Kids in the Creek

Students learning at the H20 Flow station.

Every year since 1992, Cascadia has participated in Kids in the Creek, an award winning, outdoor educational field day for local high school students. This annual event is possible through a collaboration of partnerships between the US Fish and Wildlife, USDA Forest Service, City of Wenatchee, Washington State Department of Ecology, and Cascadia Conservation District. For most students, this is their first real field biology learning experience. During their field day, students not only learn about aquatic and riparian ecosystems, they also are given examples of how human land management activities can affect these ecosystems and their watershed’s overall health.

Students making land-use plans at Watershed Wonders.

This May, from Tuesday the 7^th through Thursday the 9^th over 300 students from six different schools across Chelan and Douglas counties came out to the Entiat National Fish Hatchery to don waders, hop in the creek and learn all about steam flow, fish habitat and health, invertebrates found in rivers and streams, water quality, and riparian ecosystems. Each student was able to spend an entire day in the field learning from a group of dedicated natural resource professionals at the six different Kids in the Creek stations. These stations are designed to teach students a variety of environmental lessons, from how and why professionals measure vegetative canopy cover in riparian areas, to simulations of potential worst-case scenario water quality concerns and how these issues could affect fish and other aquatic wildlife. During Watershed Wonders, the final and culminating station of the day, students worked in groups to plan either an agricultural, recreational or urban development on a hypothetical piece of property.

We’d like to thank Cascade Quality Water, and all of the students, teachers, resource professionals, volunteers and partner organizations for their contributions.

To find out more visit Kids in the Creek's website.

2013 Essay Contest Winners!

“Chelan County hosts some of the most beautiful and pristine environments in the state of Washington. What is your favorite part of the variety of outdoor natural experiences within the county and why do you think conservation is important?”

This is the question that participating 6th, 7th, and 8th graders from across Chelan County answered to participate in Cascadia Conservation District’s third annual Earth Day essay contest. The essay contest was started in order to provide students with the opportunity to contemplate on their experiences with nature and the role we all play in conserving our environment, as well as to recognize those students who show an admirable understanding and dedication to environmental stewardship.

This year’s winner, Ashley Turner, a seventh grader from Foothills Middle School, impressed judges from Cascadia Conservation District, Cascade Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group, and Wenatchee Outdoors with her essay about Saddle Rock. The second-place essay was written by seventh grader Schyler Archer of Icicle River Middle School, while third place went to Megan Phinney, another seventh grader at Foothills Middle School.

The top three essay writers will be invited to spend a day in the field with a professional wildlife biologist from Chelan County PUD who will be conducting wood duck surveys in Confluence State Park in Wenatchee.

Congratulations to this year’s winners and thanks to all of the students and partner organizations that were able to participate in this year’s Earth Day essay contest.

Here are 2013’s winning essays!

Untitled – 3^rd Place

By Megan Phinney

You are surrounded by white, the soft snow drifting down from above, the trees standing in the white. Skiing through the quiet forest, slowly, happily, enjoying the marvelous powder. What if that was torn down, ripped away? Replaced by tall smoking buildings? How would you feel? How would you react?

I think mission ridge should be preserved so that people can ski and snowboard in all the beautiful powder.

Have you ever been to mission ridge when it is snowing? It's beautiful, quiet. All you hear are skiers and snowboarders slicing through the powder. It's exhilarating, going to the top of microwave and looking down at the mountain, the valley, the river. The future generations should be able to see that.

Skiing is the best way to enjoy that. You can see the beautiful views and zip down the mountain at the same time! It's like multitasking! Feeling the wind as you lean and sway with the mountain is the most amazing feeling. It's one of the reasons I love this valley.

What if we didn't protect that? People would rip through the mountain and tear out the beautiful trees and views. Build sky scraping possessing plants that kill the environment. We shouldn't let this happen, for the trees and animals who call this mountain home, and for use, the people of Wenatchee who love and enjoy skiing and snowboarding. Conservation of the mountain is important because, it protects trees and we need trees to live.

