Volunteers needed to plant trees in Port Townsend

Published 12:01 am Sunday, January 1, 2012

PORT TOWNSEND — Volunteers are being sought to plant trees along Snow Creek next Saturday.

Volunteers will work in an area just west of the intersection of state Highway 20 and U.S. Highway 101 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The North Olympic Salmon Coalition, which restores habitat for salmon, plans to plant 11,945 trees along salmon-bearing streams this season, with 5,550 of those along Snow Creek, said Jac Entringer, outreach and volunteer coordinator.

Students from Franklin Elementary School, the North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center, Sequim High School, Crescent High School and Jefferson Community School — as well as other volunteers — have assisted in tree planting, she said.

“At our previous Snow Creek events, there were coho swimming in the streams as we planted trees along its shore,” Entringer said.

“Snow Creek is a gorgeous site, and we are expecting this to be our largest event.”

Tree planting provides riparian vegetation along Snow Creek as well as suppresses the growth of invasive reed canary grass, she said.

Gloves and tools will be provided. Volunteers should bring outdoor clothing, rain gear and a snack or lunch .

Volunteers can RSVP to Entringer at 360-379-8051 or jentringer@nosc.org.

She would prefer people RSVP, but volunteers can just show up. The site is off West Uncas Road, which is just west of where state Highway 20 meets U.S. Highway 101.

Look for an NOSC sign and park at the beginning of a dirt road to the left, Entringer said.

From there, walk down the road to the planting site.

Parking space is limited, so carpooling is suggested.