juvenile
salmonid that has reared in-stream and is preparing to enter the
ocean. Smolts exchange the spotted camouflage of the stream for
the chrome of the ocean.
In May of 2003, the
Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation (MSRF), in cooperation with
the Chewuch Basin Council  and
in partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
released 10,000 endangered summer steelhead trout smolts from
our Twisp River acclimation ponds. The fingerlings (smolts) acclimated
for 5-6 weeks in the ponds prior to the release, allowing them
to imprint the area as their home water. The acclimation process
helps ensure they return as adults to spawn naturally in the area
of their release.
The “Sponsor a Smolt”
program is an opportunity for everyone to help fund future releases
and  assist
in ongoing salmon recovery efforts. It costs just $25.00. This
release utilized “state of the art” Passive Integrated
Transponder (PIT) tags to individually identify and track the
migration of the Twisp Acclimation Ponds. As PIT tagged fish pass
to and from the ocean, specialized devices at some of the dams
detect signals off the PIT tags to identify the fish. Sponsors
of a smolt will be assigned a specific PIT tagged and coded smolt
and will receive a certificate with the tag code and release information
via e-mail. Interogation (i.e., tracking telemetry) information
will also be e-mailed as it becomes available throughout the migrational
life span of your fish.
Your donation is
tax deductible (MSRF is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation)
with your sponsorship comes automatic entry into a drawing for
a free weekend at the Freestone
Inn which will include a tour of the Methow Salmon Recovery
Foundation's Twisp River Acclimation Project. The drawing will
occur when the first adult fish returns to it's home stream. The
winner and will be notified via mail.
Your support will:
- fund ongoing
salmon recovery efforts initiated by Methow Salmon Recovery
Foundation
- provide match
money for grants to continue to fund habitat projects and natural
acclimation ponds
- fund future studies
for both endangered steelhead trout and spring chinook salmon
- support educational
efforts and public awareness projects
Methow Salmon
Recovery Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non profit and all donations
are tax deductible
Click
here to sign up!
Thank you for your support.
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