Stream Stewards – Managing Critical Resources: Water & Salmon
The Stream Stewards Program, originally developed by Washington State University’s Jefferson County Extension and now hosted by the Salmon Coalition, provides Jefferson and Clallam County residents with the opportunity to turn environmental knowledge into action. Through this 5-week course, participants learn about connections between our lands and waters by diving into topics such as stream ecology and restoration, salmon biology and habitats, managing urban watersheds, riparian forests, tribal roles in restoration, and fisheries management. You will connect with local natural resource experts in classroom sessions and field experiences and learn about opportunities to get involved in local efforts to steward and restore our local watersheds.
Upon completion, volunteers are asked to commit to 20 volunteer hours to an organization of their choice over the following year. Volunteer hours can be applied to a wide range of opportunities that work toward the larger goal of improving local ecosystem health. From getting involved in a citizen science project to engaging in public outreach, volunteers can connect with opportunities that fit their skills and interests. Through this program, we hope to connect you to many of these organizations that host volunteer opportunities.
Throughout the training, organizations will provide participants with information about local projects and offer exciting opportunities to plug in and make a difference on the Olympic Peninsula.
The 5-week course fee will be $100 and classes will take place every Wednesday in September from 9am – 2pm at various locations in Jefferson and Clallam Counties.
Want to just take one or two of the classes? We have now opened up single session registration. You can register for one or multiple sessions individually. Each single session is $25.
SESSION SCHEDULE:
Session 1 – September 2nd, 9am-2pm
Salmon Biology & Restoration
Watershed Focus – Salmon & Snow Creeks, Discovery Bay
Learn the basics of salmon biology in our region and the science behind restoring salmon habitat. We’ll visit Discovery Bay to dive deeper into a case study of salmon restoration, learning about what the monitoring data tells us about salmon recovery in these watersheds and how lands and waters are managed for long term conservation.
North Olympic Salmon Coalition, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Jefferson Land Trust
Session 2 – September 9th, 9am-2pm
Managing Critical Resources: Water & Salmon
Watershed Focus – Dungeness River
Take a deep dive into complex topics of managing our local natural resources. Learn about tribal harvest management of salmon and stewardship of land in the Dungeness Watershed. We’ll also tackle topics of water resource management and climate resiliency in the dryest part of the Olympic rainshadow.
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, North Olympic Land Trust, Clallam County
Session 3 – September 16th, 9am-2pm
Thinking Big – Watershed Scale Restoration
Watershed Focus – Tarboo Creek
Using Tarboo Creek as a case study, we’ll explore how to approach watershed-wide restoration, from stream restoration, land preservation, forest management, to invasive species management. Sometimes restoration efforts are small and focused on a small reach or specific area, and sometimes, we have the opportunity to think much larger!
Northwest Institute, 10,000 Years Institute
Session 4 – September 23rd, 9am-2pm
From the Mountains to the Sea
Watershed Focus – Elwha River
Take a deep dive into everything Elwha! We’ll start at the top, learning about glacial monitoring and how climate change is impacting the Elwha River before diving into the unique research opportunities tracking marine-derived nutrients post-dam removal. We’ll also take a look at the management of water resources and balancing the needs of people and salmon, before capping off the day looking closely at the next steps of Elwha River restoration.
Olympic National Park, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Natural Resources, Clallam County
Session 5 – September 30th, 9am-2pm
Caring for Urban Watersheds
Watershed Focus – Tumwater & Ennis Creeks
Urban watersheds are some of the most complex watersheds to restore, protect, and steward long-term. Explore the junction of social and environmental issues that meet in the urban watersheds of Port Angeles and the people and organizations taking creative measures to care for these places. We’ll also zoom out and connect with WSDOT to learn about the culvert replacement projects happening in our region.
4PA, Washington Department of Transportation, Clallam County Streamkeepers
