2022-23 NATIVE PLANT SALE

Place Large Orders NOW

Looking to purchase a large quantity of native plants at a discount? Place your order of 100 or more plants of the same species through our NATIVE PLANT ONLINE STORE. Orders can also be placed by calling us at 360-775-3747 ext. 5. These discounted bundles average in price at around $117 per bundle of 100 plants.

The deadline for placing large orders is November 1, 2022. Plants will be available for pick-up on March 2, 2023. Limited quantities are available at the large order pricing and will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

Place Smaller Orders Starting in November

We plan to take orders for our regular sale (bundle quantities of 10 to 25) beginning on November 23, 2022 through January 23, 2023. Ordering details and pricing information will be included in our November Newsletter.

ORCA RECOVERY on the OLYMPIC PENINSULA
Save the Dates: October 8 - 14, 2022

We are currently working with local tribes and agencies to plan some exciting events throughout the Olympic Peninsula this October. The events are designed to bring awareness to the plight of the Southern Resident Orca whale through educational workshops, and to aid in salmon recovery efforts through volunteer activities, such as streamside plantings.

We are still fine tuning locations and dates for the events, but will have opportunities throughout the county during the week of October 8th through the 14th. If you are interested in learning more about these events please SIGN-UP on our Orca Recovery page for more information. Once we have our schedule lined out we will email you with sign-up opportunities for specific events.

Indian Creek Clean-Up – August 24, 2022

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and Clallam Conservation District, in coordination with Lake Sutherland Community members, need volunteer help to help remove litter and debris as it leaves Lake Sutherland and enters Indian Creek. Removal of this debris will help improve fish habitat at the outlet of Lake Sutherland and the beginning of Indian Creek, and keep it from flowing into the Elwha River.

LOCATION: Meet near the east end of Lake Sutherland. Parking details will be provided upon registration.
DATES/TIMES: August 24 from 10:00AM - noon OR 12:30PM - 2:30PM (two shifts are available, or you can participate all day)
REGISTRATION: is required due to space limitations. For more information or to register click HERE.

Mid-Term Board Supervisor Vacancy

Clallam Conservation District is seeking a conservation minded, engaged individual to serve on our Board of Supervisors. This vacancy is for an elected position and the term ends May of 2023. You will have an opportunity to run in the spring of 2023 election to serve another term of 3 years.

A supervisor’s monthly commitment is approximately 6-9 hours a month. This includes attending one board meeting a month and reviewing all board documents to make informed decisions at the meetings. Clallam Conservation District board meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month and may last 2-4+ hours.
 
If you, or anyone you know is interested in this opportunity, please visit our Mid-term Vacancy Webpage for a position description and application. Applications close on September 5th, Labor Day.

HOW to PREPARE for a WILDFIRE

With the hot, dry conditions western Washington is currently facing, it always pays to be prepared for wildfire. Exploring WA State Department of Natural Resources Firewise Program for excellent information on ways to prepare and educate family, friends and neighbors on the dangers of wildfires is highly recommend.

The fight to control knotweed species (Polygonum spp.) in Clallam County has been underway for over 20 years, and unfortunately this tenacious plant persists. Japanese, giant, Bohemian, and Himalayan knotweed are all highly invasive, non-native plants of concern in Clallam County, as well as many other counties throughout Washington. They are found in dense patches, typically along streams and riverbanks, but also in roadsides and gardens. Knotweed begins sprouting in April, and has bamboo-like stems, large leaves, and whitish to whitish-green drooping clusters of flowers that appear from July to September. Depending on the subspecies, they can reach more than 12 feet in height and are very aggressive colonizers that generally spread by rhizomes, and sometimes by seed.

Originally introduced as an ornamental, knotweed is frequently spread by accident when root or stem fragments are moved by people, machinery, animals or water. Tiny root fragments as small as one inch can produce new plants, which makes it very difficult to keep this plant under control.

Knotweed is a huge concern along streams and rivers. It is extremely aggressive and fast growing, able to grow up to a foot in a week. It prevents other plants from growing beneath it and can monoculture which can permanently displace native vegetation . This can be devastating to fish and wildlife habitat. At the end of the growing season, a mass of dead stems remain standing that crowd out native seedlings, and leave river banks vulnerable to erosion and flooding. Flooding can also transport knotweed throughout a river system, leading to a viscous cycle of new infestations all along the waterway.

Once established knotweed is very difficult to eradicate. Your assistance with identification and control is imperative to help keep knotweed in check in Clallam County. For more information, please refer to Clallam County Noxious Weed Control Board's website. Together we can make a difference.

NOW is the Time to Build Mud-Free
Winter Horse & Livestock Pens!

The combination of wet, poorly drained soils and heavy animals, means many farms deal with significant mud challenges during the winter. Horses and livestock kept in muddy paddocks have a greater risk of developing hoof problems like thrush and abscesses. Plus, standing in mud lowers body temperature, making animals more susceptible to weight loss and disease. Because it’s impossible to clean manure from muddy winter pens, runoff from these areas can pollute nearby streams, ditches, and wetlands.

Now, during the dry season, is your window of opportunity to tackle these mud-prone areas! Check out our Conservation on the Farm webpage for a detailed technical guide that provides step by step instructions for building mud-free area for animals. We are also available, free of charge, to meet with you at your property to provide site-specific recommendations.

Dirt Talk Farm Walk – Meat Goat Production &
Pasture Management

DATES/TIMES: September 21, 2022 from 3:00-5:00PM
LOCATION: Bowman Farms (west Port Angeles)
REGISTRATION: Online REGISTRATION

WSU Extension will be partnering with local farmer Mark Bowman of Bowman Farms in Port Angeles for an on-farm tour. Mark will be sharing his expertise about all things meat goat production with a focus on breeding and pasture management. Dirt Talk Farm Walks provide farmer-to-farmer education to promote the exchange of ideas and innovations related to sustainable and organic farming in our region. The Conservation District will be on hand to answer pasture management questions and will provide attendees with grazing sticks, a field tool designed to help farmers make pasture management decisions.

This farm walk is open to all beginning and current farmers, not to the general public.

Open Position with Clallam Conservation District: Salmon Riparian Field Technician

Clallam Conservation District is launching a new program called Buffers for Salmon. We are helping more landowners create salmon habitat on their streams and tributaries. This program will help people to understand how they can help with salmon population recovery and install riparian buffers.

We are looking for an energetic and organized individual with a knowledge of salmon recovery issues and buffer installation experience to help coordinate riparian restoration projects throughout Clallam County. This is a unique opportunity to join a team of passionate individuals that values high quality work to preserve and protect the natural resources of the north Olympic Peninsula.

If you or anyone you know is interested in applying for this position, please refer them to our Staff Webpage for a Job description and where to send your resume

CONSERVATION SPONSORS

Conservation News sponsorship's cost $50/yr for business names printed every issue or $100/yr for a name every issue and a business card once a year. They help offset publishing and distributing costs to reach nearly 4,000 readers. CALL US TO FEATURE YOUR NAME!