Smolt Traps with the Elwha Tribe

Last month we had the opportunity to help the Elwha tribe install smolt traps on Deep Creek and West Twin.  Serving as our first experience with smolt trap installation, we thoroughly enjoyed every step of the process.  Sandbags, t-posts, sledge hammers, fencing and the Elwha... we were in paradise.

 

Donovan Creek Restoration Project

After 2 months of hard work and erratic weather, we put our final touches on the Donovan Creek Restoration Project in May. Originally a barren 20 acre site nudged between a cattle ranch and Quilcene Bay, Donovan Creek was in dire need of healthy native habitat. Answering the call, we planted over 12,000 deciduous and coniferous trees/shrubs. The Donovan Creek site is quite significant for the crew, it was our largest planting of the year and home to some of the most extreme weather we have encountered. Wind, rain, hail and snow were all routine events and occurred with such force that the creek became virtually uncrossable. Although we were excited to relocate, the adverse conditions made for a more rewarding experience when we checked up on our budding plants this spring.

Rocking Out

After learning a rock was disrupting the Fish and Wildlife smolt trap at Salmon Creek, the crew assembled. It was our original belief that the rock was the size of a basketball, but found it to be much larger. Before jumping into the water, we had a quick strategic meeting and identified straps as our best option for removal. Once the straps were applied, we pulled and uttered groans until the rock was out of the water.

Our rain garden at Chimacum Schools!

After observing polluted stormwater running from the large parking lot at Chimacum Schools directly into Chimacum Creek, the crew and our local I.P., Aliina Lahti, identified a pollutant-absorbing rain garden as a critical addition to the Chimacum School's campus and an ideal opportunity to educate students about stormwater runoff and possible management techniques. Granted with a week of community service for Martin Luther King day, we decided to design and build such a feature.

Months of planning came to fruition on January 16th, as we broke ground on the garden but were quickly delayed after being hit by a somewhat unexpected snowstorm the following day. Determined to finish, we spent the following Friday putting the finishing touch on Chimacum Schools' newest sustainable design feature.

Months of milestones!

The past three months have been a whirlwind. Booked solid, we have had little time to keep you updated on our projects. November and December were filled with milestones for the crew. We completed our first planting on the Little Quilcene River, hit our one-thousand tree mark at Morse Creek and met one of our arch-enemies, nightshade, at Chimacum Creek.

Elijah pulling nightshade from Chimacum Creek.

The crew after planting tree 1,000 at Morse Creek.

Warren and Carrie tubing at Morse Creek.

Port Hadlock Crew vs. Butterfly Bush

The crew has spent three days alongside the Dungeness River; cutting, removing and treating Butterfly Bush for the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe.  Although the invasive bush put up a fight, the crew was successful in eradicating a large area along the river.

The crew takes a sunny, fall lunch break

Butterfly Bush big enough for a saw?

Jayde preparing to apply herbicide

Sam adding to the pile

Attention Motorists: Stay out of Morse Creek!

In an attempt to keep motorists from driving along Morse Creek, the crew trudged through the mud and built a gated fence.  In addition to the fence, stormwater was diverted from the area and a natural barrier was erected.