Small numbers of kokanee making their way up Taylor Creek

The annual salmon run up South Lake Tahoe's Taylor Creek has seen far fewer numbers of kokanee than in years past, and not only have the crowds noticed, but so have the bears.

Speculation for the cause is the warmer water at the mouth of Taylor Creek.

"The spawn relies heavily on the presence of high water flow, which under normal conditions would be due to precipitation that comes with colder temperatures," said Lisa Heron, Public Affairs Specialist with the U.S. Forest Service.

With the drought of the last four years, its hard to know what "normal" is anymore.

While numbers are small, people can still walk the Rainbow Trail at the USFS Visitor's Center and see the hearty ones who've made it all the way up to the glass enclosed stream profile chamber.

It is possible that the kokanee are spawning in other locations along the lake, such as the Upper Truckee River on the south shore, Meeks Creek on the west shore and Incline Creek on the north shore. Heron said they've received unconfirmed reports that they've been seen in these waters.

"It has been a strange year due to the drought and some kokanee populations may have migrated early in these other locations," added Heron. "Unfortunately, only time will tell whether or not we will see the large numbers of salmon spawning that we have seen in the past."

The bears have noticed as well. Without the huge schools of fish in Taylor Creek, they haven't been hanging out at the creek, even though some have been seen.