Real Learning Real Work Updates |
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Left: Kaeli, Lexi, Kelly, & Sarah (left to right) celebrating two successful days of filming. Right: Kelly & Kaeli interviewing WCC Port Hadlock Riparian Restoration Crew member Torin. |
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Many of you are familiar with our Real Learning, Real Work education program, which teaches 7th graders the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills necessary to envision, design, and implement their own salmon habitat restoration project. Real Learning, Real Work has always been a hands-on program with field elements, but when COVID-19 case numbers began rising and schools moved to virtual learning, our program was put on hold halfway through the 2019-2020 school year.
For several months, our education team has been working hard to transfer this immersive curriculum into an engaging virtual platform. In mid-January, Lexi (our WCC AmeriCorps intern), Sarah (NOSC's Program & Partnership Manager) and Kelly and Kaeli (our contractors from Sound Salmon Solutions, a fellow RFEG) wrapped up filming at various local restoration sites to create captivating online content for teachers and students.
The Salmon Coalition is excited to implement this new platform and continue building our relationships with schools we’ve worked with in the past, including Blue Heron and Chimacum Middle Schools, as well as foster new relationships with educators throughout Jefferson and Clallam Counties.
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Sarah, Kaeli, and Kelly (left to right) reviewing footage taken at Jefferson Land Trust's Illahee Preserve. |
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Micro Plantings are Underway! |
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The morning cohort poses for a distanced group photo after planting at the Pysht River Conservation Area. Photo by Courtney Bornsworth. |
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We’ve had two exceptionally successful volunteer “micro planting” events so far this year! Due to COVID-19, we’ve had to significantly restrict the number of volunteers at these events and instill strict guidelines. But our small numbers haven’t stopped us from getting a few hundred plants in the ground for our beloved salmon!
On January 16th, we had 13 volunteers, split between two different cohorts, join us to plant at North Olympic Land Trust’s Pysht River Conservation Area. On the rare sun-filled western Clallam County winter day, we planted 12 different species of native plants and shrubs along the Pysht River. On January 23rd, volunteers joined us at Kodama Farm & Food Forest on the other end of the northern peninsula, where we embarked on the first planting of its kind for the Salmon Coalition. Recently, a Jefferson Land Trust conservation easement along Chimacum Creek was established on the Kodama Farm property. To delineate the working farm from the conservation easement, volunteers began planting a hedgerow of edible species that the Kodama farmers will one day be able to harvest from!
Thank you to all of the volunteers who have come out to plant so far this season!
The Salmon Coalition is hosting more “micro planting” events in February, but space is extremely limited and spots are filling up fast! RSVPs are required. If you are interested in joining us to plant this season, please visit our site to learn more and RSVP.
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Left: Volunteer Dimitry celebrates his birthday by planting raspberry at Kodama Farm. Right: Sarah demonstrates planting technique for the afternoon work cohort at Kodama Farm. |
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That's a Wrap: Coho Spawner Surveys |
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A Coho carcass spotted along Chimacum Creek. Photo by Nancy Stevens. |
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Since 1998, volunteers have braved rain, wind, and even snow to monitor spawning salmon on Chimacum Creek.
From November 2020 to the end of January 2021, dedicated volunteers have walked different stretches of Chimacum Creek to record the number of Coho and any redds (salmon “nests”) that they come across. Only a handful of Coho were spotted this year, and while that number may seem discouraging, it’s still an important piece of data. By keeping track of the number of salmon spawning in Chimacum Creek over the years, biologists can assess trends and formulate decisions on how to better manage our salmon populations.
Since the season was wasn’t full of fish, volunteers Peggy and Nancy made good use of their time cutting back blackberry along the creek while Marie and Kathy picked up trash every week en route to their surveying section. A grand thanks to ALL of this season’s Coho volunteers! Without our amazing volunteers, these surveys would not be possible. We appreciate all that our volunteers do, and so do the fish!