After you read this, I hope you understand that Mission Ridge is a place for family and friends to be together, for animals to roam and for trees to grow, not a worthless pile of dirt and snow. Mission Ridge should be saved, for the people, but for the animals and trees who live there.

Protecting Natural Beauty - 2^nd Place

By Schyler Archer

The variety is important to me because I can go to the beautiful fish hatchery with my horse Zee. It is so peaceful down there because you can hear the birds chirping from all directions, the flow of the slow running river and you can feel the warmth of the sun rays that beam down though the ponderosa pines. It is as peaceful as the rain falling down on your roof when you are sleeping.

The next good thing about our variety is the river down at bam beach. I swim there almost every day of the summer; it's so fun because you can swim with the currents that take you to the little islands in the middle of the river. Our river is also filled with wonderful wildlife such as, fish, crayfish and river bugs. I love the river and always will.

The last thing I love about our variety is the environment behind my house. There is a big rock made of sandstone on the top of the mountain and all the time in the summer I hike up it with my sketch book and iPod, then once I get on to the rock, I sit on there looking down at my beautiful neighborhood, then draw whatever comes to my mind.

It's so nice where I live, I love it when the wind comes flawlessly down through the valley, because you can feel it’s warm welcome when it blows through your hair. I don't think I would want to live anywhere else.

If we don't protect this not only me, but everyone in my community won't be able to enjoy this natural beauty. So please try to keep the rivers, mountains and everything in the outside world clean and protected.

Thank you.

Earth Day – 1^st Place

By Ashley Turner

In the Wenatchee Valley, wherever you look there are new and exciting adventures. Vast Orchards seeming to stretch for an endless amount of time, while the Columbia River meanders through the valley like an overgrown cobra. There are so many sites to explore, protect, yet they are all neglected in any way. So many places to defend, but I'm just here to explain one.

Saddle Rock is one of the most wondrous adventures I have ever been on within Wenatchee. Animals hiding beneath the rocks and under-brush, serene silence so quiet that it seems deafening. The sun beats down on your bare arms, glowing brightly. Nothing is out of place, undisturbed and peaceful.

That is, before you see the beer cans lying in a heap, cigarette butts' peeking out from the pebbles that cover them. Why would people ruin such a site? Are they really so ignorant that they didn't think about the wildlife living there? What about the other people that visit?

People view the mountain as a challenge, or at least I do. It provides me with quality exercise and a magnificent view as my prize once I reach the top. Not only is it an attraction, it's a natural habitat for various animals to live freely and cleanly. Their lives aren't disturbed by the hikers, runners, bikers, and horseback-riders. Everyone and thing is able to live in complete harmony.

Therefore, Saddle Rock should be protected so generations further on can see it, and people can continue to use the mountain for recreational reasons and animals can keep living in their home. There are many beautiful attributes within the Wenatchee valley, and I think that they should be protected.

Plants, Streams, and Fishy Fun

 

Sometimes it takes a little team-work to pull that
stuborn piece of garbage from the stream bank.



What a great weekend for volunteering!

We had a few exciting events going on last weekend. A volunteer river clean-up in Peshastin, plant bundling for our annual native plant sale, and even an environmental education “Shrub Steppe Day” put on by Wenatchee Outdoors at the Wenatchee Valley Museum.

On Saturday, I was excited to get our bundling event underway. We’d received our order of native trees and shrubs and they were ready to be sorted through, bundled, and grouped into appropriate orders. Luckily for me, Val and Jeff, a couple of plant bundling pros, came out to help and showed off their expertise. Thanks to their, and a few other volunteers’, help we were able to go through the whole order faster than expected. One of my favorite parts of the event was the opportunity to learn something new that presented itself during bundling. Our motley volunteer crew’s knowledge of native plants and bare root plant care varied so there were plenty of opportunities to learn and teach others. 

 

Volunteers found lots of old trash in a variety of shapes and sizes.



