Salmon at the Skookumchuck
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In October, Chris, one of our Veteran Conservation Crew members captured this video of Salmon on the Skookumchuck River project site.
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Why are salmon so important? Salmon are critical to the health of our ecosystem and a vital part of the food chain. Many species, including our Southern Resident orca whales feed on and receive nutrients from salmon. These important fish are also a large piece of our economy and a critical part of the Indigenous coastal communities who have harvested salmon for thousands of years. Unfortunately, Pacific Northwest salmon populations are rapidly declining.
In an effort to create healthy functioning ecosystems and restore salmon populations, Thurston Conservation District (TCD) works alongside community members to restore and conserve property along waterways in Thurston County. The video captured above shows salmon on one of TCD's project sites in the Skookumchuck River in fall 2021.
Over the last several years, TCD has been working with community partners and a private landowner to protect and restore more than 2,600 ft. of shoreline along the Skookumchuck River. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the project sponsor, installed 23 engineered log jams in this section of the Skookumchuck River. Woody debris deposited river systems help create diverse habitat within the channel. The added log jams will create deep cool-water pools for salmon to rest in and gravel bars critical for salmon spawning. These habitat features are important to the health and survival of salmon. TJ, one of our Veteran Conservation Corps crew members who works on the Skookumchuck River project shared, "Seeing the salmon thriving in the river makes all our restoration efforts feel worth it. We are doing this work so that future generations get the opportunity to see salmon swimming up the river too."
In the next several months, TCD staff and our restoration field crews are gearing up to begin our second year or planting. An additional 28,000 plants are slated to be installed on this section of the river. These young plantings will eventually grow into a healthy function ecosystems that will serve many benefits to aquatic species and the surrounding land. Vegetation along waterways provides shade which helps cool the water, making it suitable for salmon. In addition, trees and shrubs deposit leaf litter and woody debris into the river which creates food for aquatic insects which then feed the salmon and supports a healthy food chain. Also, vegetation along streams and rivers can prevent erosion and flooding which can be detrimental to salmon spawning habitat.
Learn more about this exciting project here.
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Thank You, Orca Recovery Day Volunteers!
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Thank you to all our amazing volunteers that came out to Watershed Park on Saturday to participate in our annual Orca Recovery Day!
Together, TCD, City of Olympia, and our incredible community teamed up to participate in this day of action to help protect our Southern Resident orca whales! Over 60 community members collectively donated over 240 hours to help remove 20+ yards of invasive weeds and plant 160 native trees and shrubs in their place.
Restoring habitat around salmon-bearing streams and rivers is vital to protecting our Southern Resident orca population. One of the biggest threats orca whales face is that their primary food source, salmon, are also endangered. Due to habitat loss, climate change, and increased pollution, local salmon populations are a fraction of what they used to be. With all the help of our volunteers we were able to restore areas near Moxlie Creek, a salmon-bearing stream that runs directly into Puget Sound.
Want to learn what else you can do to be a part of the solution for our Endangered Southern Resident orca whales? Visit www.betterground.org to learn about more actions you can take to get involved. |
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Plant Sale Pre-orders Open Now!
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Pre-orders for our 2022 Native Plant Festival & Sale are open now through Janurary 2022! This is a great opportunity for you to begin planning your spring planting projects. Order now to ensure you get the quantity of plants you desire.
To add to the excitement this year, we have new native plants like false lily of the valley, Western goldenrod, and tufted hairgrass available for purchase. In addition, we have the option to order native plant seed for species like Western columbine, Douglas aster, and showy Oregon sunshine.
Here's how to order:
- Visit our online store at store.thurstoncd.com
- Look through available plants on the 'Products' page - plants can be sorted into multiple categories or viewed alphabetically by common name.
- Use the online planting guidelines and resources if you're not sure what would thrive in your yard or planting area.
- Make an online payment via our PayPal portal- please note you do not need to have a PayPal account to do this and you can check out as a 'guest'.
- Pick up your plants March 3rd - 5th! You will receive detailed information about pick up and care prior to March 3rd.
