RESTORATION PROJECTS
Dandy / Bass / Beaver Lake Complex
Enumclaw, WA
Bass, Beaver, and Dandy Lakes are owned by King County.
Originally privately owned, this important wildlife habitat was not managed or replanted after a harvest by a logger in 1999 allowing invasive blackberry to completely overtake the sites. GRC has been managing the restoration of this 9.8-acre site in collaboration with King County since 2012.Site activity:
- Revegetation/planting (Douglas-fir, Western redcedar, Willow, Western Hemlock, etc.)
- Watering
- Creation of social trails and maintenance roads
- Dried blackberry canes repurposed as mulch for access roads
- Non-chemical weed control (organic restoration)
- Mechanical invasive plant removal (Himalayan blackberry, Evergreen blackberry)
- Development of monitoring and maintenance plans
- Vegetation mapping
Partners:
- King County
- Green River College
Covington Community Park
Covington, WA
GRC has been managing the restoration of 7.3 acres on this site in collaboration with the City of Covington, King Conservation District, and Green River College since 2014.
Site activity:
- Revegetation/planting (Douglas fir, Western hemlock, Grand fir)
- Trail decommissioning
- The City of Covington installed ADA-compliant trails and needed old trails removed
- Non-chemical weed control (organic restoration)
- Mechanical invasive plant removal (Himalayan blackberry, Evergreen blackberry, Field bindweed)
- Watering
- Daylighting an ephemeral stream
- Removal of old culverts
- Widening of stream-bed and introduction of wood debris and cobble
- Development of monitoring and maintenance plans
- Vegetation mapping
Partners:
- City of Covington
- King Conservation District
- Green River College
Lower Soos Area
Auburn, WA
This site is owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). GRC has been managing the restoration of this 1.8-acre site in collaboration with WDFW and King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks since 2013.
Site activity:
- Non-chemical weed control (organic restoration)
- Sheet-mulching with black tarps (a multi-year process)
- Mechanical invasive plant removal (Himalayan blackberry, Reed Canary-Grass)
- Revegetation/planting (Douglas fir, Western redcedar, Willow, etc.)
- Watering
- Mulching with wood chips to retain water
- Garbage clean-up
- Development of monitoring and maintenance plans
- Vegetation mapping
Partners:
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
- Green River College
Institute For Community Leadership
Kent, WA
This site is owned by the Institute for Community Leadership (ICL), a GRC partner. This property was originally open pasture with very little riparian shade or native vegetation. ICL acquired 18.2 acres in 2004 and began to restore it with the help of the Veteran Conservation Corps from Green River College and GRC.
Site activity:
- Non-chemical weed control (organic restoration)
- Mechanical invasive plant removal (Himalayan blackberry)
- Development of monitoring and maintenance plans
- Vegetation mapping
Partners:
- Veteran Conservation Corps (Green River College)
- Institute for Community Leadership
From left to right: Michael, Bernie, Gil, Pete, Greg, Arturo (2019)
Our Grant Funders
Thank you to our current grant funders:
King County Flood Control District & WRIA 9
Cooperative Watershed Maintenance
This fund supports projects that enhance riparian shade to improve conditions for salmon and meet water quality standards.
Rose Foundation & Puget Soundkeeper
Puget Sound Stewardship & Mitigation Fund
The Puget Sound Stewardship and Mitigation Fund is dedicated to protecting the water quality of Puget Sound. It is open to a wide range of groups, from tiny grassroots groups to larger, established organizations.
King Co. Dept. of Natural Resources and Parks
Wastewater Treatment Division
The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Wastewater Treatment Division is dedicated to the protection of the environment and watershed through water treatment, cleaning, and recycling, and resource conservation.
