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At the heart of every restoration project and education program is the work happening across Grays Harbor County. As we move into summer, winter planting projects give way to in-stream restoration, monitoring, and outreach opportunities, while we celebrate another year of environmental education in our local schools. In this issue, we share seasonal project updates, program highlights, ways to get involved through citizen science, and information about an open Board seat. |
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City of Cosmopolis Storm Drain Marking
Saturday, July 25th, 2026 10:00 am- 3:00 pm Cosmopolis City Hall, 1300 1st St, Cosmopolis, WA
Did you know?
That storm drain down the street doesn't lead to a treatment plant. It leads to a stream. Then a river. Then the ocean.
In simple terms, every drop of rain that hits your roof, driveway, or lawn picks up whatever it finds along the way and carries it through the storm drain system directly into our local waters. Soil, oil, fertilizer, trash.
This matters because the ocean gets whatever we put on the ground. But the good news? Small changes upstream create big improvements downstream.
Join us for an upcoming storm drain marking!
We’ll be marking storm drains in downtown Cosmopolis to help raise awareness about the link between the storm drain system and water quality
No experience needed! We provide the tools, training, and snacks. You bring your energy and love for the environment.
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Lower Satsop Ponds Stewardship
Weed Pull Saturday, September 19th, 2026 10:00 am- 3:00 pm WDFW Lower Satsop Ponds Site
Become a Lower Satsop Steward! Love the great outdoors? Want to make a direct impact on local salmon habitat and the health of the Satsop River? Join our brand new volunteer program! As a Lower Satsop Steward, you'll join a community dedicated to riparian restoration at the WDFW Lower Satsop Ponds. We'll be rolling up our sleeves for:
Native Plantings Invasive Species Removal Habitat Healing
No experience needed! We provide the tools, training, and snacks. You bring your energy and love for the environment.
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Macroinvertebrate Sampling Citizen Science Program
Sylvia Creek Sampling Event Saturday, June 27th, 2026 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM Lake Sylvia State Park Bug ID Saturday, July 11th, 2026 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM WSU Extension Office Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds Chehalis River Sampling Event Saturday, July 18th, 2026 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Mill Creek Sampling Event Saturday, August 8th, 2026 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Mill Creek Park, Cosmopolis Bug ID Saturday, August 22nd, 2026 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM WSU Extension Office Grays Harbor County Fairgrounds Looking to get your feet wet this summer? The Grays Harbor Stream Team, in collaboration with the Grays Harbor Conservation District, is inviting volunteers to help explore and learn about the health of local streams in the Lower Chehalis Watershed. Participants will join staff at sampling events to collect aquatic insects, take simple sediment samples, and observe stream habitat at several sites. No experience is required, but it is highly encouraged to attend a training event before joining a sampling day. Volunteers who attend multiple events are especially encouraged, as your efforts help build a stronger understanding of our waterways. This is a fun, hands-on way to learn about stream science and contribute to your local environment. To stay in the loop about this program get on our volunteer list! |
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Grays Harbor Conservation District is Seeking Applicants for a Board Supervisor Vacancy |
The Grays Harbor Conservation District is accepting applications to fill a vacant elected position on its Board of Supervisors through a mid-term appointment process. The individual selected will serve the remainder of the current term, which expires in May 2029 Applications will be accepted from June 4, 2026, through June 30, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. To apply, complete the Board Supervisor Application Form and submit it by the deadline.
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Community Partners Connect Students to the Satsop River Ecosystem |
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This spring, 5th grade students from Elma Elementary visited the lower Satsop River within the WDFW Satsop Wildlife Area to experience firsthand the river ecosystem they had been studying throughout the school year. Prior to the field trip, students engaged in classroom-based learning led by partners from the Grays Harbor Conservation District, Grays Harbor Stream Team, and the Chehalis Basin Collaborative for Salmon Habitat, exploring topics such as the salmon life cycle, macroinvertebrates, native plants, and river geomorphology through hands-on activities like stream table modeling.
