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By Kirk Hanson, DNR Small Forest Landowner Office
The Departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife, along with the Office of the Interagency Committee are pleased to announce that the Family Forest Fish Passage Program is now accepting applications from small forest landowners. The intent of the FFFPP is to provide financial assistance to small forest landowners for repairing or removing fish blockages on their property.
This program is being managed as a multi-agency partnership between the DNR, WDFW and the IAC. The DNR is responsible for promoting the program, the WDFW is responsible for identifying and prioritizing blockages and the IAC is responsible for managing grant funds allocated to projects. The two main goals of the program are to assist small forest landowners with meeting their obligations under the Forests and Fish rules and to correct those fish blockages that cause the greatest harm to fish resources.
In 2001 new forest management regulations called the "Forests and Fish Rules" were enacted that require enhanced protection for aquatic resources and fish habitat. Along with improving riparian protection, the rules also require most private forest landowners to submit a Road Maintenance and Abandonment Plan (RMAP). An RMAP identifies any potential adverse impacts to water quality or salmon habitat, including fish-blocking culverts and roads that contribute sediment to streams.
Realizing the potential financial impacts of the RMAP requirements, the state legislature passed House Bill 1095 in May 2003, which calls for special considerations for family forest lands and requires the state to provide financial assistance to help small landowners make improvements to their forest roads. In general, the new bill requires that:
Small forest landowners must fix only fish-blockages on forest lands.
All fish blockages must be prioritized and repaired on a worst first basis.
The state must create a cost-sharing program and provide 75%-100% of the cost of repairing fish blockages.
Existing data and processes be utilized to the maximum extent practicable.
Additional funding sources and partnerships are to be sought.
HB 1095 requires the DNR's Small Forest Landowner Office, in cooperation with the WDFW, to establish a program designed to assist small forest landowners with repairing or removing fish blockages and assist Lead Entities in acquiring the data necessary to fill any known gaps in fish blockage locations. By working in cooperation with Lead Entities, the DNR and WDFW will also establish a statewide ranked inventory of fish blockages on land owned by small forest landowners based on the principle of fixing the worst first within a watershed.
The legislature has provided $2 million dollars to begin this work. The DNR is actively seeking additional funding through the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, state and federal agencies, and private philanthropic organizations. Cooperation and partnerships with existing organizations involved in salmon recovery and habitat restoration will be critical to the success of this program.
Guidelines for the program can be found on-line at: http://www.iac.wa.gov/srfb/grants/fffp_program.htm
If you have any questions about the program please feel free to contact the following agency representatives:
For general program related questions: Kirk Hanson, DNR Small Forest Landowner Office, 360-902-1391. kirk.hanson@wadnr.gov
For questions related to identifying and prioritizing culverts: Brett DeMond. WDFW. 360-902-2550. DEMONSBD@dfw.wa.gov
For questions related to funding and the grant process: Brian Abbott, IAC, 360-902-2638. briana@iac.wa.gov
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By Kathy Jacobson, Chehalis Basin Education Consortium
The Chehalis Basin Education Consortium sponsored a two-day teachers' workshop, "Words and Images from the Watershed: Washington's River of Words," on October 30 and 31. Approximately 30 teachers and area resource professionals were taught how to use the natural environment as an inspiration and catalyst for art and poetry. Funding was provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Educational Service District 113 WAC In-service Grant funds.
"By helping youth to explore and interpret watersheds through an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines science, history, geography, math, language and the arts, ‘River of Words' and the Chehalis Basin Education Consortium (CBEC) are helping children to develop respect for the natural world and an understanding of their place in it," according to Kathy Jacobson, Chehalis Basin project director. "One of the goals of this workshop was to link Washington's learning goals and standards to environmental issues that are part of this watershed while providing an enrichment opportunity for teachers.
"The consortium is a partnership comprised of school districts, natural resource agencies, institutions of higher education and nonprofit agencies within the Chehalis watershed," Jacobson explained. "The primary purpose of this project is to support stewardship of the Chehalis watershed through environmental education by linking Washington's learning goals and standards to environmental issues."
During the October workshop sessions at Millerslyvania State Park's Environmental Learning Center, near Tenino, and the Chehalis Surge Plain, near Montesano, participants learned how to integrate art and writing more fully into the Chehalis Basin watershed program.
Robert Michael Pyle, noted writer, scientist and naturalist, was the workshop keynote speaker. Pyle has published hundreds of essays, stories and poems, and has written 14 books. His books, including "Wintergreen," "The Thunder Tree," "Chasing Monarchs," and "The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies," have won numerous awards including three Washington Governor's Writers' Awards
Pyle told inspirational and passionate stories about renowned naturalists with whom he has worked, from his youth, and from his time studying butterflies. He also engaged teachers in poetry writing activities that they could, in turn, conduct with their own students.
