Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee Salmon spawning in a feeder creek to Kelly Creek

Kokanee salmon have been introduced from the Great Lakes into most of the large lakes in the Columbia River basin. Consequently, native westslope cutthroat populations have declined by 90 percent from these lakes.

Kokanee Salmon spawning in a feeder creek to Kelly Creek

One such lake, Lake McDonald, the largest lake in Glacier National Park, is now dominated by nonnatives like kokanee salmon and holds only a tiny remnant population of native cutthroat.

Kokanee Salmon spawning in a feeder creek to Kelly Creek

In late summer, kokanee salmon will migrate out of these lakes and head up into smaller streams to spawn. Most of these streams consist of small, headwater tributaries which are prime habitat for remaining populations of westslope cutthroat.

Kokanee Salmon spawning in a feeder creek to Kelly Creek

I photographed this pair of kokanee spawning on a clean gravel bed in Moose Creek in late September. Moose Creek is in the Clearwater National Forest and happens to contain a native population of westslope cutthroats.