On Sunday, Cascadia worked with the Leavenworth Community Fellowship Church in Peshastin to cleanup a section of the Peshastin Creek.  About 20 members of the community church came out to get involved with the cleanup and it couldn’t have gone better. At first glance, the clean-up site contained a few piles of debris that would need to be cleaned up but other than that there didn’t seem to be a whole to do. However, after we all got started cleaning up on the stream bank, we found that there was quite a bit more debris than originally thought.  Ranging from old tires, bottles, pipes, fences, chains, and general garbage, the piles of trash collected from the creek grew… and grew… and grew! By the end of the day we had managed to clean up 570 feet of stream bank and collect 2,120 lbs. of trash and scrap metal. We even saw a mink playing in the water just across the creek. It was gratifying to see wildlife in the exact area we were cleaning up the stream and knowing that they and everyone one else downstream from them would benefit from our work.

 

The whole Leavenworth Community Fellowship Church
stream clean-up crew!



Although I wasn’t able to attend “Shrub Steppe Day”, I was able to talk with Sean from Cascade Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group who was there doing a demonstration dissection of a trout. Cascadia had set up a fish anatomy puzzle right next to Sean’s dissection station so I was interested to find out what kids had learned about fish anatomy. “A lot of kids were going from the fish dissection straight to the fish puzzle. They learned a lot and had never seen the insides of fish” Sean said. “Kids loved learning about how similar fish anatomy is to that of our own, but they found that the coolest part of fish anatomy is the swim bladder (the balloon like organ that can inflate and deflate to change the fish’s buoyancy in the water).”

The First Day of Spring

Well its official, in spite of the thin layer of white stuff on the ground this morning, it’s now spring! Although it felt like spring came quite a bit early this year, today is the Vernal Equinox. The days have grown longer and nights shorter to the point that they are now approximately the same and winter is officially over. As it continues to warm up outside, we can expect to see the hills turn green, and wildflowers popping up all over the place. If you haven’t already, it’s the perfect time to dust off your hiking shoes and get outside.

I recently took a trip to explore one of our nearby wildlife areas and found myself in awe of the already vibrantly green landscape once there.  Ancient Lakes just outside of Quincy, Washington and is managed by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. It was a relatively short (no more than a few miles) and mostly flat walk from the trailhead to the lake where a frozen waterfall has now thawed and is pouring into the lake. If you’re looking for a spot to take in some of the early spring scenery this is a great place to visit. Its state owned land so make sure to bring your Discover pass. If you’re looking to do some hiking a little closer to town, check out Saddle Rock or Jacobson Preserve. April 1^st, the Chelan Douglas Land Trust will open all trails (CDLT trails north of 5^th street are currently closed).

If you’re not ready to hit the trails just yet but want to get involved with some outdoor volunteer opportunities, we’ve got an exciting weekend coming up! On Saturday, March 23^rd, we’ll be at the Stemilt Warehouse in Wenatchee bundling Native Plants for our annual Plant Sale. Then on Sunday, We’ll be cleaning up Peshastin Creek at the Leavenworth Community Fellowship, Foursquare Church outside Peshastin. You’re more than welcome to bring your friends and family and join us for either or both of these volunteer events! To find out more info or to RSVP, visit our Volunteer Opportunities page, or call the office: (509) 664-9370

Earth Day Essay Contest

Here at Cascadia, we have recently launched our 3rd annual Earth Day Essay Contest!  The essay contest is open to students who live or attend school in Chelan County and who are in grades 6-8.  

This year, the essay question is: “Chelan County hosts some of the most beautiful and pristine natural environments in the state of Washington. What is your favorite part of the variety of outdoor natural experiences within the county and why do you think conservation is important?”

When thinking about this essay question and how 6th, 7th, and 8th graders might respond to it I realized that, it may not be the easiest question to answer. 



Last year's essay contest winners had the opputunity to join
in on White-headed Woodpecker surveys with
US Forest Service biologist Janet Millard



With so many great things to do and places to see, how can anybody pick just one as their favorite? I feel particularly disadvantaged when answering this question because; Chelan County is still relatively new to me. I’ve been here for just over half a year, and have had lots of opportunities to get outside and experience the outdoor beauty found here, but I know that there is still so much more! It isn’t often that a person can find themselves a few minutes’ drive from so many different ecosystems. For me, my “favorite part of the variety of outdoor natural experiences” has been, well… just that, the variety of outdoor natural experiences. I’ve been so interested in learning about and discovering all of these new ecosystems that I have not yet been able to constrain myself to just one outdoor activity or one place within the county as being my favorite.

