The 14th Annual Run with the Chums, a free family 5K fun run celebrating Pacific salmon and water health, returns to Birch Bay on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Registration is open now, and nearly 100 participants have already signed up.
What to Expect on Race Day
Check-in opens at 8:30 a.m. at the Birch Bay venue. The Smolt Sprint, a shorter dash for racers under 10 years old, kicks off at 9:30 a.m. The main 5K begins at 10 a.m. Organizers describe the event as welcoming to people of all speeds, from competitive runners to families pushing strollers. No prior running experience is required.
The event is produced by the Whatcom Conservation District, the agency behind watershed education and stewardship programs across Whatcom County. Along the course and at the finish area, participants can learn fun facts about salmon biology, orca behavior, and local water quality. The conservation district uses events like this one to connect residents with the ecosystems just outside their doors.
Why Salmon and Orcas Go Hand in Hand
Whatcom County is one of the few places in the lower 48 states where all five Pacific salmon species are found in the same watershed. Chinook, coho, pink, sockeye, and chum salmon all use local rivers and streams, including the Nooksack River and its tributaries, for spawning and rearing.
That abundance matters far beyond the county line. Chinook salmon are the primary food source for the Southern Resident Killer Whales, the endangered orca population that ranges through the Salish Sea. Researchers estimate that 80 percent of the Southern Residents' diet is Chinook, and an adult orca can consume between 100 and 300 pounds of salmon per day. When Chinook runs decline, the whales feel it directly.
The Nooksack watershed has faced growing pressure on salmon habitat in recent years, including reduced summer flows and warming water temperatures. Summer flows in the Nooksack have dropped significantly in recent seasons, raising concerns about whether enough cold, deep water remains for salmon to survive their upstream migrations. Events like Run with the Chums help keep that issue in public view while raising awareness about what local residents can do to support healthier watersheds.
How to Register
Registration is free and available online at the Whatcom Conservation District's event page. Families are encouraged to register in advance to help organizers plan for turnout. The event draws participants from across Whatcom County, and the Birch Bay location near the shoreline makes it an easy outing to pair with a beach visit afterward.
For more details on the race route, parking, and activities, visit the Whatcom Conservation District website or search for the event using the registration link at bit.ly/RWTC26-Reg. Questions about the run can also be directed to the conservation district's outreach staff.
