Project Period: 2003 - 2012
Spartina (S. anglica) was deliberately planted in 1962 to stabilize dikes and for cattle forage. It spread rapidly across the region, reaching close to 1000 acres by the mid-1990s. Since 2000, there has been a collaborative effort to eradicate this invasive species. Some of the partners include: People for Puget Sound, the Skagit MRC, the Northwest Straits Commission, WSU Beach Watchers, the Skagit County Noxious Weed Control Board, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State Deparment of Fish and Wildlife, the Swinomish Tribe, and the Hole in the Wall Kayak Club. Although alot of progress has been People for Puget Sound developed a region-wide citizen science program to train volunteers to identify and map Spartina using GPS technology. Since 2007, the program has focused on survey training for kayakers because they are able to access mudlflats and outer islands that would be difficult to access by traditional methods. Skagit MRC has been a partner in this groundbreaking work since 2003. Over 310 people have been trained in Skagit County. made in Skagit County, we are still finding new clones scattered across our beautiful shorelines.