Get ready for Kokanee Salmon Festival slated for Oct. 7-8

Never mind the fall tree colors in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin. For a truly amazing experience, you should see the fish.

The U.S. Forest Service and it's co-sponsors are preparing themselves for the 16th Kokanee Salmon Festival, planned for Oct. 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lake Tahoe Visitor Center at Taylor Creek, three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on California Highway 89.

The Kokanee Salmon Festival at South Lake Tahoe encourages participation by children and their parents in a wide variety of educational events.

Back this year will be the Salmon Feed, 5K, 10K, and half-marathon trail runs, a children's run, children's activities, educational programs and booths, and streamside programs.

Visitors can learn about the natural wonders of Taylor Creek from Forest Service biologists, as they stroll along the Rainbow Trail. This walk through colorful aspen, willow and meadow grasses will introduce visitors to a fragile ecosystem unique to the Sierra Nevada. As the trail reaches Taylor Creek, kokanee salmon can be seen making their way upstream.

A close-up view of this natural event will be available at the Taylor Creek Stream Profile Chamber, where visitors can get a below-the-surface view of the kokanee salmon in Taylor Creek.

Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care will again be serving barbecue salmon plate Saturday and Sunday.

For $12, visitors can feast on a barbecue salmon steak (the Pacific Ocean variety), corn on the cob, coleslaw, rolls and a beverage. Other food items will also be available. Salmon will be served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Proceeds benefit the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care and future Kokanee Salmon Festivals.

For information concerning the Salmon feed call (530) 577-CARE (2273).

On Oct. 8th the Tahoe Mountain Milers and Sagebrush Stompers Running Clubs will present the Kokanee Trail Runs.

For information about the Kokanee Trail Runs or to get a run application call (530) 542-3424, or e-mail: kokaneetrailruns@sbcglobal.net.

Applications are also available at the Visitor Center at Taylor Creek and the Supervisors Office at 35 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe.

For information on the festival, contact the Lake Tahoe Visitor Center at Taylor Creek at (530) 543-2674.