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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*UPDATE*Spartina Dig, THE Premier Muddy Restoration Event in Puget Sound June 7
Volunteers needed to get really muddy, really do good, really feel good
5/30/08 Call for volunteers to remove spartina June 7
Mount Vernon WA May 30, 2008
*6/7/08 UPDATE*
Posted by Keeley O'Connell
We had a record breaking 42 volunteers at the Annual Skagit Spartina Dig this year! And I don't know how the weather was where you were today, but the sun was shining over LaConner and the Swinomish Reservation- what a beautiful day to dig in the mud! We got all of the Spartina out of Swadabs Park before lunch, so we moved on to scotch broom in the afternoon...and got all of that removed too!
Larry Cambell, the Swinomish Tribe cultural historian, welcomed the volunteers to the Reservation and gave an inspiring talk during our lunch time break. We also had six Snohomish Sound Stewards come up for the event, three of which earned their People For Puget Sound hats today for reaching 40 hours, and another Steward received his People For Puget Sound jacket for contributing 80 volunteer hours to our programs! Way to go Stewards!!! Rachel Benbrook, our new Spartina program intern, jumped right in on her second day on the job...literally. She's very familiar with Spartina now- having been up close and personal with the weed and the mud today!
Photos to be posted soon!
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It’s the 10th Annual Skagit Spartina Dig Day, Saturday June 7 beginning at 10 AM at Swadabs Park on the Swinomish Reservation.
“Swadabs is a beautiful beach threatened by invasive Spartina grass,” said habitat restoration coordinator Keeley O’Connell of People For Puget Sound. “We need lots of volunteers to help us and the Swinomish Tribal Community dig it out.”
Volunteers will also learn about native marsh plants and how Spartina could damage the bird and fish habitat at this park.
Several reports of Mud Monster sightings in the area have led to speculation that the elusive monster and family members might be at the mud-filled event.
The Swinomish Canoe family will definitely be on site following lunch to take volunteers on short tours of the Swinomish Channel aboard the tribe’s canoe.
“Come on out,” said O’Connell. “Get a little or a lot muddy at this fun annual event and do something good for the Puget Sound."
For more information and to RSVP (so we know how many tools to bring), contact Keeley O’Connell at 360-336-1931.
Directions to Swadabs park on the Swinomish Tribal Reservation:
From North: From southbound I-5, take Exit 230 (WA Hwy 20/Anacortes). Take a right off the exit ramp onto Goldenrod Rd. Take a left at the light onto Hwy 20 W. Stay on Hwy 20 for approx. 10 miles, then take a left onto Reservation Rd. Follow Reservation Rd. into the Swinomish Reservation. Turn left into Swadabs Parkjust before the gymnasium /Social Services building and follow this road down to a gravel parking lot. Follow the paved trail to the tent area.
From South: From northbound I-5, take Exit 230 (Hwy 20/ toward Burlington/Anacortes). Take a left at the end of the exit ramp onto Hwy 20 W. Stay on Hwy 20 for approx. 10 miles, then take a left onto Reservation Rd. Follow Reservation Rd. into the Swinomish Reservation. Turn left into Swadabs Parkjust before the gymnasium /Social Services building and follow this road down to a gravel parking lot. Follow the paved trail to the tent area.
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