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News from South Sound GREEN
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Students from Olympic View Elementary participate in a water quality field day!
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October at SSG means one thing – Water Quality Monitoring! Hundreds of students throughout Thurston County participated in our flagship program this month, analyzing important water quality parameters from local freshwater creeks and lakes that support native salmon health. SSG staff helped out at various school districts, from practicing water quality tests at Rainier High School, to offering in-class water quality testing at for Boston Harbor Elementary students, and leading STEM field days at the North Thurston elementary schools. It’s been a busy month, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!
Water Quality Monitoring will be continuing into November this year, leading us nicely into our McLane Creek Nature Trail chum salmon virtual field trips! Keep an eye out for information from local partners like Stream Team to learn when and how to see spawning chum salmon this fall in publicly accessible areas.
Also, we’re still looking for high school students to join the new Teens in Thurston (TnT) volunteer group! This month, TnT volunteers had the opportunity to assist with Orca Recovery Day, and we’re planning more exciting projects and experiences throughout Thurston County for future meetings. Interested teens and parents can reach out to Sam Nadell at snadell@thurstoncd.com for more information.
If you are interested in volunteering for any of South Sound GREEN’s programs, or want to learn how to get your own school or class involved, contact Sam Nadell, snadell@thurstoncd.com or (360)754-2588 ext.102
South Sound GREEN has their own social media and website.
Check out the links below.
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From Our Community
A snapshot of other great events, programs, and services available from throughout our community.
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Orcas: Shared Water, Shared Home
Puget Sound Estuarium
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Thursday, November 4th at 6:30 pm
Facebook Live Event
View event information here.
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Tune into the Estuarium’s Facebook Live for an exciting talk with environmental journalist and author, Lynda V. Mapes. Lynda will guide participants through an exploration of the complex challenges facing the Puget Sound’s Southern Resident Orcas which culminated in her latest release, “Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home”, made in partnership with The Seattle Times.
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Salmon Viewing at Bayshore Preserve
Capitol Land Trust
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Volunteer salmon docents will be at the November 6, 7, 11, 13, and 14 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm to answer salmon questions. Spanish interpreters will be there November 6th and 14th from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm.
Questions? Contact Mary at mary@capitollandtrust.org
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Witness the annual phenomenon of the fall chum salmon run at Bayshore Preserve! In past years, the peak salmon run has been the first half of November, so be sure to stop by for a visit. Learn more about visiting and important parking information here.
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Farming on the Urban Edge
WSU Food Systems
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Program classes will be held on November 12th, December 10th, January 14th, February 11th, and March 11th from 2:30-5:30 pm
Questions? Contact foodsystems.admin@wsu.edu
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Join WSU Food Systems for a structured five-part online interactive program that will address different aspects of urbanization and farm viability. Learn more and register here.
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Seeking New Board Member
Thurston County Noxious Weed Board
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Qualified applicants must reside in Turston County Noxious Weed's Fourth District. See the map here.
Questions? Contact tcweed@co.thurston.wa.us
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Thurston County Noxious Weed is seeking a new Board Member to fill their District 4 seat. The members of the Board represent the people and interests of the districts from which each is appointed. The members of the Board also have administrative duties for the noxious weed control program including the annual noxious weed list for Thurston County. Learn more here.
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Conservation News
Interesting news, articles, and studies on conservation issues from around the world.
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Maine SWCD Contributes to American Chestnut Research
For National Association of Conservation Districts
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“Maine’s Central Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has partnered with the Maine Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation conducting research to bring back forest chestnut trees.” Read more here.
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Scientists can Switch on Plants’ Response to Light
By Jules Bernstein for University of California
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"Scientists have figured out how plants respond to light and can flip this genetic switch to encourage food growth, even in shade. The discovery could help increase food supply for an expanding population with shrinking opportunities for farming."Read more here.
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Strikingly Simple Means of Diagnosing Ecosystem Health Uncovered
By Steve Lundeberg for Oregon State University
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"Scientists say the health of a terrestrial ecosystem can be largely determined by three variables: vegetations' ability to uptake carbon, its efficiency in using carbon and its efficiency in using water." Read more here.
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