We recently had 200,000 chum salmon eggs delivered to NSEA’s two-barrel remote site incubator (RSI) on Terrell Creek. The purpose of this RSI is to help re-establish a chum salmon run in Terrell Creek. Introducing the fish as eggs is the best way to acclimate them to the creek. Another benefit of the RSI is adding nutrients back into the creek system. Returning salmon bring ocean nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, back to freshwater ecosystems — fertilizing and feeding all kinds of species after the salmon spawn and die. Stay tuned for updates on the salmon! — Eli DeWitt, Instream Project Manager
Growing Love for Breckenridge Creek
Site preparation was recently completed at an eight-acre property along Breckenridge Creek in Sumas. This work builds on a project completed in 2022, which involved relocating the stream to its historic channel and installing large woody debris to enhance instream habitat. In the following years, a relatively small riparian buffer has been planted and maintained by our crew along the streambank. This spring, we will expand the buffer by planting the entire eight-acre field! With all that invasive reed canary grass to tackle, I swapped my brush cutter for a tractor, which saved a ton of time and made the whole process more efficient. Now that the prep work is complete, we’re looking forward to getting thousands of plants in the ground and watching this site continue to transform into something truly special! — Emily Towery, Restoration Technician
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NSEA is one of 14 Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups in WA. Base funding for all RFEG program’s comes from a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, a portion of state commercial and recreational fi shing license fees, and excess egg and carcass sales administered by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
