Initial Stream Stewards Season Closes with a Splash
By Lucy Applegate

The Stream Stewards program, funded by the Puget Sound Acton Team's Public Involvement and Education Grant, has just completed its first year in Skagit County. Stream Stewards groups from the Trumpeter Creek watershed in Mount Vernon and Brickyard Creek watershed in Sedro Woolley began the season in March with a watershed tour and wrapped up the season in November with salmon sightings all over the county. In between that time Stream Stewards learned about all aspects of a healthy salmon stream, and how they can directly affect the salmon stream running through their back yard.

This monthly workshop series was designed to get streamside property owners outside and into their local streams, and get them fired up about the state of their stream and what lives in it. Our goal with this program was to raise the same passion and enthusiasm for salmon conservation and stream health that we in the salmon world have on a regular basis. After poking around in these little streams that some consider ditches, it became clear to me that what we needed was a way to get folks literally down into the stream, getting hands and feet wet, exploring the diversity of life that is supported by these diminutive streams. Many people are simply unaware that salmon inhabit these little waterways, but once they see for themselves and learn that their everyday actions can have and impact, they can't wait to help. Here are a few recent quotes from Stream Stewards: "Education about stream health is ongoing-and it's making a positive difference in Logan Creek!" "I SAW MY FIRST LIVE FISH IN OUR STREAM...WOO HOO!!" Since the completion of this series, many participants have indicated a willingness to do more for stream health and conservation, like using fewer lawn chemicals, picking up trash they see along a stream, and being active in their local governments by attending and speaking at city council meetings and contacting elected officials about salmon and stream issues.

In return for the nine-month workshop training, Stream Stewards agree to contribute 40 hours of their time toward the conservation and restoration of streams in their neighborhood. In the past year, Stream Stewards joined forces with other community volunteers to do two stream clean ups and participated in riparian planting projects across the county. As part of the Stream Stewards program, participants helped create an educational video adapted from the Home Tips for Healthy Streams brochure. This amusing and educational video, featuring local experts and Sammy the Salmon, will be posted on the SFEG website in the next few months. Participants also are helping to design and place educational signs, and will continue with community outreach in their watersheds.

Stream Stewards started with a tour of their watershed, and are completing the season with
a new appreciation and understanding of the salmon streams in their back yards.

This first year of Stream Stewards has been a tremendous learning experience, not only for volunteers but for me as well. I very much enjoyed getting to know so many great people form the Mount Vernon and Sedro Woolley communities. It confirms my belief that people are concerned about stream and salmon health, and given a little assistance and support, our communities are capable of great things. I would like to thank Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Biologists Kurt Buchanan, Steve Seymour, and Bob Warinner, Department of Ecology Wetlands Specialist Laura Casey, Sedro Woolley City Planner Lacy Lahr, Nooksack Indian Tribe Habitat Biologist Tim Hyatt, and SFEG Executive Director Alison Studley for assisting with presentations and tours. You all helped make this program great. Thank you also to the City of Sedro Woolley for assistance with meeting room locations.

To learn more about the upcoming Stream Stewards workshop in the Nookachamps watershed beginning in February 2005, contact SFEG at 336-0172 or lapplegate@skagitfisheries.org.

Logan Creek coho salmon, photographed by Rick Zielinski