By Grace Pierstorff, AmeriCorps Environmental Education Coordinator

NSEA held the 12th Fish Trivia event in February at Zeeks Pizza, bringing together community members and partner organizations to test their fishy knowledge and in turn support NSEA’s education and stewardship programs. It has been a long two years since we hosted this event due to pandemic restrictions, and we were delighted to be able to safely host this event in-person with people, including some who have participated in this event for years.

Almost 90 people spread out over a total of 25 trivia teams such as “I Kokaneed you”, “The Adi-posers”, and “Redd or Dedd”, who all brought their A-game to compete for prizes, which were generously donated by local businesses including Confluence Fly Shop, Brandywine, Vital Climbing Gym, Makeworth Coffee, and Crazy but Cute Socks.

This year, for the first time, NSEA partnered with some of our local salmon recovery partners who each sponsored a round of trivia. Bellingham Technical College, North Sound Trout Unlimited, Whatcom Conservation District, and Whatcom Land Trust each prepared ten questions along with an NSEA round for a total of 50 questions. The competition was fierce, even resulting in a tie for 2nd and 3rd place, so emcee and new NSEA board member Tyler Dockins reached into the tiebreaker questions until a team emerged. “Onchy Ringers” took home the prize of first place, with “Death Roe” answering the tiebreaker question (the meaning of the word “Whatcom” in Lummi dialect) to take second and “The Righteous Earstones” taking third place.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who made Fish Trivia a success this year. Tyler brought fun energy to the evening and led community members in engaging and informative trivia questions centered around salmon in Whatcom County. We couldn’t have done it without our community partners, and many people commented on the new facts they learned about salmon or their habitat requirements. Zeeks Pizza was a fabulous venue to host this event and we are grateful for their donation of $1 for each pint of beer purchased during the event. At the end of the night, over $1,000 was raised to support NSEA’s programming efforts that take place along salmon-bearing waterways throughout Whatcom County.

Fish Trivia was a wonderful way to connect with people who have joined us at Community Work Parties, attended a Salmon Sighting Event, or those whose first time it was engaging with NSEA. We were excited to be able to host this event in-person and enjoy a fun evening of laughter, fun, and brainteasers.

Martin Luther King Day 2022

Every year, Martin Luther King Day is a day that commemorates Dr. King and is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service. NSEA partnered with the City of Bellingham Public Works and Parks and Recreation Departments to host a Community Work Party restoring riparian habitat along Willow Spring, an off-channel habitat that was constructed in 2010 to provide a place for salmon to grow, feed, and rest during their journey between Squalicum Creek and the ocean.

After nearly two years of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this was one of the first chances we have had to safely gather in larger numbers and see the collective impact of working together for salmon. Over 130 volunteers spread out in Squalicum Creek Park to plant nearly 500 native trees and shrubs, remove 6+ cubic yards of invasive species, and spread 30+ yards of mulch, all to restore habitat and improve the health of our community. This site is a perfect example of how healthy parks and greenspace is important for not only people, but also for salmon which rely on urban streams to reach their spawning grounds.

This day also served as a chance to partner with the Birchwood Food Desert Fighters, a group of neighbors and allies working to address the food desert in the Birchwood Neighborhood, who received over 200 lbs. of donations of food and essential supplies at this event. Mayor Seth Fleetwood, Council member Skip Williams, and Congressional Representative Rick Larsen joined in our stewardship work and provided closing remarks encouraging participants to express their support for protecting voter access and expanding voting rights, a key factor in The Kings Center’s call to action for the 2022 holiday.

Thank you to all that joined us to advocate, educate, and activate in his honor. If you missed this opportunity, there are still opportunities to serve your local communities and environment by volunteering to restore salmon habitat! Check out our spring schedule of Community Work Parties at www.n-sea.org/stream-stewards.