2009 Event Calendar
Winter Life Snowshoe Tour
January 9 - February 14, 2009 Sat/Sun 10am-12pm
Join a trained naturalist on a guided tour through a winter trail full of life. We provide the snowshoes. All you have to do is call ahead to make a reservation. To ensure a more personal experience, groups are limited to a total of twelve. Tours begin at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery main building and are strictly limited to those with reservations only. For more information call 509-548-7641.
Release of Coho Salmon
April 24 & 27, 2009
In April, the Yakama Indian Nation will release coho salmon into Icicle Creek. Call 509-548-7641 for more information.
Release of Spring Chinook Salmon
April 28, 2009
These eighteen month old fry are smolting, preparing for life in the ocean, and will be released into Icicle Creek. You are welcome to say farewell and good luck before they depart on their 500 mile journey to the Pacific Ocean. They will spend up to three years in the ocean maturing to return here to spawn a new generation.
Arbor Day Tree Sale
April
Arbor Day Tree Distribution - Plant a tree
Apple Blossom Youth Parade
April 25, 2009
The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival will be participating in Wenatchee’s Washington State Apple Blossom Youth Parade. If you are interested in participating in this years parade call Lynann at 509-548-2921. Hope to see you there.
Coded Wire Tagging
May, 8am-4pm
When you visit the hatchery and see a large white trailer on the grounds, it can only mean one thing, its tagging time. Spring Chinook salmon fry are herded into the trailer where they are tagged. A tiny coded wire is inserted into the snout of the fry for identification. These wires are encoded with data that identify hatchery origin and year of fish release. This information is collected and analyzed following spawning. The adipose fin, a fleshy fin located between the dorsal and tail fin, the mystery fin, is clipped to identify the fry as a hatchery fish.
Adult Spring Chinook Salmon Return to Hatchery
May/June/July
Adult spring Chinook salmon return to the hatchery mid-May through July. These three, four and five year olds have a long journey from the Pacific Ocean. They will remain in the adult holding pond until they are ready for spawning. They are checked periodically for readiness, usually late August into early September. Spawning begins early in the morning and may take two to six hours.
Kids in the Creek
May
This high school field day delivers a comprehensive curriculum on stream ecology. High school students explore actual field methods for assessing aquatic and riparian habitat, water quantity, water quality and indicator insects, as well as an introduction to land use planning considerations. Students put on waders, collect samples, analyze data and work with natural resource specialists to evaluate conditions in the stream. This year Kids in the Creek will be held at Entiat National Fish Hatchery on May 12 - 13, 2009
National Trails Day
June 6, 2009
Enjoy a quiet walk in the 1 mile loop Icicle Nature Trail the first Saturday in June.
C.A.S.T. for Kids Fishing Day
June 6, 2009, 8am-2pm
Join C.A.S.T. for Kids Fishing Day to celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week the first Saturday in June. This fun event is sponsored by several partners and is held from 8 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Call 509-548-2921 for more information.
Singing in the Rain by Leavenworth Summer Theater
July/August, See schedule
Live outdoor theater at Hatchery Park. Tickets can be purchased through Leavenworth Summer Theater.
Wenatchee River Salmon Festival
September 19-20, 2009, 10am-5pm
FESTIVAL OF FAMILY FUN, with edu-tainment, activities, craft booths and food venders. You are invited to join in the fun or become a volunteer to make 2009 the best Salmon Festival ever. For further information: (509) 548-6662 or www.salmonfest.org. Please read our December 2008 News Release.
Special Fishing Days
October
Rainbow Trout fishing offers a fun activity for people with special needs from within the greater Wenatchee area. Seeing the smiles and hearing the excitement makes this one of the best fishing experiences of the year. (By invitation only) For more information call (509) 548-2921.
