Henderson, R., Kagley, A., Fresh, K., Beamer, E., McBride, A. and Wolf, K., 2007. Juvenile Salmon and Nearshore Fish Use in Shallow Intertidal Habitat Associated with Race Lagoon, 2006 and 2007. Skagit River System Cooperative, La Conner, WA. pp. 23.

This report on Race Lagoon is one in a series of reports on fish use of pocket estuary habitats in Whidbey Basin. The Skagit River System Cooperative (SRSC) began sampling fish use of pocket estuaries within Whidbey Basin in 2002. Initially this research focused on understanding juvenile Chinook salmon use of nearshore habitats within Skagit Bay (Beamer et al. 2003). Based upon the results of Skagit Bay research, in 2004 research expanded to include pocket estuary sites throughout Whidbey Basin, Fidalgo Bay and Samish Bay via a cooperative effort that was partially funded by the Northwest Straits Commission3. The focus of the expanded research was to understand landscape-scale patterns of fish habitat usage, including: what species and life history types use pocket estuaries; how connectivity or position within the larger landscape affects fish use; and how patterns of fish use inform protection and restoration of these systems.
Race Lagoon was sampled once per year in 2004 and 2005 as part of a geographically extensive sampling effort to determine presence or absence of juvenile salmon. Sampling at Race Lagoon was expanded to twice per month in 2006 with the help of Island County WSU Beach Watchers and NOAA Fisheries staff. The more intensive sampling is intended to answer questions about fish habitat use over time.
This report focuses on fish abundance and size in Race Lagoon during 2006 and 2007. The results of this study can be used to inform local citizens about fish populations currently using the Race Lagoon area. The results may also be useful to Island County or other agencies and groups interested in Puget Sound salmon recovery or nearshore fish ecology.