Day Creek Community Stewardship
By Alison Studley

The Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group is the proud recipient of one of two Community Salmon Fund grants in Skagit County.  This Community Salmon Fund grant, administered through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, will fund education, outreach and restoration in the Day Creek Community over the next year.

SFEG is very excited to work with the Day Creek Community.  Day Creek and its surrounding tributaries offer incredibly valuable habitat to a variety of salmon species.  Restoration of habitat within the Day Creek community is a priority for Chinook salmon recovery efforts.  At one time Day Creek was one of the most productive streams in the lower Skagit watershed.  However, the first step to working with landowners on restoration projects, is to raise awareness about the watershed in which they live and the valuable resources that exist there. 

This road crossing at Day Creek Slough creates a fish passage barrier and does not pass large woody debris.  It will be replaced with a bridge to allow fish passage and access for property owners.

SFEG plans to work with the Day Creek Community Club to host a series of educational workshops about the greater Day Creek watershed.  The first workshop will focus on the salmon life cycle and include a field trip to see wild salmon spawning in the Day Creek area.  This workshop is scheduled for Saturday December 10, which has historically been the peak of the coho salmon return.  State fisheries biologists will be on hand to discuss current and historical salmon numbers as well as major habitat changes in the watershed. 

Other workshops are scheduled throughout 2006 with our partners.  Workshop topics will include: flooding history and impacts, cultural history, forestry and farming, wildlife uses and protected lands, and finally habitat restoration.  Speakers will include local and professional contacts from Department of Natural Resources, Skagit County, Skagit Land Trust, Seattle City Light, the Upper Skagit Tribe, and more. 

SFEG also has several restoration projects planned for implementation with this new funding.  The grant completes the needed funds to help landowners of Day Creek Meadows correct a failing slough crossing which will open valuable habitat to salmon.  Two riparian revegetation projects are planned with Day Creek landowners.  These projects will engage community members in planting native trees along the stream banks.  It is hoped that the landowners we work with on these smaller scale restoration projects can help lead the way for additional landowners to become interested in restoring habitat on their property. 

For more information about the Day Creek Community Stewardship workshops, please contact us.