John and Karolyn Burdick are a powerhouse duo. These two friends of the Salmon Coalition are very knowledgeable and extremely active in their community.
Karolyn grew up on the Pysht River; and John is from Billings, then Spokane. Their land along the Pysht River is a legacy from Karolyn’s parents. When their three sons were little, they built their house and moved to Clallam Bay in 1977. About 67 acres of the property is now a North Olympic Land Trust easement. There are many trails, and the land is open to the public.
Karolyn and John are both extremely active in the Clallam Bay/Sekiu community. John helped start the Clallam Bay/Sekiu community garden, where community members come together to learn about and grow food. Karolyn instructs growing workshops at the garden. As a Master Gardener and with a degree in Botany, she has all sorts of tips and tricks for growing in our climate. Karolyn and John have gardened for 40 years at their own property, but the community garden taught them a great deal. Karolyn immersed herself in the North Olympic Library System, as the president of Friends of the Clallam Bay Library. The Clallam Bay Friends of the Library help support various programs and events, and always have good books to sell. Karolyn and John also take part in the water management decisions in the Hoko-Lyre Watershed.
You two are very inspiring!
What is your involvement with the Salmon Coalition and other local organizations on the Peninsula?
We first learned about NOSC through our involvement in the WRIA 19 planning process. Josey Paul was on the NOSC board; he told us about the organization, and suggested that we apply for funding for some restoration projects to improve fish habitat in the creek on our land.
What is the most interesting job/project you’ve taken on? Where was it? What were you doing?
We had NOSC projects in 2007-2008. The first one was in two parts; the first part was adding large woody debris (LWD) to the creek channel; the second part was making a major change in the direction of the creek (a sharp left turn), utilizing a deflector log jam and an inverted vortex. The next year, a channel was created to connect our wetland area with the creek, providing overwintering habitat for coho smolt.
What motivates you both to keep up with it all?
Inertia. We’ve been doing some things (like taking measurements for our groundwater wells) for so long, that it’s easier to continue than to stop.
Why do you think salmon habitat restoration is so important?
In spite of all the effort that has been put into improving the coho habitat on our creek, we see fewer spawning salmon every year, fewer redds, and fewer fry in the spring, and fewer smolt heading up the channel to the swamp for the winter, or downstream in the spring. Logging and climate change have had devastating effects on fish populations.
That is why, with your support, our work is so important. More support promotes healthier communities, better habitat, and happier fish!
