Salmon are an essential part of our environment, culture and economy. Our work to protect them has traditionally included educational programs, restoration efforts to improve salmon habitat, and ongoing habitat monitoring. You might be wondering how we are able to continue this important work with schools closed, work party cancellations and the limitations of the phased re-opening plan across Washington State.

We asked each of our program coordinators to tell you a little bit about how they are adapting their efforts, as they work in the field and from home, so that our essential work can continue while also protecting the community from the spread of COVID-19.

Restoration

Darrell Gray
NSEA Project Manager

As an NSEA Project Manager, I work with Landowners and other project partners to design, permit and implement salmon habitat enhancement projects. The Stay Home Stay Healthy order has actually changed my job very little.

NSEA was able to get eight emergency exemptions to continue planting as we had perishable nursery stock that had to be planted at project sites and 12,000 new plants that needed to be potted in our nursery by April 30th. We typically do not plant closer than 10 feet from one another so social distancing was not an issue. If crewmembers wished to plant further apart, that was very easy to accommodate. The only real change in our work was that everyone must drive an NSEA vehicle assigned only to them or take their own personal vehicle and be reimbursed for mileage. So instead of taking a crew of six in a crew cab, we have to take six vehicles. A temporary change we were willing to make to ensure everyone’s safety.

It was also easy to set up potting stations in our nursery to keep folks at least ten feet apart. Thankfully, the NSEA crew and AmeriCorps members were able to get everything planted in the field and everything potted in the native plant nursery.

Personally, I have been able to focus on instream project design, permitting, material acquisition and contractor selection with very few interruptions. Currently we have 16 instream project scheduled for this summer. Designs are complete, permit applications have been submitted, materials have been ordered and contractors selected. If Governor Inslee’s plan continues to allow for open construction with specific guidelines, I do not see any problem with completing all our projects this summer.

We also hope to have our Washington Conservation Corps crew back by early June to commence riparian project maintenance, again following new guidelines to keep everyone healthy and safe.

I am optimistic that we will be able to start site preparation and planting in the fall as our work is easy to adapt to the guidelines required for health and safety. The only question that remains is whether we will be able to hold volunteer work parties to get and keep the community involved in these valuable projects.

Stewardship

Sarah Brown 
Stewardship Program Coordinator

In compliance with State and local guidelines, NSEA immediately cancelled all gatherings, including the work and planting parties so many members of our community contribute to each year. That has definitely affected our ability to engage with our community directly in habitat stewardship and restoration activities. However, we have shifted our efforts into making all that we can available virtually (online) while also improving components of our programs for the future.

This time is giving me the space to reflect, think outside of the box and consider safe and creative ways that we can fulfill our mission moving forward. Ultimately, much of my position has not changed. I continue to coordinate logistics for stewardship programming, but now the focus has transitioned to future opportunities and the adaptations we will need to implement in order to move forward.

As you’ve probably noticed, planning with so many unknowns can be difficult. But each day I am thinking about ways that we can work safely with our community while continuing to follow the most up-to-date recommendations of State and local officials. For example, most of our events pre-COVID-19 were open-house style—a “come one, come all” type gathering—but now I am looking at best practices to change that system without losing any of the value or positive impact that work parties have traditionally had on the habitat and community around us. Some of the changes may or may not include an RSVP system, a cap on the number of participants and new cleaning and safety protocols. As well I’m considering hosting simultaneous, smaller work parties throughout the county to reduce travel and group sizes without forsaking the work that needs to be completed or the opportunity for our neighbors to stay involved.

Like many others, I am learning and adapting so that we can eventually continue working with our community to keep wild salmon here for future generations while also prioritizing the health and safety of the people around us.

In the meantime, I encourage everyone to check out the educational resources and activities that NSEA’s Program Team has put together for you and your family to explore.

For those wondering about future work parties, our website will be updated with upcoming opportunities and the new measures we will be taking by September 1, 2020. We will miss connecting in person before then, but I look forward to the time that we can all come together again to restore habitat for the salmon that are so crucial to this region and its peoples. Until then, stay safe and well.

Education

Nathan Zabel
Education Program Coordinator

In this time of uncertainty and social distancing, it can be an extra challenge to reach students. It is a struggle to lose connection with the students and teachers we work with so closely each year. While schools are transitioning to e-learning, NSEA’s Education Team remains committed to inspiring environmental stewardship and supporting educators, students and their families.

My job, along with the jobs of the Education Team, have shifted to providing virtual resources for both educators and community members, to continue to encourage connection to our local waterways and foster learning opportunities for all ages during this time of physical separation. NSEA’s Environmental Education Associates, Sydney Wilson and Isabelle Ranson, have been working hard to create a suite of resources that are free and accessible for our community.

Our flagship education program, Students for Salmon, which typically consists of two classroom visits and an outdoor field trip experience, has been converted to a virtual learning program that anyone can access. Educators can set students up with online “salmon trivia,” along with a series of videos their students can navigate. These videos introduce the five Pacific salmon, their life cycle, threats salmon are facing and how students’ actions can and do make a difference. Students can also take a virtual field trip to Whatcom Creek to test conditions for salmon.

I am humbled to see teachers at multiple schools using these resources, and am so thankful to our amazing Whatcom County educators for continuing to connect their students with watersheds and salmon during this time of online learning.

Additionally, NSEA’s Program Team has created a variety of resources for our community, beyond the fourth grade students we serve through Students for Salmon. This set of outdoor activities encourages everyone to get outside and connect with their natural surroundings and local waterways. We will continue to add additional opportunities that encourage outdoor connection and learning. If there are any resources you would like to see added, please email me at nzabel@n-sea.org.

As we look ahead to the fall we expect to face many more unknowns. If students return to classrooms, we will be ready to reach students in their schools and along their local creeks to connect them with salmon. If learning begins virtually, we will be ready with additional virtual learning opportunities, including locally-relevant videos for all Whatcom County students, so they can make the connection between water quality and salmon health.

These are difficult times and many are struggling with the loss of a complete school year, but NSEA’s Education Team is honored to thank our teachers and students for staying connected with us through our virtual learning opportunities. We are excited to continue to work with you for the remainder of this school year and into the future.

Stay Connected!

While we continue to navigate these uncharted waters and adapt our programs to protect our staff and the community, we expect to face many more unknowns. But we are committed to continue our mission to educate, inspire and engage this community to take action to keep wild salmon as an essential part of our environment, culture and economy now and for future generations.

You’ll find updates to our plans and programs on our website, on our Facebook and Instagram accounts and via our e-newsletter. Please stay safe and connected with us during this historic time. We’re here for you and for the salmon.