Residents across south King County are invited to see coho salmon eggs now on display at the SeaTac Community Center, where the City of SeaTac has installed a 55 gallon aquarium to help educate the public about salmon and watershed health.

According to the city, the coho salmon eggs were provided by a hatchery and are expected to hatch soon due to unseasonably warm weather over the past two months. Once hatched, the young salmon will burrow into the gravel inside the aquarium and may be difficult to see, making the next few weeks the best time to view them.

City officials say the display is intended to highlight the importance of salmon to the environment and culture of the Pacific Northwest, as well as the challenges facing salmon populations. Salmon numbers have declined in recent years due to habitat loss, changing climate and ocean conditions, and poor water quality, according to the city.

The city also used the exhibit to raise awareness about stormwater pollution and its impact on local waterways. Rainwater and snow melt that flows off streets, roofs and parking lots can carry pollutants such as oil, pesticides, litter and other contaminants directly into creeks, rivers and lakes. Stormwater is generally not treated before it enters waterways, meaning pollutants can reach salmon habitat untreated.

Photos courtesy City of SeaTac.

The City of SeaTac encourages residents to take steps to protect salmon by using commercial car washes instead of washing vehicles at home, avoiding pesticides and fertilizers in yards, fixing vehicle leaks, maintaining proper tire pressure, picking up pet waste, and keeping storm drains clear of debris. The city also urges residents to report dumping or spills to its spill hotline at (206) 973-4770.

The salmon display is open during regular SeaTac Community Center hours:

  • Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Closed on Sundays and will also be closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 19.