Tips, tricks, and a quick peek into the everyday life of the conservation district.
This year’s crew contributed to over 20 acres of riparian planting and invasive maintenance, as well as constructed several rain gardens throughout Snohomish County. Read on to hear about their experiences at the District with WCC in their own words.
Read MoreAfter two seasons of riparian restoration implementation, I transitioned into a role at Snohomish Conservation District that allowed me to plan and manage similar projects to improve habitat for salmon. Salmon are the bridge between our ecosystems. Traveling from oceans to estuaries, wetlands to streams, they cycle nutrients from the ocean back to the forest. They also hold immense cultural importance to Salish Sea tribes—to lose the salmon would be a loss of a way of life.
Read MoreThe crew this year has been nothing short of fantastic. While a normal year can be challenging and requires a large amount of flexibility, the addition challenges, such as a January with 27 days of rain and suspension of field labor due to Covid-19, made this particular year unique.
Read MoreBeavers definitely live in the City of Lake Stevens. Snohomish CD and the city work together to help keep them in place for the many benefits beavers provide. Check out our latest webinar talking about how to live with beavers.
Read MoreLast month began our new Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) Crew’s term. These six young environmental stewards will be with us through September 2020.
Read MoreWith our gratitude and thanks, we sent out into the world another Washington Conservation Corps Crew and Restoration Project Assistant.
Read MoreThe story features two of our bigger Washington Department of Ecology projects - Jennings Park in Marysville and the recently named Foothills Wetland Preserve in Monroe.
Read MoreOur 2018-2019 Washington Conservation Corps crew has begun their real work around the county. Here are some photos from their first outings including prep for the Puget Sound Orca Day held in November.
Read MoreWelcome to our 2018-19 WCC Crew!
Read MoreWe’re about to say goodbye to another awesome. Parting is always bittersweet, but we are proud of the work these young people have done!
Read MoreOur WCC crew recently saw Coho Salmon and Steelhead juveniles in the Skykomish River. Yay for fish and our restoration crew!
Looking to join our team? We’re now hiring for the 2018-2019 crew which begins October 1, 2018.
Read MoreThe crew works rain or shine all year round implementing conservation projects.
Read MoreRain creates mud. That didn't dim the smiles on the WCC crew helping move dirt for garden beds in Monroe.
Read MoreGet to know our 2017-2018 Washington Conservation Corps crew!
Read MoreWhen the Washington Conservation Corps crew starts their contract year, they get right to work. And, mind you, they often get more done in a day than a normal person or household gets done in a month!
Their first project this year was to return to the Department of Ecology grant location off of Highway 2 near the Arco Station near Monroe to do some needed maintenance.
From the returning crew lead, Ali Trout, "We spent the last two days pulling night shade at the Monroe Wetlands site. The night shade mono-culture area is supposed to be a branch of the creek, but it has been so choked out by the night shade, that the creek doesn’t really exist anymore. The water just slowly trickled through the night shade mat. We cleared 2,600 sq ft so far and about 21 cubic yards for volume."
Yeah. We're glad they're back to work.
Keep watching the site for official photos of the 2017/2018 crew.
Grateful for a sunny day to have a potluck outside!
Last week we thanked and celebrated the 2016/2017 WCC crew who helped us plant 23,000 native trees/shrubs, restored 24 acres, maintained 65 acres, and assisted with two events.
They thanked us for being good partners with this super cool wood carving, which now lives in our front office. Thanks to everyone for a successful year!
If you live in Monroe, and commute to I-5 and places beyond, you may see an Arco station along your route on the north side of Highway 2. Next to that Arco station are 8 acres of wetlands that the Snohomish Conservation District is helping to restore through a Department of Ecology grant. It is a unique opportunity to be so close to a major roadway making it highly visible. The hope is that this project site will promote public education, a sense of stewardship and a personal connection to the watershed.
Read MoreThe WCC crew wrapped up their planting season on April 27th! A total of 23,976 plants were installed on 24 acres! The plantings occurred on 14 properties from November to April.
Location: West of Arlington
Activity: Plant a 6.5-acre riparian buffer. The stream on the property is a tributary to Pilchuck Creek and has been a documented spawning stream for Coho. A new channel was dug this past summer to increase salmon survival as they migrate upstream, and a buffer planting is typically done to keep water temperature low and dissolved oxygen levels high.
Date: Thursday, February 23
Of Note: This was a rare 3-crew sighting! While this planting has been an ongoing project for the last several months; on Thursday, our WCC crew got some help from the City of Arlington's WCC crew* and our new Veterans Conservation Corps (VCC) crew. The VCC crew is a brand new crew of U.S. military veterans that we created in partnership with the Veterans Conservation Corps. This crew, of 4 veterans, has broad backgrounds covering several decades of military service. Stay tuned for more information and features with this crew- they will primarily focus on executing the construction of rain gardens and other stormwater related projects.
* Normally contracted with the City of Arlington as part of an agreement with the City and the Washington Department of Natural Resources to help cross-trained WCC crew members.
Snohomish Conservation District | 528 91st Ave NE, Lake Stevens, WA 98258 | 425-335-5634
