Hansen Creek is a large creek that flows south from Lyman Hill to the Skagit River, just east of Sedro-Woolley. It is a major feature of the grounds at the former Northern State Hospital, now home to the SWIFT Center and Northern State Recreation Area.
All five species of Pacific salmon inhabit Hansen Creek, plus steelhead trout. Multiple community partners have implemented restoration projects in the Hansen Creek system, including Skagit River System Cooperative and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe.
Restoration was begun by SFEG in the late 90s, with bank stabilization, in-stream structures, and extensive riparian planting happening throughout the Northern State campus. Back then we had our field shop and native plant nursery in unused portions of the campus, and we frequently used Hansen Creek restoration sites for training volunteers in field monitoring protocols.
Now most of the reaches where SFEG’s restoration occurred are adjacent to public walking trails in Northern State Recreation Area, and anyone can enjoy these walks while taking in the sights and sounds of Hansen Creek and its wildlife. On a recent visit it was fascinating to see elements of restoration 20+ years after implementation. With the extensive planting done adjacent to the stream by volunteers over the years, there is dense habitat for birds and other wildlife. The park is managed for multiple use, including a frisbee golf course. It’s not uncommon to see horseback riders on the trails, and of course lots of dog walkers.
Several Earth Days have been celebrated along Hansen Creek. Volunteers planted hundreds of native trees and shrubs in the upper reaches of the park, and wetland grasses in the lower section, where the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe has undertaken a project to restore the creek’s alluvial fan.
The alluvial fan wetland visible from Highway 20 looking north
Recent trail improvements along Hansen Creek have been undertaken by volunteers with Skagit Trail Builders. Check out their website for more information and to help out!
More information on Swift Center Here
For more on the fascinating history of Northern State Hospital check out the book Under The Red Roof: One Hundred Years At Northern State Hospital by M J McGoffin
Hansen Creek 20 Years On | Project 8 of 30
30/30 Projects, From the FieldHansen Creek is a large creek that flows south from Lyman Hill to the Skagit River, just east of Sedro-Woolley. It is a major feature of the grounds at the former Northern State Hospital, now home to the SWIFT Center and Northern State Recreation Area.
All five species of Pacific salmon inhabit Hansen Creek, plus steelhead trout. Multiple community partners have implemented restoration projects in the Hansen Creek system, including Skagit River System Cooperative and the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe.
Restoration was begun by SFEG in the late 90s, with bank stabilization, in-stream structures, and extensive riparian planting happening throughout the Northern State campus. Back then we had our field shop and native plant nursery in unused portions of the campus, and we frequently used Hansen Creek restoration sites for training volunteers in field monitoring protocols.
Now most of the reaches where SFEG’s restoration occurred are adjacent to public walking trails in Northern State Recreation Area, and anyone can enjoy these walks while taking in the sights and sounds of Hansen Creek and its wildlife. On a recent visit it was fascinating to see elements of restoration 20+ years after implementation. With the extensive planting done adjacent to the stream by volunteers over the years, there is dense habitat for birds and other wildlife. The park is managed for multiple use, including a frisbee golf course. It’s not uncommon to see horseback riders on the trails, and of course lots of dog walkers.
Several Earth Days have been celebrated along Hansen Creek. Volunteers planted hundreds of native trees and shrubs in the upper reaches of the park, and wetland grasses in the lower section, where the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe has undertaken a project to restore the creek’s alluvial fan.
The alluvial fan wetland visible from Highway 20 looking north
Recent trail improvements along Hansen Creek have been undertaken by volunteers with Skagit Trail Builders. Check out their website for more information and to help out!
More information on Swift Center Here
For more on the fascinating history of Northern State Hospital check out the book Under The Red Roof: One Hundred Years At Northern State Hospital by M J McGoffin
Weekday Potting Party April 8th
Upcoming EventsPotting Party Fun!
Are weekdays your thing? Then join us on Thursdays this spring getting baby plants into pots at our nursery. SFEG staff will be on site all day each Thursday, and we invite YOU to join us 9am-noon. Stay an hour, stay longer! Your choice.
Bring your own gloves if you have them. If not, we will gift you some! All ages welcome, masks required. Dress for the weather!
Due to ongoing Covid-19 health and safety concerns, registration for these and all volunteer events is required, in order to maintain small group numbers. Maximum participants is 12 for each event.
Register HERE
Riverfront Park: Then and Now | Project 7 of 30
30/30 Projects, From the FieldRiverfront Park: Then and Now
Riverfront Park is a 35 acre property situated at the banks of the lower main-stem of the Skagit River in south Sedro-Woolley. The park was developed in 1984 and now includes a dog park, several sports fields, and a place for RV’s and campers to settle in for the night.
Funding from the Rose Foundation and Washington State Department of Ecology has allowed SFEG to restore 7 acres of the city park property over the past few years. You wouldn’t know when visiting the park now but the restoration site, adjacent to the dog park, was covered in a swath of Himalayan blackberry and reed canary grass. These invasive species do not promote a healthy and balanced ecosystem, as they create a monoculture, by out-competing all other species that could potentially grow and thrive in the area.
Blackberry before SFEG restoration
Riverfront after restoration and plantings
Throughout 2018, the site was prepped for the first stage of restoration. Once the invasive species were removed by chemical and mechanical means, volunteers came out to the park alongside SFEG staff to take part in a number of tasks during the fall of 2019 for Make a Difference Day. Trails were built and a variety of native species were planted to promote a more healthy and stable ecosystem. Further, interpretive signs were installed at the site to inform the community of the purpose and importance of the project and how it enhances salmon habitat.
The side channel that runs through the restoration site
Olivia Hubert leading the pink group section during the Fall 2020 planting
Since the first plantings, vegetation surveys have been conducted to determine the survival of the plants. Staff and crews have weeded, mowed, and mulched to maintain the space around the plants in the summer. While in the Fall of 2020, another volunteer planting occurred in conjunction with the celebration of Orca Recovery Day, to replace the trees that didn’t survive the first season. The trickling stream running through the site is slated for passage barrier restoration in the future. When salmon do return, they will find a healthy riparian buffer that will help provide them with clean, cold, and clear water. This work is just the beginning of making Riverfront Park a bountiful land for all kinds of native species and people to enjoy.
Riverfront Planting Volunteer Interview