The Skagit Watershed Council, in partnership with the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, Skagit Land Trust, Skagit County, and the Skagit River System Cooperative sponsors this conference. This annual conference is organized by the Western Washington Riparian Workgroup, a technical learning group that brings together riparian restoration practitioners to build networks, share practical information, and improve outcomes. The goal of the North Sound Riparian Conference is to bring together riparian restoration practitioners to learn and share ideas.
“Stillaguamish Tribe Riparian Planting Monitoring Program“, by Jason Anderson, Riparian Ecologist for Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians Department of Natural Resources. One challenge facing riparian planting project managers is measuring how the outcomes of restoration activities change over time. Worksite metrics such as “Acres Treated” or “River Miles Treated” quantify riparian gains. However, these metrics fail to adequately assess quality metrics such as canopy cover or number of conifers per acre. During this talk, Jason will describe the monitoring program that his team has developed to assess riparian restoration projects including field data collection, data management, analysis, dissemination, and lessons learned. Slide Deck
“Variable Density Thinning“, by Jake Sullivan, Forester for Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Many vegetation restoration projects are reaching an age where they could benefit from selective thinning. Variable density thinning is a forest management technique used when the goal is to increase structural complexity, create early successional patches and/or decrease the intensity of harvest within the stand. Jake will discuss some of the ecological benefits including adding complexity and increased edge effect. Other considerations include the cost of the treatment vs. industry standard regeneration harvest. Slide Deck
“What It Takes: Planning for Successful Riparian Restoration at Harsh Sites“, by Katrina Strathmann, Restoration Ecologist and Riparian Program Director for Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group. Ecohydrology of black cottonwood and riparian willows provides essential information for riparian restoration, specifically requirements for natural stand regeneration, long-term stand persistence, and the establishment and expansion of potential restoration plantings. Site conditions and characteristics–such as groundwater depth, proximity to rewetted floodplain or channels, soil texture and density, proximity to mature cottonwood or willow stands and project scale–are fundamental to the initial stages of construction design planning and drive the selection of riparian restoration approach. Planting options include emerging techniques such as assisted seedbeds, deep-planting, “two-phase” planting, and conventional planting. Maintenance after plant installation can be critical, particularly at harsh sites. Project maintenance that addresses site conditions includes targeted weed management, drip irrigation, and herbivory-deterrent fencing. Ms. Strathmann will share approaches and techniques from her riparian work in eastern Washington. Slide Deck
“Assisted Migration Best Management Practices for Pacific Northwest Habitat Restoration Projects“, by Brenda Clifton, Senior Restoration Botanist for Skagit River System Cooperative. This presentation will provide guidance on the use of assisted migration in habitat restoration projects with trees and shrub species. In the last century, average temperatures have risen in the Pacific Northwest and models predict additional increases over the coming decades. Plants can migrate in response to changing climate, but models suggest that many species will be unable to migrate fast enough to keep up with future climate change. Assisted migration is the human-assisted movement of species in response to climate change. Local practitioners have expressed interest in incorporating assisted migration into restoration projects and there are a few local projects that have already used translocated plants. During the presentation. Ms. Clifton will share a decision framework to help project managers determine if assisted migration is a good fit for their projects and relate some best management practices to reduce the risks associated with these projects. Slide Deck
“The Rapid Riparian Revegetation Approach, Revisited“, by Peter Guillozet, Orcas Preserve Steward for San Juan County Conservation Land Bank. Ten years on, we review highlights from a 2014 paper published in Ecological Restoration. The paper described the Rapid Riparian Revegetation (R3) Approach, which summarized practices developed and refined between 2003 and 2013, a time of unprecedented growth in riparian restoration in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Intended as an opportunity to reflect on the state of revegetation practices, the paper described aspects of site preparation, stock-type selection, planting density and herbivory prevention as well as challenges such as crew and plant availability, grant timelines and other funding constraints, and characterization of project outcomes. Having continued this work at various scales in the decade since, Peter revisits early projects in Oregon, shares observations from peers, reflects on recent work in Western Washington, and considers the roles practitioners, regulators, and funders play in advancing replicable approaches to riparian restoration.
