A feature documentary about a rapidly developing community’s struggles to protect a rare Native salmon in one of America’s first Urban Wildlife Refuges.

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SPAWNING GROUNDS NOW SHOWING (VIRTUALLY) AT FILM FESTIVALS AROUND THE GLOBE!

Links to tickets:

Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (NYC): https://xerb.tv/channel/wcff/video/4570

BENDFilm (Bend, OR): www.bendfilm.org/

Friday Harbor Film Festival (Friday Harbor, WA): fhff.org

MORE COMING SOON!

WATCH THE TRAILER:

SPAWNING GROUNDS

A Rapidly Growing Community’s Struggle to Save its Native Little Red Fish

 
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The Story

In one of America's first urban wildlife refuges, the plight of a little-known land locked salmon called the Lake Sammamish kokanee, or ‘Little Red Fish,’ is bringing together a unique and unlikely partnership between Tribal leaders, local and state agencies, private landowners and conservation groups. Once an abundant year-round food source for Coast Salish people, this ancient population of kokanee have been affected by everything from early logging operations around the lake, fishery mismanagement, stormwater runoff, predation, disease, rising water temperatures, and various kinds of encroachment on the small creeks where they return each year to spawn. With their numbers dwindling, renewed scientific and cultural efforts attempt to ensure their survival as the region experiences unprecedented levels of new growth.

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Our Partners

Thank you to all the supporters of this film and their ongoing contributions and collaboration.

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The Team

This unique multi-faceted story has brought together an experienced and award-winning group of creative storytellers.

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Press

Regional and national stories that highlight the documentary and the plight of the Little Red Fish.

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Producer - Director Nils Cowan and David St. John, environmental affairs officer for King County sit down with host Tim Smith to discuss the documentary ‘Spawning Grounds’.