Spring 2024 Project(s)
Spring Opportunities
We’ve been asked by NSEA to help complete a project on Fishtrap Creek in Lynden. The work party will be on Thursday, April 4th in the morning. Let me know if you are interested and available and I will provide details once NSEA sorts out the particulars. There will be an option to carpool or drive to the site yourself so if you can only work limited hours that will be fine.
The work will involve planting a mix of bare root, potted and livestake plants along the creek. I assume we will be working with a NSEA crew. This started as a project with one of the local high schools who was unable to finish the work. Sounds like there is a lot of planting yet to do.
Let me know by email, text or phone call if you can make it and I will email those available next week once I hear back from NSEA. The more the merrier.
To more about dates and locations contact your board member, Mike R.
Why Conservation?
Conservation is highly valued by the 4CFF. We understand and appreciate the value of protecting our fisheries and are dedicated to the protection and reservation of those fisheries when and if they are threatened. We financial support specific environmental organizations who protect our fisheries, actively participate in conservation efforts through research and governmental lawmaking. Actively participating in conservation projects and educational activities is for the betterment and preservation of angling waters, surrounding land, and aquatic resources.
Conservation Project Nov. 2023 on Deer Creek
4th Corner Fly Fishers and NSEA Work Together
On a nice day in November six club members planted about 50 evergreen trees on a conservation easement at Deer Creek in Whatcom County. Deer Creek is a small tributary to Ten Mile Creek at which our club did conservation work a few years back. NSEA provided trees, tree protectors and direction. NSEA is overseeing work on several sections of the easement so there is a lot going on at the site. There is likely more work with NSEA projects in the area of at Deer Creek and elsewhere this season.
Conservation Projects: Past and Present
- Deer Creek - Tributary to Ten Mile Creek in Whatcom County. Planted and placed tree protection on 50 evergreen trees in November 2023. On going work project on conservation easement with oversight from NSEA.
- Little Deer Creek, (tributary of the Stillaquamish River). The 4CFF provided environmental and stream restoration.
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- Nesset Creek, (tributary of the Nooksack River). The 4CFF provided environmental and stream restoration.
- Boyd Creek Interpretive Salmon Center, (tributary of the Nooksack River). In cooperation with the National Forest Service the 4CFF provided environmental and stream restoration-an outdoor classroom site built by 4th Corner Fly Fishers.
- Squalicum Lake, (county “Fly Fishing Only Lake”). The 4CFF acts as stewards for the launch site and maintains a creel census station constructed by the members.
- 10 Mile Creek, (tributary of the Nooksack River). Over a ten year period provided restoration and maintenance of the creek which flowed across the property of Irene Reither Elementary School to create an outdoor science classroom and partnered with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association who installed interruptive signs.
- Nooksack River eDNA Project, 4CFF supported the project as a financial supporter and provided volunteers to collect samples for the Bull Trout and Dolly Varden Aquatic Environment DNA Study. https://www.northsoundtu.org/dna.html
- Lily Point Marine Reserve, (located at Point Roberts). The 4CFF provided volunteer efforts for removal of invasive species and collection of beach trash.
- Smith Creek, (tributary of the Nooksack River). 4CFF provided volunteer work for the planting of native vegetations, giving shade for returning steelhead.
2021 Project: Cedar Grove Trail Building
Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group-Project Leader
This project is located on a publicly owned WDFW property in Concrete WA and (thanks to the hard work donated by the 4th Corner Fly Fishers) visitors to Cedar Grove can currently enjoy a newly built foot trail that winds through the forest and access the shore of the Skagit River. In the near future this trail will be made into a loop enhanced by several benches and an interpretive sign. The project is expect to complete by summer 2022 when SFEG will assist the County with construction of the 120ft pedestrian bridge.
Read more about the project at http://www.skagitfisheries.org/project-12-cedar-grove/
Meeting for Instructions
4th Corner Fly Fisher volunteers met with Erin Mathews, Habitat Restoration Coordinatior of the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group to receive trail building instructions.
Identified and measured
Identified and measured
Baby fish were seined from the waters, placed in an identification and measurement instrument, then released. Molly displays a baby salmon to be identified and measured.