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Volunteer Peggy Albers surveying a very high Chimacum Creek. Photo by Nancy Stevens. |
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The Port Hadlock Crew strikes a pose. Photo by Torin Blaker. |
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Recently, the Salmon Coalition rolled out a new feature on our social media pages: WCC Wednesdays. The Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) Port Hadlock Restoration Crew does a LOT of really important on-the-ground service, for the Salmon Coalition and other groups around the peninsula, and on Wednesdays we are highlighting and celebrating the team and their accomplishments!
Thanks to Torin Blaker, Photography & Media Specialist on the crew, for partnering with us on this feature! You can check out Torin's other work on Instagram and YouTube.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up-to-date on WCC Wednesday, and for upcoming events, project updates, and fun educational snippets!
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As one of 14 Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs) in the state, North Olympic Salmon Coalition is a part of the Regional Fisheries Coalition (RFC). While each RFEG is a separate, local non-profit with its own board of directors and member support, the RFC is the unified voice advocating for the common mission of RFEGs to protect and restore salmon populations in Washington.
The Regional Fisheries Coalition 2020 Annual Report is now available. The theme of this year’s report is resilience, highlighting the focus of RFEGs on the powerful work of salmon recovery even during challenging times. We hope you too can celebrate the 30 years of community-driven programs to restore Washington’s salmon runs by reading the report!
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NOSC Annual Meeting Video is Up! |
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Stewardship Coordinator Nate Roberts presenting NOSC's Virtual StoryMap at the 2020 Annual Meeting. |
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Weren't able to attend our 2020 Annual Meeting? No worries! A recording of the meeting is now available for viewing on our website. |
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Volunteer Spotlight: Mike Marson |
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Mike showing off a salmon during spawner surveys a few years ago. Photo by Charles Espey. |
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The Salmon Coalition is grateful to work with and learn from so many inspiring and dedicated people. To celebrate the contributions of this community, NOSC selects someone each month to highlight and give thanks.
This month we are highlighting one of our most experienced and dedicated spawner survey volunteers, Mike Marson. Read on to learn more about Mike!
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Tell us a little bit about yourself. |
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I grew up in Edmonds, Washington in an outdoors family. Weekends were spent fishing, crabbing, clam digging, hunting, camping, and hiking. When urban sprawl started to take over it was time to move to a more rural area, and Port Townsend was just right for me. I was a letter carrier in Lynnwood, Washington and was able to transfer to the Port Townsend Post office in 1985 where I worked until retiring in 2004. |
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How did you first hear about NOSC and what encouraged you to volunteer? |
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I signed up for a Beach Watchers training shortly after retiring, and heard about NOSC during the training and was able to sign up for a chum survey. One trip through the middle stretch with chum salmon all around us and I was hooked. Now, I wait all year to get back in the stream! |
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What do you like most about Chum and Coho spawner surveys? |
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Being in the stream with the fish, in what feels like a wilderness environment, is great and to have that just a few miles from home is unique and something we must protect. I like to stop at the top of the trail down to the stream and listen for the sounds of the salmon splashing through the riffles and building their redds. |
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What is your favorite memory from spawner surveys? |
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My favorite memory was the year (I don't recall the date) when there was a very big return of salmon and, in one day on the middle stretch, we counted nearly 500 live and 400 dead chums. A wild and crazy day, and we probably missed a number of fish because they were going by us upstream and then others were going by us downstream. It was hard to keep track of so many fish! |
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Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? |
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I look forward every year to seeing old friends and meeting new volunteers and new interns. I always enjoy seeing Owen and his crew and seeing Cheri Scalf from WDFW. |
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Thank you Mike, we appreciate you! |
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Base funding for the RFEG program comes from a grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, a portion of state commercial and recreational fishing license fees, and excess egg and carcass sales administered by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
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Give Us Your Feedback
Questions or Comments? Let us know what you think!
outreach@nosc.org
360.379.8051
www.nosc.org
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