By Geoff Martin
I moved back to western Washington last fall with the hopes of finding a job that would not only be enjoyable, but also one that I would be proud of. I must say that at times I have questioned the enjoyment, like the numerous days spent weed-whacking 15 foot walls of blackberries and the surveys through 20-year-old clear-cut slash. But these are just minor memories of a year filled with fieldwork in some of the most dramatic landscape in the United States, the North Cascades. In this article I hope to give you a little insight into some of the daily work of a Washington Conservation Corps intern, including some of the accomplishments of the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group (SFEG).
My stint here began in October with the spawning surveys, which were well underway as the creeks were full of chum and pink salmon. As someone who had spent considerable time hiking and fishing, I could not believe my eyes when I saw the abundance of huge fish filling the small creeks for most of the winter. It is different than hooking into a "big daddy" out in the sound or in the main stem of the Skagit and being awed by its beauty. The salmon run is, all at once, one of the most spectacular, primitive, and brilliant feats of nature. Many aspects of it are simply mind-boggling. Take, for example, the fact that these fish are instinctually returning to the creeks from which they hatched, at the same time, year after year. In addition, they do this during the only time of the year when our climate provides favorable conditions. Even more impressive is the fact that the different species do this with as little overlap of spawning habitat as possible, which they have been doing since long before we were here to marvel at them. I find it amazing how this process accomplishes a natural cycling of nutrients from the ocean to the inland forest and estuarine flats, and vice-versa. Not only do the salmon feed the Orcas out at sea and the bald eagles in Rockport, but also the macroinvertebrates in our streams and the trees in our forests. Here in Skagit Valley we are very lucky to have this occurring right in our back yards. If you have not witnessed this marvel yourself, please take some time and volunteer for spawning surveys this winter with someone from SFEG, you will love it.
Geoff Martin measuring pool size on Barnes Creek, tributary to Lake Samish.
Another project that I took part in was the completion of the Natural Barrier Survey of the Samish basin in cooperation with the Skagit System Cooperative and with greatly appreciated help from the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. Much of this survey was true exploration, the kind you do as a kid, except with a purpose. During this project, we literally hiked up each and every creek, about 200 creeks in all, of the Butler Creek, Thomas Creek, Friday Creek and Lake Samish portions of the Samish watershed, until we reached a natural fish barrier. These barriers are the natural features of the creek which would be impassable to salmon. These barriers include an impassable waterfall, an extended gradient that the fish are not able to climb, and the end of the streams.
Completing this survey was important to all the people and fish of the Samish Basin for two reasons. First, in doing so, SFEG was able to update the hydrology layer of the watershed map showing where all the creeks flow. We discovered that there were many errors in the old map. For example, creeks were drawn in where there truly are none, many creeks were drawn in the wrong places, and we found creeks that were previously undocumented. Hopefully, updating this watershed map will lead to more accurate approval of permits for development, water rights, and such. The second reason this project was so important was the fact that it gave all entities involved in local stream restoration the ability to identify possible projects for improving fish passage. Now if a known human-made barrier exists on a particular creek, an individual can look at the updated hydro-layer and determine how much anadromous fish habitat could potentially be opened up by removing that barrier.
In addition to these major projects, I also had the pleasure of being involved with riparian zone plantings, vegetation and structure monitoring, spending time in our native plant nursery, and more. All of these activities are equally important in the restoration and conservation of our salmon, waterways, and in turn the entire ecosystem of the North Cascades. So, as my internship comes to a close I hope to convey to you the damage that I have seen in mistreated areas, but also the potential and hope that I have for our local environment. I am proud of my work here with SFEG It has allowed me to feel that I am doing my part to ensure that all of the generations to come will be able to delight in all that we have now.
