Spring Salmon Release Celebrations

Celebrating the release of spring Chinook at Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery

May 21, 2025

Written By

spring chinook huddle under a log in Icicle Creek — Spring Chinook huddle close after release, getting ready for the long journey ahead!

Since 1871, the National Fish Hatchery system has been at work improving recreational fishing and restoring aquatic species that are in decline, at risk, and are important to the health of our aquatic systems. Across the country, the network of national fish hatcheries work with states and tribes to conserve, restore and enhance the fish and aquatic resources of America for future generations. USFWS volunteers put in thousands of hours each year helping to carry out this mission.

Mid-April marks a time for celebration at Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery with the release of our spring Chinook salmon. After spending approximately 20 months in our care, both the salmon and hatchery staff are ready and eager for this moment. The release kicks off the spring season, bringing renewed energy and excitement to the hatchery.

Releasing 1.2 Million Spring Chinook

Throughout the week in mid-April, the fish in our outdoor raceways travel through a large pipe, which acts like a waterslide carrying them to Icicle Creek. This is where they start their nearly 500-mile journey from the hatchery to the Pacific Ocean, passing through seven dams along the way. Once they reach the ocean, these fish will spend two to three years growing in size and strength in preparation for their return to the hatchery to spawn. When the adult spring Chinook return surpasses the requirements for hatchery broodstock broodstock
The reproductively mature adults in a population that breed (or spawn) and produce more individuals (offspring or progeny).

Learn more about broodstock (the eggs needed for the next generation of salmon), a sport fishery opens on Icicle Creek.

The spring Chinook release takes two days, followed by Yakama Nation Fisheries releasing their coho salmon from the Mid-Columbia Coho Restoration program. Once all the fish in the outdoor raceways are released, staff spend the following weeks cleaning tanks and doing any necessary repairs before ponding out the indoor fish, starting the cycle again.

Young girl in a pink dress holds a small bucket with two fish to release — Everyone got their chance to release one (or sometimes more!) salmon into Icicle Creek.

Community Salmon Release Party

Release week culminated with our first Salmon Release Party, where we invited the community to join in an afternoon filled with educational activities and the opportunity to release some salmon into Icicle Creek. Around 500 fish were released by community members at this event. Twelve different organizations hosted booths with family-friendly activities, including archery and gyotaku (fish printing) from Wenatchee River Institute, an interactive water table from Mountain Sprouts, and a match-the-pollinator game presented by the Chelan-Douglas Master Gardeners.

Participants collected stamps from activities and exchanged their passports for their own salmon to name and release into the creek. The atmosphere on the riverbank was electric and filled with anticipation as the salmon began their nearly 500-mile journey to the ocean. People of all ages were thrilled to have the opportunity to release their own salmon. Over 350 community members gathered to send off the salmon and celebrate another successful year. We cannot thank our community partners enough for all their support and look forward to making the Release Party an annual tradition!

A group of people gather near the river — People gather on the Icicle getting ready to release.

Salmon in the Classroom Field Trips

two students with clipboards hold small jars with salmon — Students make close observations of their salmon for their journals.

But salmon raised at the hatchery weren’t the only ones getting released! As part of Cascade Fisheries' Project: WOW (Watching Over the Watershed), students have been raising and learning about salmon in their own classrooms. After watching their salmon hatch and grow, it’s time to return them to the creek where they will embark their journey to the ocean. These students visited the hatchery in the winter, when the creek was partially frozen and snow was piled up on the riverbanks. Now visiting in the spring, students experienced the river full and fast flowing with fresh snow melt and birds soaring overhead. During their visit, students investigated Icicle Creek to determine its suitability for a salmon release, including identifying macroinvertebrates collected from the creek to learn about water quality. They also took a nature walk around Icicle Creek, looking for good salmon habitat and observing seasonal changes in the area. Before releasing their fish, students recorded detailed observations of their salmon in nature journals. As they watched the fish they cared for venture out into the river, they expressed a mix of bittersweet emotions. This program provides students with invaluable outdoor education opportunities, fostering a deep connection to their watershed and promoting stewardship of local aquatic ecosystems.

The next time you go fishing, you might just catch a salmon that was raised at Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Producing fish continues to be an irreplaceable tool in managing or restoring fisheries along with habitat conservation. In doing so, we help provide recreation opportunities to America’s 39.9 million anglers who spend $99.4 billion annually in pursuit of their favored pastime. Learn more about Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery!