Sound Partner: Jessica Hamill

Jessica builds, leads, and hold partners together and accountable for their part in a bigger collaborative partnership in the County.
— Summer Daugherty, Engineering and Agriculture

Jessica Hamill is Snohomish County’s Community Floodplain Solutions program manager. Jessica has been a vocal advocate and supporter of the three Fs: Farm, Fish, Flood and actively advocates for each, recognizing their interconnected success. We are pleased to recognize her for the critical role she has played in building and leading collaborative partnerships, identifying and implementing project opportunities, and for her creative, solution-based mindset.

Sound Educator: Scott Chase

Scott is an immensely self-sacrificing individual who is so committed to protecting the human and natural communities of the island.
— Alana Springer, Environmental Education Program Manager

Scott has partnered with the District on a multitude of volunteer and educational events on Camano Island, but we want to specifically recognize him for his support with planning, coordinating, and launching our Conservation Station at Cama Beach State Park. Scott played an instrumental role in cultivating a relationship between Snohomish Conservation District and Washington State Parks to make this program possible. He also helped our educators devise innovative ways to reach park visitors and ensured they were safe, supported, and well resourced. We are grateful for his work on this project and his ongoing efforts to protect both the human and natural world on Camano Island.

Sound Volunteer: Sally Jo Sebring

Sally Jo is a reliable and energetic advocate in Snohomish County.
— Sara Rocero, Habitat Restoration Project Manager

Sally Jo Sebring who brought an abundance of positivity and knowledge to our plant sale this year. She also gave the highest number of hours, volunteering over 20 hours the week of our plant sale!

Sally Jo is passionate about riparian restoration, wildlife habitat, and native plants and has attended almost every workshop we’ve held on these subjects. She engages with the District Habitat team about controlling noxious weeds, and overall improving her property for terrestrial and aquatic wildlife.

She doesn’t just talk the talk— she’s also putting her knowledge to work and doing her own riparian restoration along the stream on her own property.

Sound Farm (Commercial): Peoples Creek Dairy

This farm is a wonderful example of what successful succession planning could look like.
— Bobbi Lindemulder, former SCD Agriculture Program Director

People’s Creek Dairy in Monroe has been an incredible partner and recently participated in our cost-share program to implement a new manure handling system that will help protect water quality and maximize efficient manure management. People’s Creek Dairy has an existing CREP buffer and is actively working with local tribes on fish habitat improvements. Through this award we’d like to recognize People’s Creek Dairy for their ongoing collaborative efforts with our farm planning staff and the technological advancements they've made in order to protect water quality and to succeed in one of the toughest industries around.

Sound Farm (small): Food Bank Farm

Jim (left) pictured recieving the award with members of Food Bank Farm

Jim Eichner is a reliable, thoughtful, and dedicated community members and District partner.
— Alana Springer, Environmental Education Program Manager

Jim uses conservation minded practices to grow copious amounts of vegetable starts on his farm. He reduces the environmental impact of his farm by utilizing secondhand resources (used pots, etc) and sowing plants with old seeds discarded by stores and other organizations.

Jim is incredibly community minded. He grows vegetable starts for many community organizations, including food banks, conservation districts, and non-profits. He is dedicated to addressing food insecurity and improving food resilience through his work.

He has also consulted on the construction of the Districts very own greenhouse!

Sound Green Solutions: Patrick Johnson

Pat (left) with SCD Community Conservation Department manager Penny Crispin

Pat is steward of the city, and a strong voice advocating for more green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). He is a kind person and a strong supporter of his hometown.
— Penny Crispin, Community Conservation Department Manager

Pat is a major proponent for green stormwater infrastructure in Edmonds, working with SCD to build rain gardens and bioswales. He's very supportive in providing city personnel to support the District’s projects.

Pat also connected the District with other partners to increase rain barrel access within the community. In addition, Pat also is the city representative on the Lake Ballinger Forum and helps monitor the lake level.

Sound Forest: Todd Simonson

Todd shows a lot of great dedication to his property and improving his habitat.
— Stacey Dixon, Forest Program Manager

Todd wrote his own forest management plan and has demonstrated exceptional dedication to his forested property on Camano Island by improving wildlife habitat, thinning for forest health, and planting for biodiversity. Todd has also been a wonderful advocate for Snohomish Conservation District’s forestry services and has helped spread the word throughout his community, encouraging others to reach out for technical assistance and holding a public tour on his property, giving others the opportunity to learn about actions they can take for forest health.

Sound Habitat: Monica Van der Vieren

Monica pictured with SCD Engineering and Agriculture Department Manager Summer Daugherty

Monica is an inspiration and has an infectious connection to the natural world around her. Working with Monica gives me the energy to continue to do the work I do. She has truly been a collaborator that has given me more than I have been able to afford her.
— Carrie Brausieck

Monica is a leader in her community and has been a key advocate in advancing the Agriculture Resilience work for Swan's Trail Slough. She is an amazing story teller, has a knowledge of native plants, birds, and insects that is enviable and is able to communicate that knowledge to others in inspiring ways. She is an amazing photographer and has created some wonderful storyboards.

Monica has collaborated with our district in numerous ways— leading tours on her property, volunteering her time to present on topics for Brightwater's Sustainable Yard Care series. Additionally, Monica has freely opened up her property to our habitat team to come out and take cuttings of many native species for restoration in other areas of the county. She donates willow, cottonwood, ninebark, and many other species.

Lifetime Achievement: Bobbi Lindemulder

SCD has provided me a place to build my roots....to continue my career, to develop a program, to seek out and help those who didn’t know where to turn.
— Bobbie Lindemulder

Bobbi joined the Snohomish Conservation District Agriculture team in 1997 as a farm planner. Through her dedication and expertise, she earned promotion to leadership positions. Bobbi served as a lead farm planner, an interim District Manager, a Program Manager, and finally the Agriculture Department Director. Bobbi worked to increase agriculture viability and resilience throughout Snohomish County and Camano Island and provided one-on-one technical assistance to farmers to help address natural resource needs. Bobbi also provided technical resource planning training state-wide and provided valuable input on regional planning efforts. For her tireless work at the District and the many efforts supporting local farmers and residents, Bobbi received the Lifetime Achievement award.

Bobbi pictured with SCD Board chair Mark Craven (left) and Executive Director Linda Lyshall (right)

Hungry Hearts

Many aspects make Hungry Hearts an organization to support, as well as their robust support of the Conservation District. They help recruit volunteers and advertise our events through their social media, with their ability to post in the school district’s events calendar. With that, they provide volunteers for gleaning events, even storing and giving produce to folks directly.
— Joe Crumbley, SCD Urban Ag Coordinator
Potato harvesting at holy cross church in lake stevens

Potato harvesting at holy cross church in lake stevens

Hungry Hearts is a non-profit organization that supports our program Project Harvest. They assist about 250 children each week with their backpack program (providing food). They provide students with spring and winter break lunch, who otherwise might not get enough food while being at home. With a strong 40-50 legion of volunteers they provide amazing services to the community.


Nomination Highlight Video

Learn more about Hungry Hearts via their website -

https://www.hungryheartsfoundation.com/

Fred Collins

Fred Collins is a kind and engaging teacher from Discovery Elementary who also runs their garden club program.
— Lily Cason, Youth Education Coordinator
Colton Martin at the State Capitol

Colton Martin at the State Capitol

Our VCC adding rain cisterns to their garden in 2019, which helps them easily water the garden beds at the school. Fred is very hands-on with the garden program, and we’re grateful for his dedication to teaching and tending the earth.


Nomination Highlight Video



Glenwood Elementary Students

These four amazing Glenwood students absolutely blew me away with their courage, their compassion, and their advocacy. They came to the Legislature to use their voices and speak up for our planet, not only for the benefit of our community today – but for the benefit of our community’s future. I couldn’t be more proud and inspired by these young changemakers, and I can’t wait to watch them continue to make this world a better place.
— State Senator Mona Das, 47th Legislative District
Colton Martin at the State Capitol

Colton Martin at the State Capitol

Nominated by their teacher, Andrew Fritz, Glenwood Elementary School in the Lake Stevens School District for their testimony to the State Legislature about styrofoam and its impact on water quality and wildlife.

