Earthwatch Institute Partners with SFEG
by Dr. Ralph Riley

Earthwatch Institute and Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group are working together to collect information on SFEG restoration sites in the Skagit Valley. SFEG has worked to restore salmon habitat in numerous streams in the Skagit valley including the construction of in-stream structures, riparian vegetation planting and other efforts. Once these restoration efforts are complete, it is important to continue to monitor the sites to see how well the restoration efforts are functioning. This monitoring helps SFEG determine if remedial efforts are needed and helps improve future restoration efforts.

Kate Bishop and Jen Harrison measure salmon habitat development near a
log structure.  Photo courtesy of Joanne Greenleaf

For a number of years, SFEG has recruited and trained volunteers to help in this monitoring. The results of this monitoring are published yearly in the SFEG monitoring report. As more and more restoration projects are completed, volunteer monitoring efforts become increasingly stretched. In an effort to help augment the capacity of SFEG to monitor restoration sites, Earthwatch Institute is funding my research, a part of which includes monitoring some of the SFEG restoration sites.

Volunteers collect data on the condition of a logjam built by SFEG in Jones Creek
in 1995. The log-jam serves to reduce excessive erosion of the streambank,
promote the formation of a pool to increase habitat diversity for salmon, and
to provide cover for young salmon. This small stream was full of salmon fry
during the sampling in June. Photo by Ralph Riley

Earthwatch Institute is an international funding organization that supports field research projects. Earthwatch Institute raises funds for research by convincing public individuals to invest both their time and money to support research projects they are interested in. In practice, individuals provide money that allows researchers to purchase equipment and research supplies and individuals volunteer their time for one or two weeks to work alongside scientists in the field to collect data. Earthwatch also gets foundations and corporations to sponsor individuals to participate in the research including several teachers and students from the Skagit valley. In 2004, Earthwatch Institute funded five research projects in the North Puget Sound Region including my research.

Earthwatch Institute volunteers training in vegetation monitoring techniques
with Perry Welch of SFEG at the East Fork Nookachamps site where SFEG and
the Natural Resources Conservation Service have done extensive riparian
planting for the past two years.   Photo courtesy Masaka Baba.

To date, the Earthwatch teams have helped SFEG monitor the condition of in-stream structures and riparian vegetation in Jones, Hansen, Bakerview, Colony, Harrison and Nookachamps Creeks. Work in August 2004 will include surveying potential salmon habitat above barriers to fish passage to determine if it is worthwhile to consider improving fish passage in these sites, and Earthwatch teams in November may assist SFEG personnel and volunteers in monitoring spawning salmon.