Teachers were asked to go outside and write about something that captured their interests. One teacher wrote:
Pond, sky big bowl of the best blue
Little things dance and swirl
Buzz droning hot lullaby
Scent of ripe berries
Miraculous dragonflies
A sleepy surprise and delight
Today I love the world
Lucia Harrison, a member of the faculty at The Evergreen State College and a well-known artist with over 20 solo, juried and group art exhibits, introduced teachers to the basic skills of drawing. She taught workshop participants how to use pens, pencils and other artist materials; how to do gesture, contour and schematic drawing; and how to take good naturalist notes. Harrison also introduced the art of making journals.
On a visit to the Chehalis River Surge Plain, Birdie Davenport, a Department of Natural Resources Manager, led an interpretive walk and told about the importance of the estuary to migrating birds and to juvenile salmon. The surge plain is a 2,570-acre preserve that contains a large, high-quality tidal surge plain wetland. Teachers meandered along the interpretive trail, drew pictures of the wetland features in their journals and added scientific text to their illustrations.
Alicia Hokansen, English chair at Lakeside Middle School in Seattle, talked about the integration of her students' watershed studies with their exploration of writing and poetry. Hokansen is the "Teacher of The Year" for the International River of Words Program, a poetry and art program created to promote literacy and environmental stewardship. She shared the "nuts and bolts" of getting children to love poetry and how students can become thoughtful and gifted writers and poets.
Teachers attending the workshop said they learned:
For more information contact Jacobson at (360) 586-3538 or by e-mail at kjacobson.esd113.k12.wa.us.
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By Janet Strong, Chehalis River Basin Land Trust
But rain, wind and cold temperatures failed to discourage volunteers from getting hundreds of young plants into the ground for the winter along the Chehalis River. During weekends in November and early December almost 40 local citizens, including 20+ students from Centralia College, spent many hours hauling native trees and shrubs out to their new homes in the flood-plain, shoveling soil around them and installing plant protectors.
Their efforts resulted in a miniature forest 1,500 plants strong stretching 1,000 feet along the river and 130 feet wide. Many thanks to all those intrepid folks who braved the elements for the sake of the river. The hot drinks and food you consumed are but a small token of appreciation. Special thanks to Jim Webb, city farm manager, who prepared the ground by mowing and drilling the 1,500 planting holes.
All this hard work is the first major manifestation of a new partnership between the City of Centralia Utilities and the Chehalis River Basin Land Trust. Awarded a grant for the restoration of a mile-long segment of Chehalis River shoreline by the Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board, they plan several more "planting parties" in the spring and fall of 2004. The land under restoration is a former farm in Galvin purchased by the City of Centralia for the construction of its new wastewater treatment plant. The new structures resembling giant red barns, stand well back from the river on the site of the old farm buildings.
The former landowners had removed much of the native riparian forest along this reach, leading to reduced shade for the river, excessive soil erosion and the loss of several feet of river bank. This restoration project aims at correcting these problems by reestablishing a native riparian forest in the affected areas. In addition, willow stakes driven directly into the eroding banks and artificial log jams in strategic spots will greatly help to stabilize the bank and prevent future land loss. Stakes will be cut from existing willows in the immediate area. This work will be done in the spring.
Besides willows, about 20 other species of native plants, purchased from local nurseries, will make up the new forest. As it matures, the benefits to the river, the fish and local wildlife will include shade for the river to lower water temperatures, water storage for times of low flows, food for both aquatic and terrestrial animals and nesting, perching and hiding habitat. We humans will also derive benefits from this new forest. Anything which helps fish survival in the Chehalis River system improves our quality of life.
In addition, a future nature trail will wander through the riparian zone, allowing students, local groups and the public foot access to this lovely stretch of the river. People will able to enjoy the nearness of the river and experience firsthand the growth of the young, diverse forest. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has granted funds for the construction of an interpretive trail through the restoration site, complete with signs and a brochure explaining the highlights of this area. The grant also allows for the repair of a nearby historic barn to shelter students and others as they learn more about the river and its environment.
If the river cooperates and remains within its banks in late winter, additional "planting parties" are planned for February. By the way, February is the month of Valentines, a time to show our affection for all those we love. Why not show your love for the Chehalis River and help the city and the land trust plant the next group of young native plants? Lots of volunteers are needed to make this project a success. The plantings this past fall represent about 20% of the area to be restored. So 80% of the revegetation remains to be done. The City of Centralia and the Chehalis Land Trust cordially invite all to participate in this large project which will benefit the river, the fish, wildlife and the public for many generations to come.
For more information about the project or volunteer opportunities, please contact the Chehalis River Basin Land Trust at (360) 807-0764 or Janet Strong at (360) 495-3950 or strongjan@centurytel.net .The Chehalis River Basin Land Trust is a non-profit organization of citizens dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring ecologically significant lands in the Chehalis River basin.
