Riparian Restoration

Streams, shorelines, lakes, and riparian areas are some of the most precious natural resources on and off of the Tulalip Reservation. These critical water resources sustain habitat, fisheries, and the Tulalip people. Native trees and shrubs adjacent to streams, lakes and wetlands provide habitat, food, nutrients, and increase water quality by providing shade and water filtration to benefit people, fish and wildlife. Invasive plants threaten the integrity of these valuable natural systems, and can also pose risks to public health.

The Restoration, Acquisition and Stewardship Program works both on and off the reservation within priority areas to plant and maintain native trees and shrubs to enhance riparian conditions and benefit both people as well as the natural environment. This effort helps provide clean, cool water for healthy people and fish as well as provide ecosystem resiliency to global climate change on our riparian areas. It also helps suppress a variety of harmful non-native invasive species.

The Tulalip Reservation and surrounding area is known to contain a variety of harmful non-native plant species. Our program works closely with Snohomish County, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State University, and others in invasive species control efforts. Significant work has also been done to identify and quantify the extent of on reservation non-native plant infestations.

Primary invasive plant species of concern include:

• Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
• Scotch (Scot's) broom (Cytisus scoparius)
• Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
• Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)
• Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii)
• Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)
• Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Other invasive species of concern:

• Common reed (Phragmites australis)
• Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
• Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)
• Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)
• English ivy (Hedera helix)
• Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon)
• Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
• Common periwinkle (Vinca minor)
• Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)

Contact

• Natasha Coumou

  Restoration Ecologist

• Austin Richard

  Stewardship Ecologist