Olivia came to NOSC in 2016 as a Washington Conservation Corps Individual Placement. Her enthusiasm and drive led NOSC to hire her the following year to join our team. Over her four years at NOSC, she transitioned from coordinating education, riparian, and monitoring projects to developing and coordinating the construction of large-scale habitat restoration projects. A few of the many highlights of Olivia’s time with us:
- Completing a fish passage assessment of all culverts in the Hoko River watershed.
- Coordinating the Washington Conservation Corps crew to remove an undersized culvert and fill on a tributary of the Hoko River that opened nearly 2.5 acres of wetland habitat for rearing salmon.
- Managing a large culvert removal and bridge construction project on a tributary to Johnson Creek in the Hoko River Watershed.
- Facilitating the design of 3 complicated fish passage restoration projects in the Hoko River Watershed.
- Building lasting partnerships in the west end of our region.
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It is always sad to have a member of our team leave us, but Olivia has left a lasting legacy of restored habitat in her wake. All of us at NOSC, including the salmon, are grateful for her time with us.
Best wishes to Olivia as she continues to pursue her Master's degree in Natural Resources and GIS!
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Tributary to Johnson Creek Culvert |
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The Tributary to Johnson Creek Culvert Replacement Project is nearing completion! This unnamed tributary to Johnson Creek, which feeds the Hoko River, supports native runs of chinook, coho, steelhead, and cutthroat trout.
This old culvert was just upstream from the last major culvert replacement on Johnson Creek. The culvert, which was undersized at 7 ½-ft in diameter and perched 4-ft above the water surface, acted as a complete blockage to fish, disrupting access to 2-miles of stream and 1.6 acres of forested wetlands for migrating salmonids. In addition, the culvert was rusted through at its downstream end, causing water to exit before the pipe’s outfall.
To replace the culvert and reopen access to the upstream rearing and spawning grounds, the Salmon Coalition teamed up with Clallam County Public Works Department to sponsor the replacement. The new culvert was designed and constructed with funds from the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board. A 28-foot diameter, bottomless arch was installed, allowing for fish passage, 100-year flood levels, and increased flows due to climate change.
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Thank You!
We are deeply grateful to all of you who have joined or renewed your Membership this year. During a time of great uncertainty, your incredible support for the Salmon Coalition reminds us that the work we do is important to you, the salmon, and our entire ecosystem. Not only will your membership directly help us currently transition from our in person Education program Real Learning Real Work to a digital platform, but it will provide long term support for future restoration projects. On behalf of the Board and staff, we thank you!
And if you’ve forgotten to send in your membership, there’s still time! You can mail in your membership or click the link below.
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SAVE THE DATE: Nov 19th
Annual Meeting
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Save the Date for our Annual Meeting and stay tuned for more information soon! We look forward to seeing you via Zoom on the 19th of November!
Annual Meeting: November 19th, 2020
via ZOOM
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Monthly Spotlight - Polly Lyle
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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 interviewed Polly Lyle, NOSC volunteer and member, who continues to pull invasive scotch broom on her own during the pandemic! We are in awe.
Learn more from Polly below!
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I’m a retired pharmaceutical scientist who has lived in Port Townsend since 2007. |
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How did you hear about the Salmon Coalition? |
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NOSC Executive Director Rebecca Benjamin gave a talk at an AAUW Port Townsend meeting a few years ago. After the meeting, I asked her about getting involved with restoration of the Discovery Bay waterfront, a special place in my heart. |
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Why is habitat restoration important to you? |
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Just compare Discovery Bay now to what it was before restoration. All living things are fortunate to enjoy the rare beauty and healthy habitat of Discovery Bay, an exemplary example of habitat restoration. |
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During the pandemic, you’ve been pulling scotch broom on your own! Wow! Where are you pulling it, how did this come about, and can you tell us a little more about why you’re doing this? |
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I remember my late father telling me the ugly truth about the beautiful scotch broom I saw while driving from SeaTac to his home in Port Angeles. Before then, I’d never heard about a noxious weed. In recent years scotch broom has spread exponentially across the Peninsula. Pulling scotch broom along the Discovery Bay section of the Olympic Discovery Trail with my trusty Extractigator or by hand provides instant gratification and great exercise. It also helps the natives planted by NOSC thrive. In the last 2 months, I’ve pulled about 1,200 pounds. |
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What motivates you to donate your labor to the Salmon Coalition? |
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NOSC knows how to get work done! Expertise, partnerships, grant acquisition, volunteer engagement. |
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Anything else you would like to share with our readers? |
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If this this old gal can battle scotch broom, so can you. Please join me in the fight! |
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Thank you Polly, 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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