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By Kathleen Whalen, Program Manager
Reminder! Native Plants Are Available for Purchase
The Thurston Conservation District continues to sell conservation grade native plants to the public. Trees, shrubs and groundcover are available at $.50 to $1.75 each. Visit their website at www.thurstoncd.com to see what's available and to obtain an order form or call them at (360) 754-3588. Their Annual Cash & Carry Plant Sale Event will be held Saturday, March 6th at the Thurston Conservation District office, located at 2400 Bristol Court SW, Olympia.
Conservation District Election Scheduled
The election for the Thurston Conservation District will be held February 17th, 2003 at four polling sites. The election will be held between the hours of 10:00 am and 7:00 pm at:
St. Benedict's Episcopal Church, 910 Bowker, Lacey, WA
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1515 Harrison Avenue NW, Olympia, WA
Fire District 1, Station 2, 20411 Old Highway 99 SW, Grand Mound, WA
New Life Christian Church, 13036 Morris Rd.. SE, Yelm, WA
Lewis and Thurston Conservation Districts have Cost Share Money Available
Do you have livestock on your farm in the Upper Chehalis watershed? Do you reside along the Chehalis River or a tributary? The Lewis and Thurston Conservation Districts have cost share available for riparian fencing, native plants, alternate livestock watering facilities for non-dairy farms. This money is set aside in their Upper Chehalis Non-point Reduction grant, which is funded by the Department of Ecology. This program enables the two Districts to develop Conservation Plans with non-dairy agricultural farms in the watershed.
If you'd like to learn more about these programs and to find out how you may qualify, please call us at (360) 754-3588. Check out our website for news, events, and other items of interest! www.thurstoncd.com.
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Last year we published some poems written by Jan Lindsell's class at Onalaska Middle School.
Here are more poems particularly suited to the season.
The sharp cold crisp air
Let it snow today
Carlisle Lake in winter
Carlisle Lake winter
Fish are frozen under the ice
Ice fishing is on
Marcus Daly
Is piercing my cold damp face
It's very cold outside
Cara Harmanson
It's cold out there today yeah
Trees are covered in snow
Beautiful, glistening, frost
Goodbye Winter Lake
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By Kathy Jacobson
This past summer, I was asked to speak to the Chehalis River Basin Land Trust about the importance of field studies and interpretive trails to today's youth. What you will find here is part of that speech along with my impressions of the Chehalis River after working alongside members of the Land Trust this fall.
I have a passion for connecting youth with our natural resources. I love the outdoors, and I love working with children. My first paid job other than babysitting was working as a naturalist and day camp counselor at a regional park. Currently I coordinate the Chehalis Basin Education Consortium Program. I involve teachers and their students, grades 4-12, in the study of the Chehalis basin and help to teach them about ways to protect the health of the Chehalis watershed.
A key tool used to familiarize students with the local streams, creeks and reaches of the Chehalis River is to engage them in water quality monitoring. Students learn to assess the health of the water by using chemical tests, probeware and through EPA Streamwalk surveys. With these monitoring activities, students get out into their watershed and learn for themselves "what is a watershed, why it is special and ways to protect it." As someone once said, "If you don't know where water comes from, where it goes after you've used it, how can you protect it?"
Since this past summer, I have been working with Janet Strong and other members of the Land Trust to identify interpretive themes and viewing stations for an interpretive trail alongside the river on Centralia Wastewater Plant property. Each time I have come out to the river, I have been swept up in the "wildness" of the place. I have been held captive by the seemingly easy flight of the resident pair of bald eagles as they soar over their river to fish for salmon and watch as they guard their domain. I have been mesmerized by the flashy king fishers dipping low over the water, transfixed as I watch the coyote on the prowl for a vole fattened on grasses. I have gazed at the northern harrier patrolling the former pastureland for an unwary rodent. I have stood smiling under the healthy stands of cottonwood trees, watching their leaves bounce about in the wind. I have been held in awe by the vibrant purple daisies backlit by the waning sun. Here I am reminded of the saying by Clarence Dulton, geologist, "Nature is never the same, even from day to day, or even from hour to hour."
I recently read that in our fast-paced, media-driven society, kids can identify as many as 300-400 corporate logos, but cannot name ten native plants or animals from their region. A few years ago, I worked at an elementary school located a field across from the Chehalis River. Many students were not aware that the river existed nearby.
Here, with this project between the City of Centralia and the Chehalis River Basin Land Trust, we have a chance to get kids excited about nature in their own backyard. Here we have the opportunity to connect kids with their environment and to help them develop "a sense of place and of belonging." This project and site will represent a safe place to access the river corridor and to make connections between the built (the adjacent farms, the newly built wastewater treatment plant) and the more natural environment. This is such a special place.
