Tree Planting with the

Nisqually River Education Project

Your Task!Replant native vegetation to re-establish a

healthy Riparian Zone.

Why is the Riparian Zone important?

Riparian Zones Rock!

• Moderate flooding

• Cleans the water

• They provide shade, habitat, and food!

Floodplains and Riparian Zones

• Floodplains are lowlands next to rivers that are subject to floods

The First People

• The Nisqually Tribe

• “Squally-absch”, or “People of the river, People of the grass country”.

• Traditionally lived off the land and rivers

• Salmon are important to their diet and culture.

European Settlers

Modern Life

How does modern life affect wildlife?

Nisqually Watershed Schools

Ohop Valley Restoration

The Ohop Valley StoryOhop Creek is the 2nd most important salmon-

producing tributary of the Nisqually River. 

A century ago, the creek was drained into a ditch. This was done to dry-out the valley for dairy farming.

Restoration Activities• Re-meander stream• Removing old buildings• Removing invasive plants

Current phase: Replanting the large floodplain(This is where YOU come in!)

Why Re-meander a stream?

Meander= to follow a winding, bending course.

Ohop Creek in the ditch

Ohop Creek re-meandered

Engineered Log JamsMimicking Nature

6 Main Reasons We Plant Trees For SalmonA. Roots hold dirt, preventing erosion which can

smother the redds within the stream.

Photo credit: Redds – WDFW, Salmon eggs – Thomas C. Kline, Jr., Ph. D.

6 Main Reasons We Plant Trees For SalmonB. Large woody debris create log jams that provide

resting spots, feeding areas, and hiding spaces from predators.

6 Main Reasons We Plant Trees For Salmon

C. Trees provide shade, keeping stream temperatures low; a necessity for the survival of salmon.

6 Main Reasons We Plant Trees For Salmon

D. Trees provide oxygen, which is good for not only the salmon but us too.

6 Main Reasons We Plant Trees For Salmon

E. Trees provide habitat and food for bugs, which are food for the juvenile salmon!

6 Main Reasons We Plant Trees for Salmon

6. Trees use the carbon in CO2 as building blocks to grow, thus becoming carbon reservoirs.

What is a Native Plant?

Native plant: A species that originated in a given region.

Red Alder Alanus rubra

Oregon Ash Fraxinus latifolia

Black Cottonwood Populus balsamifera

Sitka Spruce Picea sitchensis

Pacific Crab Apple Malus fusca

Red Osier Dogwood Cornus sericea

Twinberry HoneysuckleLonicera involucrata

Pacific Ninebark Physocarpus capitatus

Cascara Rhamnus purshiana

Swamp Rose Rosa pisocarpa

Rose Spirea Spiraea douglasii

Sitka Willow Salix sitchensis

Hooker’s Willow Salix hookeriana Pacific Willow

Salix lucida

Western Red Cedar Thuja plicata

Remember,

Safety First!Walk, don’t run.

Stay in sight of the group at all times.

Shovels: Sharpened regularly, which makes them

dangerous.Never carry shovels over your shoulder. Tip should always be pointed towards the ground,

like walking sticks.

Thank you!Liked the presentation? Want to check it out or learn more? Go to our website!

nrep.nisquallyriver.org