FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*UPDATE*Goats? No Kidding: Goats to Help Save Our Sound May 24

5/15/08 news release on Union Slough 5/ & 5/30 restoration using goats

5/26/08 UPDATE: "How 60 goats can improve parkland" is the May 25, 2008 story in the Everett Herald about Saturday's dual-species exercise in invasive weed removal and control. Read it here.

See the pictures of the goats (and volunteers) here.

People For Puget Sound’s Snohomish Sound Stewards and the Port of Everett are calling out the goats to help volunteers rid Union Slough near Marysville of invasive weeds on Saturday, May 24.

 
Volunteers and 60 goats will work side by side from 10 AM to 2 PM to remove Scotch Broom and eat-weeding invasives on the restored habitat site.
 
The goats are from Vashon Island’s Rent-a-Ruminant LLC and will be on site for eight days doing their work.
 
The Union Slough Wetlands Restoration site, owned by the Port of Everett, is a unique feature in the lower reaches of the Snohomish River Estuary.  The site was constructed in February 2001 and expanded in October 2005 by removing two dikes and excavating a channel system, allowing tidal waters to flood the site.  These actions converted 24 acres of former agricultural land to conditions representative of the original habitat in the estuary. 
 
The Union Slough restoration site was awarded the Environmental Improvement Award from the American Association of Port Authorities in 2001.
 
Continued restoration work at this site by volunteers is focusing on improving the health of the uplands by removing invasive plants, like Scotch Broom and blackberry, and planting native trees and shrubs, like Sitka Spruce and Red currant. 
 
People For Puget Sound will provide volunteers with tools, water and snacks.  Volunteers are asked to bring a sack lunch, refillable water bottle, and enthusiasm for ripping out invasive weeds!  Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots for working. 

For more information and to register contact Keeley O’Connell, 360-336-1931.
 
On Friday, May 30, the Port of Everett and People For Puget Sound will again bring the goats out to work at Union Slough with 7th grade students from College Park Middle School in Edmonds in a dual-species day of restoration to save our Sound.

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