With this project, we will connect our community of young people and their fathers, mothers and grandparents to the land. We will learn to tell the stories that show our relationships with the land, which helps us to know who we are and how we can better, participate in our communities.
We hope that young people will walk the future interpretive trail with their teachers, educators like myself or trained volunteers. We will allow the young people discover and experience the wildness of this place for themselves. We will follow the rules of good interpretation and make the experience pleasurable, relevant to their lives; we will communicate a central theme, not just a random assortment of facts.
We want to communicate the central message of the importance of the streamside corridor to wildlife, of the importance of healthy fish habitat to the three runs of Chinook, Coho, Chum, Steelhead, and to the bull and cutthroat trout that depend on it. We want to communicate the special importance of the off-rearing channels to juvenile coho salmon. And we want to let students know how they can be involved with the protection activities.
Recently, the Chehalis Basin Education Consortium was fortunate to have the inspirational writer, Robert Michael Pyle, as our keynote speaker at our "Words and Images from the Watershed: Washington's River of Words" teachers workshop. In one of his essays, Pyle wrote, "People who care conserve, people who don't know, don't care. What is the extinction of the condor to a child who has never known a wren?"
This past year, through student worksheets and thank you letters, suburban students with whom I also work shared the meaning of their direct experiences with their local watersheds.
""I liked looking at the water. It's so peaceful, lovely and fantastic. I really liked the coyote tracks, rabbits, and birds. I now know that this is the place to uncover nature's wonders."
"The nice soothing sound of the river makes you stare into space."
"I like listening to the birds. I heard eight bird calls."
"We heard a lot of beautiful sounding bird calls. All together it sounded like a choir!"
"Thank you for the great adventure. I love streams and trails."
"I think a watershed is a place where nature is born and worn, damp and dirty, wet and dry."
"I learned what a watershed is and where the water comes from."
"I strongly believe we should keep our water clean, so animals can survive."
"The best part of the trip was seeing the fallen red cedar. It was like a giant who tripped in dark red paint."
"If I were a salmon, it would be hard to go up all those currents that feel like a group of bulls rushing at you with all their might."
"I know what good salmon habitat looks like too."
"I strongly believe that nature isn't ugly or stupid; it is a learning center for people young and old to find out about."
"I learned how to enjoy nature without touching, but by seeing and hearing. I learned how to appreciate things for what they are."
"I really hope that I can go there again sometime. I don't think I can thank you enough for teaching me about our land. It is so beautiful. Sincerely, Mary.
In the late winter and spring of 2004, I plan to help the Land Trust arrange to have student groups continue with the work of restoring the 200 foot wide riparian zone along the one mile stretch of the Chehalis River. We will get involved in the planting of cottonwood, willow, spruce, serviceberry and other streamside-loving plants.
I hope these students learn that "protecting land is as much about helping to build strong communities and personal relationships as it is about saving land," according to Peter Forbes, with the Trust For Public Lands.
A saying by cultural historian Wendell Berry comes to mind: " We and our country create one another -- our land passes in and out of our bodies just as our bodies pass in and out of our land. Therefore, our culture must be a response to our place. Our culture and our place are images of each other and inseparable from each other, and so neither can be better than the other. In short, what we do to the land, we do to ourselves."
It is our intention that when students and teachers visit this stretch of the river they will feel "a sense of connectedness and belonging." Hopefully these students will learn by name at least ten native plants and animals that call this section of the river home.
Many of the quotes used for this article came from "The Great Remembering: Further Thoughts on Land, Soul, and Society" by Peter Forbes with the Trust for Public Land.
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In the last issue of Drops of Water, Eric Hawkinson described a special place in "Where is your Shangri-La?" In this issue, Kathy Jacobson eloquently describes a special place along the Chehalis River. Many of our readers have a special place or a special way of describing what it means to be at home in the Chehalis watershed.
So that we can share some of these special places, Drops of Water is sponsoring an essay contest. We welcome your essays of about 400 to 700 words. The subject should be something to do with the natural world in our Basin – what makes your home in the Chehalis watershed special. It could be a particularly magical place or special habitat for a species of wildlife or plant. Whatever your cherish about your place in the watershed.
Please send your essay to the Chehalis River Council, 417 N. Pearl Street, Centralia, WA 98531. Essays may also be sent by email to crc@crcwater.org, and this is preferable. The deadline for this contest is February 20th.
Any person of any age may enter. Chehalis River Council members, but not members of the board of trustees, may also enter. The subject must be about a place in the Chehalis Basin. The winner will be selected by the CRC trustees, will receive a prize (to be announced) and will be published in Drops of Water.
We reserve the right to make minor editorial changes. At our discretion, we may publish other essays that are submitted in later editions. No submissions will be returned, so keep a copy of your essay.
We are really excited about this idea and looking forward to reading your essays.
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