Despite the cold and rainy weather, the Nisqually Stream Steward volunteers have been active in making the Nisqually Watershed a more sustainable place. Whether in the field or advocating for the NRC at meetings, these volunteers are the backbone of community based stewardship.
Salmon Watchers
Many Stream Stewards participate in the salmon watching program, a citizen science opportunity that provides data on the number, species, and locations of spawning adult salmon. The commitment isn’t a small one: volunteers visit a specific location in the watershed twice a week for 15 minutes, from the fall through the spring. The goal of this program is to collect observations on whether or not salmon are present in a particular stream. The volunteers increase the number of eyes on the ground, benefiting the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Salmon Recovery Program.
Salmon Carcass Tossing
The Nisqually Stream Stewards hosted a community salmon tossing event on January 9th in Eatonville. Nearly 60 people, young and old, joined the group to toss hundreds of salmon back in the Mashel River and Ohop Creek. The dead salmon are an important link in the food chain: over 137 different organisms eat salmon, including bald eagles, juvenile salmon, and coyote. By returning salmon carcasses to the river, the volunteers increased the amount of nutrients, which also benefits the trees and shrubs growing alongside the water. The salmon carcasses came from the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Clear Creek Hatchery earlier in the morning.
Nisqually River Council & Citizens Advisory Committee Meetings
Several other Nisqually Stream Stewards regularly attend Nisqually River Council meetings, or the meetings of the NRC’s Citizens Advisory Committee. The Stream Stewards provide a citizens voice to the decision making process, and allow community members to connect with the professionals who work in the watershed. The meetings are a chance for Stream Stewards to learn more about issues in the watershed, identify ways to become involved, and network with organizations that align with their passions.
The NRC meets on the 3rd Friday of each month, in varying locations throughout the watershed. The CAC meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, from 6:00-8:00pm at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Natural Resources Office.
Who are the Nisqually Stream Stewards? How do I get involved?
The Nisqually Stream Stewards is a joint program of the Nisqually Indian Tribe and Nisqually River Council. It is open to all community members, and is free to take. Participants receive 40+ hours of training in exchange for 40+ hours of volunteer time. The class introduces community members to the history and ecology of the watershed, while providing the skills and knowledge necessary to become an effective volunteer and citizen scientist.
The class is held once a year, from August through September. The Stream Stewards meet on Tuesday evenings at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Natural Resources Office. The class also includes 5 Saturday field excursions to places throughout the watershed. Questions can be directed to streamstewards@nisquallyriver.org
