Nisqually River Council

10/16/2026

10/15/2026

We wanted to take a moment to recognize our very own Julia Fregonara who just this month received Thurston Conservation District’s Educator of the Year Community Award! In her role as NREP Assistant Director, Julia has become an expert in introducing students to benthic macro invertebrates (stream bugs), leading salmon dissections, demonstrating proper tree planting technique, and of course keeping the Education Project running and organized with her unrivaled spreadsheet skills.

We’re lucky to have an environmental educator who leads by example and makes sure everyone feels included and valued, rain or shine. Congratulations Julia!

10/09/2026

Learning never stops! The NREP team has spent this week down in Portland, Oregon with our partners at South Sound GREEN & Chehalis Basin Education Consortium at the Annual North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Conference and Research Symposium!

They’re presenting the important environmental education work we do here in Nisqually while also hearing from other educators, researchers, community organizers, policymakers, youth leaders, and more partners about what they are doing all across the country!

Just goes to show that learning never stops even when you’re out of the classroom! We’re excited to hear about their experience when they are back in the office next week!

10/05/2026

Water quality testing! Engaging students in hands-on, outdoor learning experiences like these is an essential part of connecting what they are learning in the classroom to what is happening in their local communities and environments. Thank you North Thurston Public Schools for highlighting our Nisqually River Education Project watershed explorers field trips! It's an absolute joy seeing students become field scientists as they explore their local waterways.

Learn more about our K-12 outreach program by visiting: nrep.nisquallyriver.org

This fall, NTPS 5th graders apply their classroom knowledge in real...

09/28/2026

It’s salmon season! NREP & NRF staff had a great time this morning helping process fish at Clear Creek Hatchery along the Nisqually River. Thank you to the Nisqually Indian Tribe crew for showing us the ropes and letting us jump in where we could help. Hatcheries serve an important role in our watershed by helping to ensure local fisheries continue. Some of these Chinook will even be used for educational salmon dissections in local classrooms later this year.

Make sure to check out your local rivers and streams throughout the fall season to see these incredible creatures as they return from the ocean to spawn!

09/26/2026

Today is the day! The sun is out, the salmon is on the grill, exhibitors are ready, and our musical acts are all warmed up! So what are you waiting for? Come join us at the 37th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival today from 10am - 4pm at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge!

Parking is at the Hawks Prairie Park-N-Ride with a shuttle running every 15 minutes. See you there!

09/25/2026

Water Quality testing has begun! NREP & NRF staff kicked off the season this week with 5th grade trips to waterways throughout the watershed to measure the health of our local environments. These field experiences see students testing for pH & turbidity, dissolved oxygen, nitrates & temperature, and even surveying the wild stream bugs present at each site - look at that crayfish!

There’s plenty more trips in the weeks ahead so stay tuned as we work to foster the next generation of stewards all school year long!

09/21/2026

Nisqually River Council wrapped up another incredible summer season with a meeting at Mount Rainier National Park this month! Topics covered everything from fisheries management, seismological monitoring, and the study of river sediment transportation.

Reach out to see how you can get involved in our monthly NRC meetings at nisquallyriver.org

09/18/2026

Nisqually Watershed Tour! Nisqually Stream Stewards explored the length of the watershed this past weekend learning about the history of the region while seeing first hand the ongoing conservation projects happening along the river. Highlights included the Nisqually Delta, Medicine Springs, Ohop Creek, Alder Dam, and of course the Nisqually Glacier at Mount Rainier National Park!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this excursion and find out how you can get involved in Nisqually Stream Stewards events this fall by visiting http://nisquallyriver.org/stream-stewards