Restoration and Service Learning Around the Watershed
By Maya Carlisle

Volunteers in Skagit County have always been the backbone of the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group by helping in the enhancement of salmon populations through habitat restoration; this season is no different. Once again, volunteers have generously donated many hours of their time doing a variety of projects ranging from conducting spawner surveys to planting trees. SFEG would not have been able to accomplish all that we have without the help of our outstanding volunteers.

Restoration
Girl Scouts from Troops 40, 131, 140, 548, and 2103 in Mount Vernon earned their Save Our Waves badge on October 21. They spent a Saturday morning planting over 100 native trees on Nookachamps Creek. SFEG also held two planting parties this season: one at Ennis Creek on November 4 in conjunction with the Whatcom Land Trust, and the other at Iron Mountain Ranch in partnership with the Skagit Land Trust and Seattle City Light on November 18. Another planting event was scheduled for November 11 at Nookachamps Creek; however it was canceled due to the early November flood and late November snow! Planting native trees and shrubs along exposed stream sides will provide shade for streams and help stabilize stream banks, thus reducing erosion and creating healthy riparian environments that will ultimately enhance salmon populations.

On October 27, Make a Difference Day, five Cascades Job Corps students helped remove Himalayan blackberry from restoration sites at Brickyard Creek in Sedro Woolley and Trumpeter Creek at Bakerview Park in Mount Vernon. Himalayan blackberry is highly invasive, and it crowds and shades out native vegetation. By cutting out some of the blackberries, we have given the native vegetation a chance to prosper and reduce erosion.

Students planted about 125 plants along Nookachamps Creek this fall.

Clear Lake Elementary School’s 3rd and 4th graders also helped restore the banks of Nookachamps Creek. Mrs. Dow’s students learned about how trees help humans and other animals, then planted some native trees and shrubs on November 22.

Service Learning
In addition to working with volunteers on restoration projects, SFEG has also conducted educational outreach programs and activities with two schools. SFEG launched the Junior Stream Stewards program at Concrete Middle School on October 23. For the next several months, SFEG will make regular visits to Mrs. Janda’s five science classes to teach the importance of watershed stewardship for salmon and people. The program will culminate in the spring with service projects to help raise awareness of nearby Lorenzan Creek.

We have also partnered with Snohomish County on a service learning program with Darrington Middle School science classes. Mr. Ross’s two seventh grade classes are learning about their home watershed, and will plan and implement a riparian restoration project in partnership with the US Forest Service in the spring.

Students learned how hard it is to be a salmon in the game “Hooks and Ladders.”

On October 25, SFEG facilitated a morning of salmon-geared activities for Orcas Christian School at Pomona Grange Park on Friday Creek. The highlight of Orcas Christian School’s visit was the hike along Friday Creek where students got to see a Chinook carcass and several spawning Chinook. Students also enjoyed the obstacle course game Hooks and Ladders which simulates the salmon life cycle and the challenges that salmon face. (see thank you note and illustration from students below)

SFEG sends a sincere thank you to all of our new and veteran volunteers who took the time to help with salmon enhancement efforts. Your time and energy are greatly appreciated. Thank you to all of the Job Corps members who helped plant trees and remove blackberries. Thank you to the landowners who have allowed SFEG to work on their properties. Your cooperation and willingness are greatly appreciated. SFEG would also like to thank Mount Vernon Red Apple, Food Pavilion of Sedro Woolley, and Mount Vernon Safeway for providing refreshments and Wizards of Ooze for providing porta potties. Thanks again, everyone! We have had a successful season because of you!

Dear Lucy and Maya,
I had tons of fun with you guys. The fish were awesome! It was so much more interesting to learn about fish than I thought. The dead fish was gross. The moment we walked to the creek I could tell there was a dead fish because it smelled bad! It’s also good to know that if your dog brings you a dead fish that the chemicals could kill them. We have four dogs, and we live on the beach, so we have to be careful. The game we played really got us to know how hard it is to be a fish! It was tons of fun. Thank you so much!
Søren Sweet

Illustration by Mariah