We hope that as students begin to think about this question, they consider their connection to nature and their local environment. This activity is meant to encourage stewardship and integrate creative thought and writing with science. 

The winning essay will be published in the Wenatchee World, and posted on our website and other media outlets. Also, the top three essay writers will get to spend a day “in the field” with a wildlife biologist from Chelan County P.U.D conducting wood duck surveys. This will be an excellent opportunity for students to see science in action and to encourage them to think about potential careers in biology and natural resource management.

The contest will run from March 4th through April 5th, 2013. For more information on how to apply for the essay contest click here. Essay submissions should include an Entry Form along with the essay.

Spring... So Soon?

On February 2^nd, the most famous groundhog in the country, Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil, did something slightly unusual. He awoke from his den in Gobbler’s Knob, and took a look around as he does every year. This year however, he didn’t see his shadow which means an early spring.

Sleeping Lady, seen from a snowshoe tour at the
Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery.

Since Groundhog Day record keeping began, Phil and his ancestors have seen their shadow 100 times and have only predicted a quicker coming of spring 16 times. I haven’t figured out how Phil can see into the future, but he’s not the only weather forecasting critter out there. Birmingham Bill, a ground hog residing at the local zoo in my home town, Birmingham Alabama, also failed to see his shadow this year. Numerous other groundhogs throughout the country were in agreement with Bill and Phil and predicted an early spring, although a few did see their shadows.

I have to say that even though I’m not sure if a groundhog is really a better weather predictor than a meteorologist, when I walk outside it does feel like spring is almost here. For the past few weeks I’ve been watching the piles of snow in corners of parking lots grow smaller and smaller. Now, in Wenatchee at least, it seems that all the snow is gone and according to a number of prophetic groundhogs, it may not be coming back till next year.

I’m filled with mixed feelings as I watch the winter melt away.  I’m extremely excited about upcoming spring and summer outings but I was really enjoying some of the newfound winter recreation that I’d been doing and I’m not sure I’m ready stop. I’ve been helping Friends of Northwest Hatcheries and Wenatchee Outdoors lead snowshoe tours in Leavenworth and in Squilchuck State Park. I built a quinzhee and went camping near Icicle creek. On a trip to Jackson Wyoming to visit friends I went sledding, engaged in some snowball combat, and discovered that hiking in deep powdery snow without snowshoes can be very slow going. The one thing on my list I still haven’t tried is skiing! Despite Phil’s warm weather predictions I’m hoping to get up to the ski hill and make a fool of myself soon.

Pick Your Plants

Woods Rose has fragrant pink flowers
in the summer, and rosehips in the fall.

The Native Plant Sale ordering deadline is almost here!  If you’re still deciding which plants are right for you check out our 2013 Plant Brochure. Friday February 15^th is the deadline for this year’s plant sale. We haven’t run out of anything yet, but some things are going faster than others!

There are many benefits to planting native trees and shrubs. Native plants are adapted to the local environment and so they generally require less maintenance than exotic or ornamentals. Because native plants do so well in our area you can expect to spend substantially less time and money worrying about irrigating and fertilizing. Many of the species offered in this year’s sale are both drought and fire tolerant! They also provide more benefits to wildlife. Native plants provide the types of food and shelter that our local critters both need and want.

Plants are available as bare root stock, meaning they do not come in containers or burlap bags. They are harvested in winter when the plants are dormant and arrive ready to be replanted in your landscape. Plants are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and quantities are limited. A minimum 50% deposit is required to hold your order. Fully prepaid orders are appreciated. We are sorry, but we are unable to accept credit cards at this time. Visit our website for more details and an Order Form.

All orders must be received by February 15, 2013.