“Riparian Plant Propagation Program“, by B’Elanna Rhodehamel, Riparian Plant Propagation Program Manager for Washington State Conservation Commission. The Riparian Plant Propagation Program (RPPP) supports riparian restoration efforts across Washington State by increasing access to locally adapted native trees and shrubs. By collaborating with nurseries, conservation districts, and restoration groups, the RPPP plays a key role in propagating, cultivating, and restoring riparian ecosystems. This introduction explores the opportunities the program offers to enhance the availability of native riparian plants for restoration projects. Slide Deck
“The Ripple Effect: Engaging Communities in Riparian Stewardship“, by Jodi Prout, Education and Outreach Manager for Washington State Conservation Commission. The SCC initiated The Ripple Effect Campaign following a $2 million legislative allocation in 2023, aimed at raising awareness of riparian buffers. This educational initiative seeks to engage urban, suburban, rural, and agricultural communities in protective and enhancement measures for these ecosystems by enhancing public understanding and providing conservation districts with tailored outreach toolkits. Leveraging community relationships and demographic research, the campaign will implement a multi-channel outreach strategy, including videos, infographics, and promotional materials in both English and Spanish, informed by focus group findings to ensure resonance with target audiences. The Ripple Effect Campaign represents a significant step toward cultivating a culture of conservation in Washington State, equipping communities with knowledge and tools to advocate for sustainable land use practices and the preservation of riparian ecosystems. Slide Deck
“Scraping reed canarygrass for wetland restoration”, by Christina St. John, Clallam County Noxious Weed Control Program. Reed canarygrass is one of the most challenging invasive species to control or eradicate during wetland restoration due to its extensive rhizome system and prolific seed bank. During the Lower Dungeness River Floodplain Restoration project in Clallam County, WA, we had the opportunity to manually remove 0.5 acre of RCG with large construction equipment in an effort to create a native-dominated wetland. The results have exceeded expectations and is now dominated by native cattails, rushes and cottonwoods. We will discuss this case study, what lessons can be learned and further questions to investigate.
“Early detection rapid response priorities in the Skagit River watershed”, by Madelyn Loy, Skagit County Noxious Weed Program. “Early Detection Rapid Response” (EDRR) strategies can help us stay ahead of the invasion curve when prevention is no longer an option. Implementing EDRR strategies makes our vegetation management plans more proactive in dynamic riparian areas. We will discuss why land managers benefit from this type of action, which emergent invasive plants to be aware of in the Skagit River Watershed and how to develop successful EDRR plans within our organizations.
“Knotweed control in the Upper Skagit Watershed”, by Bengt Miller, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. In 2010 Skagit Fisheries began knotweed control work in the Skagit watershed following a top-down approach at a landscape scale. Due to a combination of luck and dedication we were able to continue this effort to this day. This approach has been so successful that we were able to expand the treatment area downstream when a funding opportunity presented itself. This presentation delves into the past success of the program and future outlook, as well as some limitations and lessons learned.
“Using Drones for Weed Management”, by David Heimer and Daniel Zimmerman, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Drone technology has the potential to improve weed management in wildlands. This talk will provide a brief overview of the regulations, technology and operations challenges and opportunities associated with drones used for weed control.
“The Healthy Lands Project: Helping Hands for Healthy Lands”, by Dan Sorenson, King County Noxious Weed Control Program. The Healthy Lands Project (HeLP) provides invasive weed control and stewardship assistance to keep open space healthy for people and the environment. The project’s goal is to increase the success of conservation by providing invasive weed control when it is most needed. In addition, through workshops, technical assistance, tool loans, and other resources, HeLP makes it easier for county residents to practice stewardship on their own lands.
