Making a difference for native salmon habitat

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Directorate of Public Works Fish and Wildlife joined with 23 volunteers to restore native salmon habitat at Muck Creek for Make a Difference Day 2024 Oct. 26. The day was hugely impactful, as the group removed the majority of the invasive grasses surrounding native plantings.

Currently, salmon spawn in Muck Creek closer to the Nisqually River. This work will help future restoration efforts to slowly push the site toward becoming functional salmon spawning habitat again.

A few years ago, the JBLM Fish and Wildlife team planted native willow trees at this site next to Muck Creek. Adult willow trees provide shade to the creek and make it harder for invasive reed canary grass to grow. Reed canary grass is an extremely invasive grass that can easily spread and take over an area.

While the willow trees grow, it is important to keep invasive species from overtaking them. JBLM’s environmental staff and volunteers played a key role in allowing the willows to thrive by removing most of the grass around these native plantings.

In this case, the grass was outcompeting native species and preventing the natural flow of Muck Creek. Restoring this site to its native ecosystem will require the ongoing support of dedicated volunteers and JBLM Fish and Wildlife. By using gravel, herbicide, cedar plantings and many years of upkeep it will hopefully become an area where salmon can spawn again.

“With the dedication of the volunteers, we made a huge difference,” said Hailey Dunn, JBLM’s Environmental Outreach coordinator. “For the past several years, the DPW Environmental has partnered with the JBLM volunteer coordinator, with the Directorate of Human Resources, for this special restoration event. This event enables the JBLM community to restore a green space and bring people together to explore a new place they may not have been aware of within JBLM lands.”

After their hard work, volunteers received a tour of the ecosystem surrounding Muck Creek and learned about the feasibility of this part becoming viable salmon spawning habitat. Volunteers were also able to visit a site that contains habitat for one of the largest populations of endangered Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly.

JBLM’s Fish and Wildlife staff educated volunteers about how the Department of Defense takes care of its lands and the species that call it home.

JBLM’s goal is to not only provide restoration and beautification of targeted areas, but to celebrate the connection between people and green spaces, inspire environmental stewardship and encourage use of these spaces for education, health benefits and recreation.

JBLM volunteers are crucial to keeping these green spaces healthy and available for future mission and future generations.

Sustainable JBLM plans to host several more events at this site in the future to continue to restore this area for salmon spawning. Follow them on Facebook at Sustainable JBLM for future events and updates.