WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Fall is here and that means it’s prime time to see spawning salmon in Whatcom County creeks.

The City of Bellingham says adult chum salmon are returning to nearby streams as they typically do in mid-November. They’ll lay their eggs before dying and decomposing in a cycle that offers crucial nutrients for the local ecosystem.

The city says the best viewing locations are the footbridges in Arroyo Park and Maritime Heritage Park.

The Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association is hosting free salmon sighting events at both parks over the next few weekends.

But you can also catch the spawning salmon from the trails below the tennis courts at Fairhaven Park or the footbridge over the Little Squalicum Estuary.

Salmon watchers should remember to always stay on designated trails and keep out of the streams to protect the salmon, their nests and streamside plants.