“Lessons learned from 20 years of knotweed management in an unregulated river“, by Lauren Kuehne, Omnifishient Consulting. Knotweed was first detected on the Hoh River in 1998, an unregulated river on the Olympic Peninsula. In 2002, the Hoh Tribe set a goal to eradicate knotweed from the river, initiating work that has reduced knotweed presence to minimal levels. This talk presents work to analyze the two decades of mapped treatment and control data to evaluate the role of longitudinal factors (e.g., elevation, gradient, floodplain extent) in facilitating or constraining knotweed establishment and persistence. This talk will also present recent herbicide tests with WDFW to assess potential for sequential treatment with diquat and imazapyr to improve control outcomes.
View the entire 2024 conference here.
“Using the Salish Sea Wiki digital platform for revegetation as-builts, knowledge management and distributed experiments“, by Paul Creeghino, Restoration Program Manager, NOAA Restoration Center. gement. WDFW, NOAA and the Society for Ecological Restoration are collaborating to improve a shared open-source bioregional platform that helps local practitioners share information about restoration efforts–the Salish Sea Restoration Wiki. Local revegetation practitioners have the tools and potential to create knowledge, but this knowledge creation depends on giving life to personal values as part of a community of practice. This presentation describes a digital platform, proposed methods, and opportunities for information sharing using open-source tools as part of a knowledge building effort, which ultimately depends on cultivating personal agency and stewardship as a restoration community.
“Development of an effectiveness-monitoring program for West-side revegetation as distributed experiments”, by Robert Vadas, Research Scientist, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife-Habitat. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife along with NOAA are working with landowners and other interested parties to address the need to measure the success of riparian planting as an ecosystem-restoration approach. Specifically, we would like to systematically test how well riparian-planting efforts are working in the face of environmental constraints like drought (‘heat-dome’) and wildlife-herbivory pressures, particularly from voles that can cause high seedling mortality. We will assess tradeoffs of different (1) sampling methods for plant mortality (e.g., the line-transect method) and (2) statistical designs (e.g., randomized-block ANOVAs) to test different planting treatments (based on shrub/tree species, protection methods, etc.), with at least two replicates/treatment for potential, localized disasters (e.g., channel avulsion or lightning strike). Because different plant-growth forms diverge in flooding tolerances, recognition of the three geomorphologic benches (to bankfull level) should improve planting success for deciduous shrubs and trees vs. coniferous trees. The ultimate goal is to increase restoration success through adaptive management
“Deep planting with poles in ecosystems with high water stress”, by Jason Hall, Senior Scientist, Cramer Fish Science. Establishing riparian plants in dryland ecosystems with high water-stress, and often high herbivore pressure, presents major challenges for restoration practitioners. Deep-planting is a promising alternative to traditional supplemental irrigation in dryland areas affected by lowered water tables. This method provides plants with direct access to lowered water tables and encourages root development within hydrated soils. However, few studies have evaluated deep-planting where planting depths must exceed one-meter to reach water tables and where herbivore protection is required. We conducted experimental plantings along an incised stream within a semiarid watershed using deep-planting without supplemental irrigation in combination with several tree shelter designs. Results from multiple years of monitoring indicated that deep-planting pole cuttings of cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) and willow (Salix spp.) in augered holes up to 1.9 m deep that penetrated water tables, in combination with protecting plants with vented plastic tree shelters, significantly increased survival and reduced damage from browsing.
Live Pole Planting”, by Anthony Waldrop, Watershed Restoration Project Manager, Grays Harbor Conservation District. As a Chehalis Basin Erosion Management pilot project, in the winter of 2022 Grays Harbor Conservation District installed a vertical array of 300, 3″ diameter by 6′-10′ long willow/cottonwood poles on an eroding bank of the Satsop River. The District is monitoring rate of erosion and success of plant establishment at the pilot project, while simultaneously working towards a reach scale river restoration project. Learning topics associated with this talk include: managing landowner expectations around project types, the importance of low risk/cost/permitting erosion reduction techniques, implementation details, lessons learned, and other applications of live pole installation.
“Mitigation of Reed Canary Grass on Harris Creek”, by Breanna Finch, Habitat Specialist and Project Coordinator at the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group, Sound Salmon Solutions. Breanna presents lessons learned from the field regarding the mitigation of Reed Canary Grass on Harris Creek using planting methods that require no pre or post maintenance.