The field trip was organized by Kelsey Hunter, Education & Outreach Program Manager with the Grays Harbor Conservation District, along with Breana Downs (Grays Harbor Stream Team Coordinator), Kathy Jacobson (Chehalis Basin Collaborative for Salmon Habitat), and Anthony Waldrop (Watershed Restoration Program Manager, GHCD). During the visit, students rotated through stations including stream surveys, macroinvertebrate sampling, plant identification, and reflective “sit spot” observations designed to deepen their connection to place.
As Kelsey Hunter shared with The Daily World reporter, “This is their river, essentially,” emphasizing the importance of helping students connect classroom learning to the real-world environments in their own watershed.
This experience highlights the importance of collaboration in environmental education. By working together across organizations we are able to provide meaningful, lasting experiences for youth that foster connection to the natural world. Without exposure and hands-on learning, it becomes difficult to expect future generations to understand, care for, and advocate for these places that sustain both communities and ecosystems. |
If you are a teacher interested in participating in programs like this, please reach out to khunter@graysharborcd.org |
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Summer Recreation on the Satsop River |
As summer recreation season begins, Grays Harbor Conservation District would like to remind river users to be aware of habitat restoration features located throughout portions of the Satsop River. Over the past several years, engineered log jams have been constructed in select river reaches to support salmon habitat and improve natural river processes. As river conditions change, some structures that were previously buried or less visible have become exposed.
To help river users stay informed, signage has been installed at WDFW boat launches identifying river sections containing log jams. Additional signs mark the beginning of restoration reaches, and individual structures are marked with reflective signage to increase visibility on the water.
Whether you're floating, fishing, kayaking, or boating, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with posted information, stay aware of your surroundings, and avoid log jams while enjoying the river.
We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer on the Satsop River. |
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Restoring Rivers, Rebuilding Habitat: Summer Work in Motion |
This summer, restoration work is underway across multiple watersheds in Grays Harbor, with projects focused on restoring natural river processes, improving fish and wildlife habitat, and building long-term watershed resilience. At Grays Harbor Conservation District, crews are working in both large-scale construction areas and smaller hand-built restoration sites, each playing an important role in ecosystem recovery.
On the Wynoochee River (Mile 16–17), a major construction project is restoring aquatic habitat and helping stabilize an actively shifting channel. Engineered log jams are being installed to slow erosion, reduce rapid channel migration, and create complex habitat for fish and other aquatic species. Large wood is a key part of river function, helping shape flow patterns, form deep pools, trap spawning gravel, and support the development of stable riparian forests. This project includes 16 engineered log jams and supports restoration of 50 acres of riparian forest.
In tributary systems, crews are installing hand-built structures such as Post Assisted Log Structures (PALS) and Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) to restore natural processes at a smaller scale. These structures mimic natural wood and beaver activity, slowing water, reconnecting floodplains, improving groundwater storage, and enhancing water quality and habitat complexity for fish and wildlife. This summer’s work includes 356 PALS across three miles of Schafer Creek, 17 BDAs and 36 PALS in East Fork Wildcat Creek, and 37 BDAs in Mox Chehalis Creek.
Restoration also includes invasive species management along key floodplains, including the Satsop River and Cloquallum Creek. Knotweed forms dense stands that displace native vegetation, destabilize banks, and reduce long-term habitat quality by preventing the growth of native trees and shrubs that support shade, nutrients, and channel stability. To address this, crews are surveying roughly 500 acres in the Satsop floodplain and 160 acres in Cloquallum Creek, treating knotweed where it is found to support native plant recovery.
Together, these projects reflect a watershed-wide approach that combines engineered structures, natural analogues, and targeted vegetation management to restore healthy, functioning rivers that support salmon, wildlife, and resilient ecosystems. |
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Thank you for signing up for our newsletter!
Grays Harbor Conservation District values the diversity of our staff and the communities we work with. We are committed to creating a workplace and programs that are welcoming, equitable, and inclusive for everyone. Our services are accessible to all, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic.
Grays Harbor Conservation District
150 Technology Lane STE 201
Elma, WA 98541
USA
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