FY 2013 Cowling Creek Education and Outreach

The project successfully continued previous PCSRF-funded tribal outreach and education efforts as they related to salmon recovery with the Tribes Senior Research Scientist working with community organizations, non-governmental organizations, environmental groups, and educational institutions to promote engagement in salmon habitat restoration and protection efforts for both listed and non-listed salmonids. A subset of activities conducted under this project include: (1) Outreach events conducted: Outreach presentations made to the First Annual West Sound Local Integrating Organization Science Seminar (March 5, 2015, Poulsbo, WA), the Salmon Recovery Conference (May 27, 2015, Vancouver, WA), the Manette Historical Society (March 3, 2015, Bremerton, WA), Stillwaters Environmental Centers Annual Ecofest (May 30, 2015, Kingston, WA), and Kitsap County Public Works Utility Program (July 10, 2015). Organized a Tribal Museum Family Day Beach Walk (May 9, 2015, Suquamish, WA), and Stillwaters beach walk (July 30, 2015, Kingston). Conducted seven floating nearshore classes to study the impact of human activity upon the drift cell and salmon life history (two June 28, one July 11, 2015, two July 19, two July 26, 2015). Continued Suquamish Elementary Schools third grades classroom aquaria salmon life history program and worked with local elementary, high school, and college students and interns to at the Tribes Cowling Creek Centers educational facility to hatch eyed chum eggs and short term rear the fry before release into the stream to restore a naturally spawning salmon run. (2) Workshops/training events: Staff participated as salmon recovery instructors for the local WSU/Sea Grant Salmon Docents Training Course (February 19, 2015, Bremerton, WA), WWU/Huxley Colleges Ecosystem Management Class (February 3, 2015), Suquamish Elementary Third Grades field trip to the Cowling Creek Forest Preserve and stream (March 19, 2015), Stillwaters Science in the Watershed (June 24, 2015, Kingston Fire Hall), WWU/Huxley Colleges Watershed and Water Quality Class and field trip (June 26, 2015), and Odyssey University (WWU/Poulsbo) nearshore field trips (July 14, 15, 16, 2015, Miller Bay sand spit). Educational beach seining classes occurred on Carpenter Creek estuary (April 18, May 17, and June 14, 2015), Suquamish Elementarys annual Out of Puget Sound (June 10, 2015), and on Clear Creek estuary (June 13, 2015). Participated with salmon recovery displays at the Hood Canal Salmon Center Green Summit (June 4, 2014). Worked with Kitsap County and WSUs Salmon Stewards Training Program to develop a handbook to educate citizen scientists in salmon life cycles, habitat, and restoration opportunities. (3) Presentations at educational institutions included North Kitsap High School (February 18, 2015), Suquamish Elementary (March 16, May 9, 2015, Suquamish), and Chief Kitsap Academy Environmental Sciences classes (May 26, June 2, 2015). (4) Media material: KBTC Public Television (Tacoma, WA) visited the Cowling Creek Center to view a restored naturally spawning chum salmon run as part of their documentary on the importance of small stream salmon production to Native Americans. The film was shown in local theatres and will be broadcast in the fall, 2015 on public television. (5) Interpretive signage: A poster-sized Cowling Creek watershed map was laminated and posted on the public display board at the Cowling Creek Center. An electronic copy will be on the Suquamish Tribes Cowling Creek Center website, currently being updated by the Tribe.

The goals of this project are: 1) improve public knowledge of salmon life history behavior and needs and the Tribes salmon recovery efforts; 2) convey technical and scientific information to students training in the field of habitat restoration and projection; 3) inform policy decision makers about salmon habitat needs and the effects of regulated land use activities on salmon and salmon recovery. Expected benefits include better stewardship by individual landowners and more informed decision making by local agencies.