Baker River Sockeye Salmon Trap Counts Year Trap Count 1970 821 1971 2,931 1972 10,031 1973 3,656 1974 3,611 1975 1,303 1976 1,518 1977 1,707 1978 2,716 1979 865 1980 499 1981 208 1982 1,869 1983 735 1984 358 1985 99 1986 542 1987 683 1988 818 1989 536   Year Trap Count 1990 1,977 1991 480 1992 2,443 1993 3,818 1994 15,991 1995 2,181 1996 7,769 1997 7,099 1998 13,187 1999 4,654 2000 10,384 2001 4,942 2002 4,021 2003 20,235 2004 9,106 2005 3,191 2006 8,325 2007 2,763 2008 3,211

Baker River Sockeye

Baker sockeye are native to Baker Lake and Baker River, tributary to the Skagit River.. Baker sockeye have been exported to other waters of the state including Lake Washington. Artificial enhancement began in 1896 when the state built a hatchery on Baker Lake. The natural run at that time was estimated to be approximately 20,000 fish. Lower Baker Dam, which was constructed in 1925 creating Lake Shannon, blocked access to the lake. A ladder and "elevating contrivance" was constructed to provide passage. Adults were released above the dam to spawn naturally.

Construction of the Upper Baker Dam, completed in 1959, inundated the valley that included the natural Baker Lake. Artificial spawning beds were constructed at the upper end of the new Baker Lake. The beaches were first used in 1957. The entire escapement of adults is now trapped below Lower Baker Dam and transported above the dams. Some are placed in artificial spawning beaches while others are released into Baker Lake to spawn naturally. Natural spawning takes place for the most part in seeps and springs at the head end of the lake and in the lower Baker River. Sockeye may also enter other tributaries. Fry from the artificial spawning beaches migrate into Upper Baker lake where they rear naturally. Fry may also pass over Upper Baker Dam and enter Lake Shannon and rear there. Some sockeye have been reared to the smolt stage in floating pens.

Adult Baker sockeye enter the trap from mid June to mid August. Numbers peak in mid-July. Spawning occurs from late September through December, peaking from late October to late November. The preseason forecast for the 2009 return is 3,093 sockeye salmon.

Recent research indicates that a significant portion of the kokanee salmon or "silvers" taken in the Baker Lake sport fishery may in fact be "residual" sockeye. These are offspring of sea-run parents that have not gone to sea after a year of rearing in freshwater and may spend their entire life in a lake. True kokanee are self-sustaining freshwater populations. Successful spawning by residual sockeye or kokanee has not been documented in Baker Lake although individuals presumed to be residuals have been observed with adult sockeye in spawning areas.

Improvements in the smolt trapping and transportation system at the dams have contributed, at least in part, to the rebound of the Baker sockeye stock from a long decline and the population is now increasing. The numbers of adults returning to the Baker Trap since 1971 are presented in the following table.