The past 5 monthes in brief...

Here is a quick overview of what we've been up to.  After this catch up, we'll keep everything up to date and throw in some random articles about whatever we feel like.  Or what you feel like - feel free to ask us if you want to hear about some particular aspect of our work!

Most of the links in this post lead to the full picture album.  We recently obtained a crew camera, so hopefully we'll be able to start posting pictures for more of our tasks!  For now we are using pictures from NOSC's WCC Individual Placement Aliina Lahti.  Thanks Aliina!

See NOSC's blogs on Salmon and Snow Creek, Morse Creek, and Chum Restoration for more pictures and info on those specific projects!  Links to these blogs are on the left side bar.

October:
Day 1: The die is cast...this will not be a normal crew.  

After an introduction to native plants, salmon ecology, local restoration projects, and 'how to plant a tree', the crew (and our two brave WCC IP's, Anna Sample at the Jefferson Land Trust and Aliina Lahti at NOSC) are sent out into Jefferson County.
WCC crew tasks include:
- Planting maintenance on Snow and Salmon Creeks
- Butterfly bush removal on the Big Quilcene river
- Chum surveys
- WCC New Member Orientation
- Planting at Morse Creek

November:
- Continuation of the Morse Creek planting, as well as further planting and invasive removal at Finn River Farm
- Site prep at Snow Creek and the assemblage of some pretty sweet beaver cages
- Maintenance at several previous planting sites, including Chimacum beach (lots of fun working in the snow!), Salmon Estuary, and the Little Quil.  At Little Quilcene we were interviewed by a journalist for the PT Leader who did a lovely article on the work done at the site and the WCC crew itself.

December:
- Snow Creek site prep: blackberry and old barbed wire fence removal in preparation for a massive tree planting project that will occur next fall
- WDFW Snow Creek fish trap: helping fish move through the trap during high water flows
- Flood Response training
- Further site maintenance for several projects

WDFW Snow Creek fish trap

Owen and James plant trees in the snow

January:
- Maintenance, site prep and planting at several sites
- River's End planting with the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe
- MLK week!

For MLK week WCC members are expected to complete 30 hours of community service.  Joining forces with the 2 WCC IPs, we spent MLK day hosting a volunteer event at Fort Flagler State Park.  34 volunteers attended and helped us to dismantle 4 dry docks, clean the campgrounds of fallen branches from the winter, and clean up the beach. More pictures here.

AJ helping a student with tools for dock dismantle

Our second day was spent working on the Adventuress, a schooner that does educational sailings throughout the Puget Sound during the summer. It is owned by the nonprofit group Sound Experience. We helped out with winter maintenance such as sanding and painting.  Find out more from the Adventuress blog.

Finally, our last day was spent with Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity.  We helped out doing finishing work on two houses in Port Townsend. Much fun was had by all!

February:

- Brown's Dairy site prep and planting

- Fyke netting at Salmon Estuary

- Volunteer plantings at the Salmon Estuary Mound and Morse Creek

- Jefferson County Conservation District's Native Plant Sale

Fyke-netting in the estuary to record chum usage of the inlets

Katie, volunteer Mike, and Chris get excited about fyke-netting

Volunteers and WCC crew planting on the Salmon Estuary mound

Updates on our March work coming soon!


One last point of interest - the Port Hadlock WCC crew is hiring.
We are looking for another crew member for a 6 month position starting in late March.  We work four 10 hour days a week, often in somewhat miserable conditions (but often in really beautiful conditions as well).  As you can tell from this blog, the majority of what we do is habitat restoration.  Much of the summer will be spent doing invasive species removal (mainly Japanese Knotweed) along the various rivers in East Jefferson County.  Applications are being received through the WCC/Dept. of Ecology website.