Saturday, October 15th 2022
Join Mason Conservation District for the Fifth Annual Orca Recovery Day
You can do your part to help the Orca population.
The Southern Resident Orca Whales that call Puget Sound home are critically endangered. Over the past couple of years, many local orcas have died from a combination of malnutrition, polluted waters, and stress from local boat traffic. In 2018, the world watched as Tahlequah, a Southern Resident Killer Whale, carry her dead calf for 17 days, travelling almost 1,000 miles off the Pacific Northwest coast before letting go. According to the Center for Whale Research, approximately 75 percent of newborns in the Southern Resident killer whale population have not survived.
With just over 70 individuals left in the local population, we must act now. By working to improve salmon habitat, we can help their populations grow and provide a food source and clean waters to save the most iconic species of the Pacific Northwest. As we restore our shorelines, there will be more forage fish such as sand lance and smelt, giving the salmon more food and therefore more food for the orcas. Puget Sound has 7,500 miles of shoreline, 2,500 of which has been degraded by development.
For more information and a history of Orca Recovery Day visit: https://betterground.org/ord
With just over 70 individuals left in the local population, we must act now. By working to improve salmon habitat, we can help their populations grow and provide a food source and clean waters to save the most iconic species of the Pacific Northwest. As we restore our shorelines, there will be more forage fish such as sand lance and smelt, giving the salmon more food and therefore more food for the orcas. Puget Sound has 7,500 miles of shoreline, 2,500 of which has been degraded by development.
For more information and a history of Orca Recovery Day visit: https://betterground.org/ord
This Year We Have Two Event Sites:
Klingel-Bryan-Beard Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, October 15th 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Join Mason Conservation District and Great Peninsula Conservancy at Klingel-Bryan-Beard Wildlife Refuge for a work party of habitat restoration! Volunteers are invited to help create better habitat for the wildlife and aquatic species Hood Canal by removing invasive weeds and allowing the planted native trees and shrubs to thrive. The day will also include a guided walk, refreshments, and a chance to learn about things you can do every day to help protect the endangered Southern Resident orca population.
Why Klingel-Bryan-Beard Wildlife Refuge:
This 95-acre wildlife refuge is located on the shores of Hood Canal and the Union River estuary. This area provides habitat to threatened Hood Canal summer chum, Puget Sound Chinook, and winter steelhead. In the 1950s a dike was installed to create pasture land losing critical habitat for salmon, shorebirds, and other wildlife. In 1985 the property was donated to Great Peninsula Conservancy to protect and restore. Since then, the estuary has been restored and over 5,000 native plants have been installed. Projects like these that improve habitat for migrating salmon increase the chances of a healthy orca population. Learn more about the Klingel-Bryan-Beard Wildlife Refuge here. Prior to the work day, consider joining Adrian Wolf, Stewardship Manager with Great Peninsula Conservancy, on a bird tour through the preserve. The tide will be rising at 9 am, which could push ducks and wading birds closer to the estuary margins, certainly within easy view of binoculars and spotting scope. Space is limited for the bird tour, so sign up early through GPC's website.
Recent surveys at the preserve documented over 30 species of birds.
Reserve your spot today to be part of the solution.
Saturday, October 15th 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Join Mason Conservation District and Great Peninsula Conservancy at Klingel-Bryan-Beard Wildlife Refuge for a work party of habitat restoration! Volunteers are invited to help create better habitat for the wildlife and aquatic species Hood Canal by removing invasive weeds and allowing the planted native trees and shrubs to thrive. The day will also include a guided walk, refreshments, and a chance to learn about things you can do every day to help protect the endangered Southern Resident orca population.
Why Klingel-Bryan-Beard Wildlife Refuge:
This 95-acre wildlife refuge is located on the shores of Hood Canal and the Union River estuary. This area provides habitat to threatened Hood Canal summer chum, Puget Sound Chinook, and winter steelhead. In the 1950s a dike was installed to create pasture land losing critical habitat for salmon, shorebirds, and other wildlife. In 1985 the property was donated to Great Peninsula Conservancy to protect and restore. Since then, the estuary has been restored and over 5,000 native plants have been installed. Projects like these that improve habitat for migrating salmon increase the chances of a healthy orca population. Learn more about the Klingel-Bryan-Beard Wildlife Refuge here. Prior to the work day, consider joining Adrian Wolf, Stewardship Manager with Great Peninsula Conservancy, on a bird tour through the preserve. The tide will be rising at 9 am, which could push ducks and wading birds closer to the estuary margins, certainly within easy view of binoculars and spotting scope. Space is limited for the bird tour, so sign up early through GPC's website.
Recent surveys at the preserve documented over 30 species of birds.
Reserve your spot today to be part of the solution.
The Salmon Center
Saturday, October 15th 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Join Mason Conservation District and Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group at the Salmon Center to be part of the solution! We will be removing invasive weeds, planting live stakes and mulching around native plants. Volunteers are welcome to walk along the boardwalk at The Salmon Center with Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group staff to learn about the work they are doing to help protect the endangered Southern Resident orca population.
The Salmon Center is located along the Union River Estuary where you can walk along the interpretive trail learning about salt marshes, birds and the many benefits of estuaries. Learn more about the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group here.
Saturday, October 15th 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Join Mason Conservation District and Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group at the Salmon Center to be part of the solution! We will be removing invasive weeds, planting live stakes and mulching around native plants. Volunteers are welcome to walk along the boardwalk at The Salmon Center with Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group staff to learn about the work they are doing to help protect the endangered Southern Resident orca population.
The Salmon Center is located along the Union River Estuary where you can walk along the interpretive trail learning about salt marshes, birds and the many benefits of estuaries. Learn more about the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group here.
Covid-19 Guidelines:
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- If you are sick in any way or have come in contact with someone who has been sick in the last two weeks, please stay home.
- Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth, except during breaks when you are at least 6 feet away from others. If you are unable to wear masks, we ask that you contact us directly for specific accommodations.
- Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from people outside your household.
- Please bring your own food and water. For the time being, we will not be providing food or drinks. Volunteers will not be able to share snacks with the group, even if they are individually wrapped.
- Volunteers are required to bring their own gloves.
- Please bring your own tools if you are able. Tools and gloves will not be shared between people outside your household throughout the work party.
Mason Conservation District Responsibilities:
- MCD will plan work areas to maximize distance between participants.
- MCD will provide necessary tools and materials for the work being performed such as shovels.
- All tools and gloves will be quarantined for at least four days or disinfected between uses.
- Used materials will be kept separate from clean materials and properly disinfected.
- MCD will provide hand sanitizer to be used by volunteers throughout the workday.
- MCD will provide disposable masks for those who do not have their own.
Questions?
Contact our AmeriCorps member, Grady Graham, at mcdamericorps@masoncd.org
Contact our AmeriCorps member, Grady Graham, at mcdamericorps@masoncd.org
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Mason Conservation District
450 W Business Park RD Shelton, WA 98584 Phone: (360) 427-9436 Fax: (360) 427-4396 |
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