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Nisqually River Council

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Olympia, WA
Nisqually River Council

Connecting communities with nature in the Nisqually Watershed
Ancestral lands of the Nisqually People

06/17/2026

Reflecting on a Legacy of Stewardship - this month Nisqually River Council representatives visited the Washington State Capitol with Karen Fraser to see where her Daniel J. Evans Nisqually Stewardship Award now hangs outside Lieutenant Governor’s office! The piece, by Olympia-based artist Trent Hart, features a trio of raku-fired ceramic pink salmon and is meant to honor Fraser’s career-long dedication to conservation and environmental protections in the Nisqually Watershed and beyond.

Fraser was the first chair of the Nisqually River Task Force (now known as the Nisqually River Council) and it is so exciting to see this beautiful reminder of Nisqually salmon in-person - we hope you’ll be able to go and see it for yourself! Take a look back at the stewardship celebration dinner and learn more about the Daniel J. Evans Nisqually Stewardship Award here: https://nisquallyriver.org/blog/2026/06/16/reflecting-on-a-legacy-of-stewardship/

06/16/2026

Nisqually Stream Stewards journeyed to the shores of the Nisqually Reach this weekend for our community nearshore and marine ecology workshop! The day included looking at zooplankton & phytoplankton under microscopes, catching starry flounders and sculpin in a beach seine, and counting shore crabs and hermit crabs along the beach. Stewards practiced community science surveying techniques while learning about the different factors impacting this transitional ecology.

Thank you to our partners at Nisqually Reach Nature Center for helping us put this on and make sure to visit nisquallyriver.org/stream-stewards to see how you can get involved in monthly conservation opportunities throughout the watershed!

06/08/2026

Did someone say NEW edition of Yil-Me-Hu?! The Spring 2026 issue of the Nisqually Watershed Salmon Recovery Newsletter is out now and perfect for reading on land, sea, and all tide levels in between. Catch up on all the news regarding restoration on McNeil Island, the Tribe’s new water quality monitoring program, how NREP is connecting teachers to their local environments and so much more!

Pick up a copy at our office or read it online here: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/yil-me-hu-salmon-recovery-newsletter-spring-2026/287798517

06/02/2026

Such an incredible Nearshore & Marine Ecology exploration with Wa He Lut Indian School 5th graders this week! Throughout the field trip students discovered the hidden world of this unique ecosystem by taking a closer look at everything from shore crabs and oysters to sculpin and plankton. We can't wait for even more field trips as Spring continues - stay curious everyone!

06/01/2026

Hands on restoration education! This past week Yelm Middle School 6th graders joined NREP staff at the Nisqually Valley Farm Conservation Easement to learn about the importance of prairie oak habitat as it relates to the health of our watershed. Students then donned gloves and picked up w**d wrenches to help remove invasive scotch broom as part of an ongoing effort to help pave the way for future prairie habitat!

Thank you to the Petersen family, Nisqually Land Trust staff, teachers, students, interns, bus drivers, and community partners who helped make these trips possible. The students had so much fun and we’re excited to see native plants animals return to the land!

05/27/2026

Eye on Nature field trips are continuing strong this Spring as NREP staff, working alongside partners and volunteers, lead over 600 students (181 from the Nisqually Watershed) on guided nature walks at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge!

These trips help students learn how to identify native plants while also teaching them the traditional and medicinal uses of those plants in what is called an ethnobotany walk. Students also learn how to record scientific data on the different mammals, birds, amphibians, and other animals they discover during a wildlife mapping activity.

Thank you to everyone who makes these trips possible, getting to share the wonder of our natural environment with the next generation of stewards truly is an unforgettable experience! Enjoy the photos from our training earlier this spring 🙂

05/23/2026

That’s a wrap! Salmon, Cedar, Canoe cultural field trips officially finished this week with over 600 fourth grade students from across 26 classes in 10 different schools participating! NREP staff had an incredible time partnering with the Nisqually Indian Tribe again this year to bring hands-on outdoor learning to our local youth. Students participated in salmon dissections, cedar weaving, canoe storytelling, plant ID scavenger hunts, stream bug investigations, salmon lifecycle games, nature sit spots, blueberry patch service learning, and more as they learned about and explored the Nisqually Culture Center.

Thank you to all of the Nisqually Indian Tribe Cultural staff, volunteers, interns, teachers, community partners, chaperones, bus drivers, and students who help make these unique trips possible. We couldn’t do it without such a supportive community and we’re already looking forward to next year!

05/21/2026

Spread your wings and spread the word - the Nisqually Watershed Festival Poster Contest is currently accepting submissions! If you know any local K-5th grade students who love owls, eagles, herons, songbirds, or any of our other feathered friends in Nisqually - we want to see their bird-inspired art! This year’s theme is “Native Birds of the Watershed” and the deadline for entries is Monday, June 1st.

All submissions will be displayed at the festival and the top 5 drawings from each grade will receive a prize! Learn more and submit your art here: https://nrep.nisquallyriver.org/nisqually-watershed-festival/

05/18/2026

Nisqually River Council Annual Retreat! Thank you to all of the incredible partners, representatives, and community members who joined us this month for a day full of connecting and strategizing at Cascades Camp And Conference Center as we discussed salmon recovery, critical area ordinances, kelp and eelgrass monitoring, aquatic reserves, environmental education, tree plantings, and the Nisqually Watershed Stewardship Plan!

We love being a part of such an incredible community working to build environmental, social, and economic sustainability throughout the watershed! Learn more & join us for future meetings here: nisquallyriver.org/who-we-are/nisqually-river-council

Address

620 Old Pacific Highway SE
Olympia, WA
98513

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4pm
Tuesday	8am - 4pm
Wednesday	8am - 4pm
Thursday	8am - 4pm
Friday	8am - 4pm

Telephone

+13604388715

Website

https://nisquallyriver.org/, https://nisquallyriver.org/stream-stewards/, https://nrep.nisquallyriver.org/

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