Plants will be distributed at the Stemilt Growers Warehouse in north Wenatchee on Saturday, April 6, 2013 from 10am-1pm. A map to the pick-up site will be sent to you along with a reminder as the pick-up date approaches. Please be aware that any unclaimed plants will be considered abandoned and used for conservation projects. There are no refunds for plant orders not picked up.

Ponderosa Pine



This young Ponderosa is still relatively small,
but with ideal conditions and plenty of time,
it could grow up to be over 200 feet tall.



Ponderosa Pine, blackjack pine, bull pine, western yellow pine, silver pine, and yellow bellies… The list of common names seems to run on and on.  The Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) is one of the most important conifer species to the western United States and one of the most interesting. So why are there so many names?  Perhaps it has to do with its huge range. 

The Ponderosa can be found in Canada, throughout the entire western United States and even in Mexico. Another possibility for its plethora of names could be some of its surprising characteristics. The Ponderosa generally has a dark colored bark for its first 70 some years of growth, deeming in the “Blackjack pine.” However, as it matures, the tree sheds its outer bark revealing an inner yellow bark, hence the “yellow pine” and yellow belly” names.  That’s not the only surprising change the Ponderosa makes as it matures, the inner yellow bark, will begin to release a sweet aroma that often reminds people of vanilla, coconut, butterscotch, and even cinnamon.

This “all-star” tree also has some uses and characteristics that make it extremely important to its native environment. It’s rapid growth makes it a vital species for helping with erosion control, site restoration and rehabilitation and even acts as a wind break. Native Americans have used this pine species for construction, medicine, food, and ceremonial purposes. Did you know that even the roots of the ponderosa can be used to make a blue dye? It’s one of the largest pine species and the largest know pine tree in the world is a Ponderosa found in Oregon measuring just over 268 feet tall!

The Ponderosa is being offered as part of our 2013 Native Plant Sale! It’s fire resistant characteristics as well as the role it plays with providing wildlife with food and shelter make it a wonderful tree for planting at restoration sites or as a beautiful big tree to stand out in your backyard yardscape.  To find out more about our plant sale and how to order, visit our website or check out the 2013 Native Plant Sale Brochure and Order Form. Don’t forget that the Ponderosa Pine is just one of TEN native plant species offered this year so be sure to view them all to find out which ones are best suited for your needs.

Native Planting 101

Once again, we are sponsoring a FREE “Native Planting 101” workshop. This workshop will cover a wide variety of topics including restoration, “yardscaping” - creating pollinator habitat with native plants, and everything you ever wanted to know about weed identification and management. Presentations will be given by local natural resource and planting experts.  

Restoration

Ted Always is a local pear orchardist and the owner of Derby Canyon Natives, a native plant nursery in Peshastin. He sells containerized plants, native grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, trees, and the seeds of many wildflowers and native grasses from Central Washington. He’ll be discussing restoration of degraded habitats, methods to restore habitats, by planting and establishment of bare root plants.

Yardscaping

Connie Mehmel is a WSU Chelan County Master Gardener, a member of the Native Plant Society, and a forester for the Okanogan‐Wenatchee National Forest. She moved from Winthrop to Cashmere in 2009, where she has a large vegetable garden and a small native plant yardscape. Connie will present the advantages of yardscaping with native plants, planning for a naturalized yard, attracting birds, providing wildlife habitat, and how to choose appropriate trees and shrubs for your yard.

Pollinators

Amy Hender shot works for the USDA -Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Chelan County as the Resource Conservationist. The NRCS is the federal agency that assists with natural resource conservation on private lands. She also has worked at the Okanogan Conservation District and for WSU at their organic farm in Puyallup. Currently, she implements conservation programs from the Farm Bill and provides technical assistance to partners and private landowners who seek to acheive their natural resource goals. Her presentation will focus on pollinator species, pollinator decline, why pollinators are important, native bees, and how to deevelop and maintain a pollinator friendly habitat (i.e. a pollinator garden).