Kylee Reynolds - 5th Grade - 11 years of age

Madison Descrescenzo - 5th Grade - 11 years of age

Colton Martin - 6th Grade - 12 years of age (former student of Andrew Fritz)

Riley Gibson - 6th Grade - 12 years of age (former student of Andrew Fritz)

His former students testified at the Washington State House Committee in support of banning restaurant styrofoam containers. Senator Das specifically asked for them to testify from last year's paper's they wrote.


Nomination Highlight Video

Watch the students testimony via Senator Das’ Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/SenatorMonaDas/videos/579718102882873/



Students Saving Salmon

This club, which started 5 years ago, has a goal to restore salmon in local creeks and improve the environment. Students Saving Salmon objectives are to collect and disseminate scientific information on Edmonds watersheds and local salmon populations; conduct community outreach; improve streamside habitat; and enhance salmon populations. Student efforts in environmental conservation are well known and appreciated in Edmonds.
— Joe Scordino
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The Students Saving Salmon has grown from a handful of students in 2015 to over 70 students that currently engage in local conservation activities. Students have voluntarily collected monthly water quality measurements (e.g., dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, nitrates, turbidity) and habitat observations in local creeks and the Edmonds Marsh for almost five years.

This data has been used by students to report on watershed conditions to the Edmonds City Council each year along with recommendations on aspects needing local government attention. In some instances, students have used their observations to develop and implement plans for action to fix habitat problems.

For example, over several years students documented conditions at a partially blocked culvert that was affecting salmon passage. Lacking governmental action to resolve the problem, in the summer of 2018, Students Saving Salmon obtained WDFW and local authorizations to work with the property owner to amass a successful volunteer effort to clear the culvert of willow tree roots that had grown into and were blocking flow in the culvert. In the fall of 2018, upstream property owners (above the culvert) cheerfully reported they were again seeing coho salmon in the creek.

Students have also worked with private property owners to restore streamside habitat and have planted over 650 native plants along Shell Creek since 2017. Noting that salmon numbers were declining in the creeks, students began efforts to enhance the salmon runs in 2017. This began with getting WDFW authorization to place juvenile coho in upper areas of the creek that were blocked to adult passage and has expanded to students getting WDFW authorization to use instream salmon egg incubators to increase salmon numbers and utilize stream habitat that is otherwise inaccessible to adult salmon. These incubators were successfully used last winter (2018/19) with 89% hatching survival (which is better than wild egg survival).

Last winter (2019/2020), students installed instream incubators in Shell, Willow and Lunds Gulch Creeks with 5,000 coho salmon eggs and 4,000 chum salmon eggs and are hoping for even better survival through location improvements based on past years observations. In addition, Students Saving Salmon has conducted outreach on salmon and the environment at numerous community events and clubs (such as fishing groups, Rotary, and other community groups).


Nomination Highlight Video

Mary Fosse

Mary exemplifies Snohomish Conservation District’s mission of being a steward of natural resources. She using sustainable practices to care for her yard and encourages others to do the same.
— Joe Crumbley
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Community member Mary Fosse is a powerhouse for environmental stewardship, and we're proud to showcase some of the exceptional achievements she's accomplished. Not only has she continued to advocate for clean, healthy soil in her neighborhood, but her garden full of trees, crops and native plants encourages a healthy ecosystem of wildlife and pollinators. As an active participant in the Lawns to Lettuce program, she also shares her harvest with those in need.

Thanks for being a rock star, Mary!


Nomination Highlight Video

Press

City of Marysville

City of Marysville staff have been excellent partners working SCD to coordinate our WCC crew to plant 10 acres in Jennings Park.
— Carson Moscoso
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Many conservation organizations have looked at doing a large scale restoration project at Jennings Park for 10+ years, but chose not to due to site specific complications. When SCD chose to take on this challenge, the City was willing to work with us to accomplish it.

