By Megan Adams, Outreach Coordinator and Restoration Technician
When thinking about restoring riparian habitat, people often imagine removing invasive blackberry or planting native trees and shrubs along a streambank. While this is an important part of NSEA’s restoration projects, achieved through staff and volunteer efforts, it is only the beginning of the story. Long–term restoration includes monitoring and maintenance for years after the initial planting. Though it may appear less glamourous than putting a sapling in the ground or ripping out a patch of blackberry, maintaining riparian planting sites that are over 10 years old is essential and requires time, commitment, and effort.
One of NSEA’s core values is integrity, which is why the hard work doesn’t stop once a tree is planted. NSEA returns to riparian sites for three to five years to monitor plant growth, beaver activity, presence of invasive vegetation, and the overall health of these locations. Many sites require additional maintenance after eight to ten years, or when the trees reach a certain size. Restoration is a process that changes with the element of time, and we are continually learning how to improve our work. During the initial planting, plastic blue tubes are installed to protect against rodents and cages shield trees from deer and beavers. Once a plant reaches a level of maturity, these protective measures should be removed before the plant becomes girdled and restricted. Blue tubes can become plastic pollution and cages can kill the trees they are meant to protect if left on for too long. Mature trees need the same love and care they received when they were first put in the ground, so it is important to return to plantings after 10 years. After working in Whatcom County for 30 years, NSEA has accumulated many sites through projects and work parties, and we have identified trees along Fishtrap Creek and Tenmile Creek that need cages removed this fall and winter. Maintenance is the next step in restoration science, and we know that with community support in this process, together we can accomplish this goal.
NSEA’s Stream Team Program, affectionately called “Clean Stream Dream Team” by staff, provides an opportunity for community members to contribute vital support at old restoration sites as part of our Clean Stream Initiative. Last fall, NSEA hosted three Stream Team events. Volunteers were shuttled to Bellewood Farms, where they assisted in maintenance at a 17-year-old restoration site along Tenmile Creek. This habitat for Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, and Winter Steelhead was originally planted with native trees and shrubs by the Whatcom Conservation District’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) in 2005 and expanded into a larger riparian buffer with new plantings in 2009. 14 dedicated volunteers maintained 100% of the Bellewood site (~2.75 acres of land along nearly 800 feet of the streambank) by picking up garbage and removing cages and blue tubes from mature trees. Cages around some cedars, maples, and other trees were also selectively enlarged to provide further protection from beavers and continuous shade along the stream.
These actions benefit riparian habitat by allowing the trees to reach their full potential, and volunteers connect the impact of planting saplings with their long-term effects on salmon habitat, such as shading the stream and stabilizing the bank with their roots. One volunteer, Lauren, thought it was “rewarding to come out and see the sites that have been planted years and years ago by NSEA and get to help make sure the work that NSEA does is valuable…”. Stream Team empowers community members to witness the impact of time and connect long term restoration goals with the work they may have done at a Community Work Party. Julia, another volunteer, said she “learned a lot about NSEA and the old plantings and coming back to maintain [them]…seeing the growth of the trees and seeing the change that has been going on has been really cool and it’s always just great to work with a team of people.”
Restoration sites become successful through the elements of time and care. These sites depend on consistent effort as they grow and change to ensure the health of the plants, habitat, and salmon they are meant to protect. This winter, NSEA’s Restoration Crew and Stewardship Team will be working alongside community members to maintain trees along Fishtrap Creek and Tenmile Creek through January 24th. Volunteer support is an essential part of this maintenance, and NSEA relies on it in order to continue our Stream Team Program. We want to invite our community to join NSEA’s Clean Stream Initiative and build hope for the future through our dedication to long-term success. Volunteer for Stream Team here.