December 29, 2011 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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Photos courtesy of Tiffany RoyN/Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
Skokomish natural resources staff pull in the beach seine net. In the middle of the net is a "purse" that collects marine life in the water,
allowing the staff to observe what is living in the estuary. As part of the tribe's monitoring program of the Skokomish Tidelands at the southern
end of Hood Canal, the tribe is seining locations throughout the estuary, looking for marine life that is taking up residency.
monl
Following the Skokomish River es-
tuary restoration effort in 2010, the
Skokomish Tribe has been closely
monitoring the project site in hopes of
seeing salmon using the new habitat
for feeding and refuge.
Since August, natural resources
staff members have been seining doz-
ens of locations within the restored
349-acre area, as well as 330 acres of
tidelands nearby that escaped develop-
ment.
The project area includes 219 acres
of tidelands (formerly Nalley Island)
that was restored in 2010 and 130
acres that was restored in 2007, main-
ly through culvert and dike removal,
The tribe is looking for juvenile
chinook, chum and coho salmon. The
beach seining efforts have also includ-
ed finding pacific herring, surf smelt,
sculpins, pipefish, flounders, gunnels,
anchovies and shrimp.
"The undeveloped tidelands are
about the closest thing to a natural
salt marsh in the Skokomish estuary,"
said Matt Kowalski, the tribe's steel-
head biologist. "This area creates a
great opportunity to compare what is
living here versus what is coming back
to the newly restored areas."
In the late 1930s, a large portion of
the Skokomish estuary was convert-
ed from estuary to the Nalley Farm.
Dikes and ditches were used to drain
the former tidelands, which had been
filled with marine life.
In 2007 and 2010, the tribe started
restoring the tidelands to their natural
state.
"The project's goal to restore riv-
erine and tidal hydrology within the
treatment areas is expected to allow
natural physical and biological process
to restore the salt marshes wetlands,"
said Alex Gouley, the tribe's habitat
manager.
The tribe hopes to start a third
phase of restoration in 2012, which will
include removing remaining smaller
culverts and dikes by hand.
Skokomish Tribe natural resources staff Matt Kowalski and
Anthony Battista pull one end Of a beach seine to gather marine
life living in the estuary for a quick study.
LOST DOG
"Bear" ....................
Large Newfoundland /
Pyrenees cross. 160 Ibs.
Mostly black with white
on chest & feet.
Very friendly. If you find Bear
please call 360-229-1677.
REWARD OFFERED
New.transit manager takes the wheel on mobility
By NATALIE JOHNSON poster shop and operating a mobile-DJ the driving staff - it makes a big dif-
business, ference having someone who's worked
Brad Patterson has done many jobs However, Patterson's jobs in promot- their way up," he said. "It's not a driv-
over the last several decades, ing transit and mobility have been the ingjob, it's a customer service job."
In December, Patterson officially most meaningful in his life. Originally from Fort Collins, Colo.,
took over as General Manager of the "I can't think of a better word, I'm Patterson said he has spent almost all
Mason County Transportation Author- blessed to be here," he said in his first of his life living in Eastern Colorado.
ity (MTA), but over the past several MTA meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13. After operating a mobile DJ busi-
decades, his various professions have Patterson has spent 14 years of his ness which performed 500'shows a year
covered a broad swath of the economy, life working in transit - three of those
ranging from selling eggs from his own as a parttime bus driver.
chickens, owning a picture-framing and "It's one of the things you hear from See Transit on page A-6
Shelton-Mason
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©2011 HHM, Inc. 390
County Journal -Thursday, December 29, 2011 - Page A-3