Weeds

Julie Sanderson currently works with the Chelan County Noxious Weed Department as the Field Supervisor. The Noxious Weed Department assists residents and agencies in Chelan County with noxious weed identification and control. Julie has also worked with the Bureau of Land Management as a field botanist doing rare plant surveys and restoration projects. She’ll provide us with a better understanding of what invasive weeds are, how to identify invasive species, and how to control them.

The “Native Planting 101” workshop will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2012 from 12:00-4:30pm, in the Confluence Technology Center at 285 Technology Center Way, north Wenatchee.

For more information or to RSVP contact our office at (509) 664-9370 or visit our website at www.Cascadiacd.org. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

New Year's Resolutions

It’s the second week of January, the New Year is off and running and I still haven’t picked a New Year’s Resolution!  While browsing ideas on the web, I came across two articles that present an interesting conundrum.

“The Top 10 Commonly Broken New Year’s Resolutions” (TIME Magazine)

1.    Lose Weight and Get Fit

2.    Quit Smoking

3.    Learn Something New

4.    Eat Healthier and Diet

5.    Get Out of Debt and Save Money

6.    Spend more Time with Family

7.    Travel to New Places

8.    Be Less Stressed

9.    Volunteer

10.  Drink Less

“Popular New Year’s Resolutions” (USA.gov)

1.    Drink Less Alcohol

2.    Eat Healthy food

3.    Get a Better Education

4.    Get a Better Job

5.    Get Fit

6.    Lose Weight

7.    Manage Debt

8.    Quit Smoking

9.    Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

10. Save Money

11. Take a Trip

12. Volunteer to Help Others

The bleak similarities between the two lists made my search for an achievable aspiration for the New Year a little more difficult. What should I try and what can I do to make myself stick to whatever resolution I choose? The New Year offers the perfect time to get serious about all the goals you’ve been putting off but, is it really a great idea to commit to the same thing that hasn’t worked for the past few years?  I scoured for tips for how to be successful on whatever resolution I chose and found a few common themes:

 

·         Be Realistic - Instead of choosing broad concepts to pursue, why not aim from smaller more specific challenges that may be easier to achieve? If you do decide to take on a particularly large challenge make sure to break it down into smaller segments that can be worked towards while keeping the big picture in mind.

·         Reward Yourself - Sometimes it only takes a few small incentives to keep you on track and make it to the next step.

·         Work as a Team - Shared goals are easier to achieve, simply telling your friends about your commitment to this year’s resolution might be enough motivation to keep you going.

Then it hit me. Why not try something different this year? Why not do something to help the environment AND myself? I made my decision to take the Picture the Wenatchee pledge! If you’re one of our regular readers you’re probably already familiar with Picture the Wenatchee but for those of you who are not, Picture the Wenatchee is our watershed stewardship campaign designated to improving water quality and stream habitat in the Wenatchee River watershed. The campaign focuses on simple things we can do to help keep our rivers clean and is broken down into four categories.

In Your Home – Use eco-friendly cleaning products, conserve water, and maintain your septic system to make your home life a green one

With Your Vehicles – Maintaining your vehicle properly and cleaning off in commercial car washes help keep unwanted chemicals and vehicle byproducts out of our storm drain system.

In Your Yard – Pull invasive weeds, plant native species, and be water conscious when irrigating to promote a healthy yard and environment

With Your Animals – Don’t forget to clean up after your furry friends!

It seems like the perfect New Year’s Resolution. The four categories provide smaller more manageable goals which are easy to do and will allow me to Be Realistic and not take on too much at once. By telling my friends and co-workers about my resolution I will hopefully be able to find others who will join me and we can Work as a Team. At the very least they’ll know what I’m trying to accomplish this year and will be able to hold me accountable. One of the best things about Picture the Wenatchee is that they provide an incentive for anyone who takes the challenge to keep our river clean.  If you follow the actions outlined by the campaign you can Reward Yourself with a free Watershed Care Package.  The care package provides campaign participants with all kinds of prizes! Coupons for purchasing native plants at local nurseries, free car wash tokens to keep you car clean, and even a doggy cleanup bag dispenser are all found in the Watershed Care Package.