Beyond the DOE grants at Jennings Park, City staff have worked with SCD planners regarding beaver issues and rain gardens throughout 2020.


Nomination Highlight Video

Press

Rhiannon Christianson

Rhiannon was always kind and willing to help in any way possible. The enthusiasm she exudes for rain gardens and projects done by the District will be long lasting.
— David Jackson
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Rhiannon was a part of a cluster rain garden installation in Lynnwood this year. She was an integral part of outreach by speaking to her neighbors, trying to get other involved. She allowed the Vet crew to store materials and tools at her house, cutting down on the time the crew had to load and unload tools everyday. Rhiannon was a constant pleasure to work with. When it came time to plant all of the rain gardens, Rhiannon graciously hosted the event on her property. 


Nomination Highlight Video

Press

Terri Forslof

We love working with everyday people who see an opportunity on their land and come to us for help. Several years ago, we worked with horse owner Terri Forslof after she purchased her equestrian property, a true fixer-upper that sat vacant for nearly a decade. After an initial site visit and assessment, Terri partnered with us on a cost-sharing project to build mud-free horse paddocks, an efficient waste storage and compost system, and some native vegetation planting for their pond.

Michael Hipp, Terri Forslof and Eric Schuh at the farm tour in 2019.

Michael Hipp, Terri Forslof and Eric Schuh at the farm tour in 2019.


Nomination Highlight Video

Pat and Tony Vivolo

Pat and Tony are incredible ambassadors for native plant landscaping, working with our area’s natural ecological processes, and appreciating the natural beauty and abundance of our region.
— Kathryn Wells, SCD Communications Program Manager
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Pat and Tony are long-time Plant Sale customers and have worked hard for years to create a healthy native plant habitat on their high bluff property, as well as their daughter’s sloped property. Pat and Tony are both very active volunteers with Friends of Camano Island Parks and other organizations, educating many youth and adults every year about the importance of forests and native vegetation in maintaining a healthy Salish Sea. They are fantastic ambassadors!


Nomination Highlight Video

Press

Travis Pantaleo

Greetings, everybody. The Pilchuck River served as a great backyard to my family and I while we lived in Snohomish for three years. Through conservation and restoration, it can continue to be everybody’s backyard into the future. Thank you.
— Travis Pantaleo
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Travis owns property on the Pilchuck River. He reached out to the District in 2018 to see what he could do on his property to improve salmon and steelhead runs on the Pilchuck River (he reached out to every organization and agency possible, really). When he realized that there wasn't much he could actively do on his property (a project) other than retain it in its forested condition, he began to reach out to other property owners on the reach to see where he could find a willing property owner to work with him and the local TU chapter to complete a salmon habitat restoration project. He continues to support this landowner outreach and coordination work even though he was stationed in Italy beginning in September 2019 as an active service member of the Navy. He re-engaged the local TU chapter in restoration/recovery efforts on the Pilchuck River and brought together a group of partners to advance a project. Travis seeks to improve the natural world wherever he lives, and he works tirelessly to inspire others to his cause. He is all about the fish and wildlife and what they need to survive.


Nomination Highlight Video

Press

Lois Ruskell

I’m thankful for past generations’ efforts towards stewardship, but I know there is still more to do.
— Lois Ruskell
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Lois has been with the District since 1989, she originally started out as a dairy technician and planner but is now our Public Relations Coordinator. Lois is a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to outreach in Snohomish County. She was managing editor and steward of the Nexus for 25 years and more than 100 issues, receiving national recognition for her efforts. Before joining the District she co-managed a 200-acre dairy farm with 400 additional acres of crops in Minnesota. Lois has also worked with the Extension Service in two states, managed a 5 million dollar watershed project in the prairie pothole area of the Midwest, and was an Ag Fellow at the University of Minnesota. The District would not be where it is today without her influence and drive to push us forward. We are grateful for her lifelong commitment to protecting and conserving our natural resources. 


Nomination Highlight Video