“Stossel Creek Climate Adaptation Project: Assisted Migration Planting Three Years In-What Have We Seen?”, by Denise Krownbell, Strategic Advisor with Seattle City Light. In 2020, we tested assisted migration of tree genotypes with alternative seed sources for two native conifer species, Douglas-fir and Western redcedar to determine if moving seed sources from warmer to cooler climates is one option for adapting coniferous forests to future climate (Bansal et al. 2015a), adding incense cedar due to sourcing issues. We will update our results from 2020 with data through the 2022 monitoring season.
“Exploring strategies for the understory planting of conifers in deciduous forests”, by Brenda Clifton, Senior Restoration Botanist for Skagit River System Cooperative. Coniferous species provide more shade and stable large woody debris for salmon habitat than deciduous species, but many riparian forests are arrested at a secondary successional stage due to a lack of coniferous seed sources. This presentation will discuss the evolution of our understory planting strategy over time and share the results of a 2021 study, which compared the growth of understory plantings in the shade versus clearings where we removed select overstory trees. This strategy may provide a useful tool for salmon habitat restoration, but it is labor intensive. We will also discuss the cost/benefit of this approach.
View the entire 2023 conference here
“Evaluating Skagit riparian zones using LiDAR”, by Tim Hyatt. Tim is a riparian ecologist with the Skagit River Systems Cooperative, a tribal natural resources organization.
“Mapping the Puget Sound Nearshore with Imagery and Data”, by Brian Footen. Brian has spent twenty plus years working as a fishery research biologist for federal, state and tribal agencies.
“Adaptive riparian restoration: an appeal for a coordinated approach”, by Jon Bakker. Jon is a professor at the University of Washington, and has studied restoration in prairies, forests, sagebrush steppe, wetlands, and subalpine meadows.
“Correlating soil texture and seedling mortality in upland planting sites”, by Brenda Clifton. Brenda is a plant ecologist with over 20 years of experience in plant biology and propagation
“Strategies for increasing conifers in riparian forests of the Skagit basin”, by Curt Veldhuisen. Curt is a forest hydrologist who has worked for Skagit River System Cooperative for over 20 years.
“Reed canary grass, voles, and riparian rehabilitation”, by Byron Rot. Byron Rot has worked on many instream salmonid habitat, floodplain, and nearshore restoration projects for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and currently works on nearshore, wetland, and riparian restoration projects for the San Juan County and partners.
“Utilizing Offenders Crews to Support Riparian Restoration”, by Jason Anderson & Andrew Zeiders. Jason Anderson works as a riparian ecologist for the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians Natural Resources Department. Andrew Zeiders works as the Restoration Crew Lead for the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians Natural Resources Department and has served in that role since 2015.
View the entire 2022 conference here.
“Moving the Target: Managing Your Forest in a Changing Climate”, by Dave Peterson, Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
“Climate Change Genetics”, by Deborah L. Rogers, Co-Executive Director & Director of Conservation Science and Stewardship at the Center for Natural Lands Management
“The Seedlot Selection Tool”, by Dominique Bachelet, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering at Oregon State University
“Stossel Creek Climate Adaptation Project: Assisted Migration Planting – Data From Year One”, by Denise Krownbell, Strategic Advisor for Seattle City Light
“Around the Woods: How Practitioners are Adjusting for Climate Change”, by Brenda Clifton, Senior Restoration Botanist for the Skagit River System Cooperative, and Michael Yadrick, Plant Ecologist for the City of Seattle.
“Revegetating Emergent Wetlands: Emergent Species, Functions, Permits, and Monitoring Results”, by Josh Wozniak, President of the Society of Wetland Scientist’s Pacific Northwest Chapter and Environmental Sciences Group Lead at Parametrix.
“Effect of pole diameter on willow performance over five years in a wetland dominated by reed canarygrass”, by Laura Hatema, Senior Ecologist for King County
“Around the Woods: Lessons Learned from Wetland Restoration Projects”, by Kerrie McArthur, Senior Biologist at Confluence Environmental Company, and John Soden, Professional Wetland Scientist at Natural Systems Design.
