Kokanee salmon returns to the Kokanee Creek spawning channel are lower than in recent years, but it’s still too early to assess the overall strength of this year’s run, according to the province.
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said in a statement the spawning run typically continues into the third or fourth week of September, meaning many fish may not have arrived yet.
In some years, the run starts and peaks later than expected.
“It’s still possible that many fish have not arrived yet,” said ministry officials. “It’s also important to remember that Kokanee Creek is only one of several spawning areas monitored in the West Arm.”
The ministry said fish technicians are conducting daily counts at both the Kokanee Creek and Redfish Creek spawning channels, which will continue through the end of September.
Staff are also surveying natural spawning streams including Mill Creek, Duhamel Creek and Sitkum Creek.
Additional counts of kokanee spawning along shorelines will be completed in October.
The ministry said all of that information needs to be compiled and analyzed before this year’s return can be assessed.
A clearer picture of this year’s return is expected by the end of October.
The Kokanee Creek Nature Centre revealed this year’s low spawning numbers in a social media post on Aug. 30.
“There are 107 Kokanee Salmon in the channel today, August 30, 2026. There were 2,142 on this date in 2025 and 2024. I don’t know what to say, I am very, very, very sad,” said the post, which has since been deleted.
The province told Vista Radio the post was “extremely premature.”
“The information posted to social media by the Kokanee Creek Nature Center was extremely premature, we are still actively monitoring those returns and it will be some time before we have a meaningful estimate for that population,” said ministry staff.
The ministry said there are also signs that could put the lower numbers in perspective.
Biologists have observed that kokanee returning this year appear to be larger than average.
According to the ministry, larger female fish generally produce more eggs, meaning a lower number of spawning fish does not necessarily translate to fewer eggs being deposited.
It said egg production can be a more meaningful measure of reproductive success than the total number of fish counted.
As of Sept. 4, the Kokanee Creek Nature Centre is reporting a count of 217 kokanee in the channel.
Want to get your business noticed? Have you considered advertising through your local radio station? Speak to one of our sales agents and find out how radio advertising can boost your business today. Call 250-365-7600 or email Vista Radio.
