Fun in the sun! ☀️ Nisqually Stream Stewards had a wonderful time this weekend exploring the unique ecology of the Nisqually Reach during our nearshore exploration trip. Community members looked at phytoplankton and zooplankton through microscopes, caught sculpin and starry flounders in a beach seine, and even found a moon snail while surveying for shore crabs! Thank you to our partners at Nisqually Reach Nature Center for helping make this trip happen and for everyone who came out for a morning of scientific discovery! Learn how you can get involved in upcoming free stewardship classes at nisquallyriver.org/stream-stewards #nisqually #streamstewards #NSS #nearshore #marine #ecology #community #science #fieldtrip #beach #seine #sculpin #flounder #crabs #stewardship #outdoor #learning #nature #Washington #PNW (fb)

Sometimes in order to make an impact, you have to get the “root” of the problem - and that’s exactly what Yelm Middle School 6th graders did during their invasive plant removal field trips this month! Working along the Nisqually river, students learned how to identify different invasive species like Himalayan Blackberry and Scotch Broom before gaining hands-on restoration experience on how to properly remove these plants. Once invasive plants are removed by their roots, native plants have a chance to thrive and eventually provide stable soil and shade along the river bank perfect for Salmon! Thank you to our partners who helped make this possible and thank you to our amazing 6th grade stewards helping keep our environment healthy! #nisqually #river #education #project #NREP #invasive #plant #removal #himalayan #blackberry #scotchbroom #restoration #outdoor #learning #students #STEM #stewardship #environment #Washington #PNW (fb)