2017 Skagit River Salmon Festival by Skagit Publishing

SKAGIT RIVER SALMON FESTIVAL

SALMON FESTIVAL

Saturday, September 9 â&#x20AC;¢ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Edgewater Park, Westside Mount Vernon

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A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD AND ANACORTES AMERICAN

Festival Goes Back to the Future at Edgewater Park

elcome to the Skagit River Salmon Festival! We are excited to

celebrate our sixth year with a return to Edgewater Park where it all started back in 2012. I believe we have a fantastic event planned. Edgewater Park is a beautiful spot to spend the day celebrating the mighty Skagit River and return of the salmon. In 2005, the city of Mount Vernon constructed a quarter mile long side channel to improve salmon habitat at Edgewater Park. Historically several side channels existed at this location. Many of the side channels along the Skagit River have been lost due to human activity over the last 150 years, making this side channel incredibly important to the life cycle of Skagit salmon and many other species of wildlife. Be sure to check out the wonderful interpretive signs in the park and trails near the channel.

Kevin Tate

Board President Skagit River Salmon Festival

We are really excited about the performers we have lined up for you to enjoy. For a lively family show, we have Recess Monkey playing fun and wacky tunes from their 2017 Grammy nominated children’s album Novelties. On the main stage, we have Starbucks vet Paula Boggs and her six-piece Paula Boggs Band cranking out their version of Seattle brewed “soulgrass.” The talented SISTERS duo will make you smile with their joyful pop tunes and big sound. In our evening music set, the Seattle group Soft Sleep performs with guitarist Tony Ruland (The Lonely Forest). For your refreshment, this year we are featuring local favorite Farmstrong Brewing Co. together with salmon safe wines from Naches Heights Vineyards in the Beer & Wine Garden. The Festival has a terrific mix of new activities and entertainment you won’t want to miss, with something for every interest—young or old. The Sardis Raptor Center will be presenting its Hunters of the Sky raptor show that provides an introduction to birds of prey. It’s a chance to see these magnificent birds up close and learn about their natural history, species identification, environmental issues and the roles raptors play in our watershed. The Tesoro Kidz Zone, hosted by the Children’s Museum of Skagit County, is expanding with lots of energy-burning activities for the younger crowd to do. Be sure to take part in the Festival’s “Passport” activity with a chance to win a great prize. Learn about our amazing Skagit River watershed and ways you can help protect its resources with 30 environmental agencies and nature groups onsite. Answer a question at a booth and have your Passport stamped. Once your book is filled, turn it in to become eligible for a host of fun prizes. On behalf of the board of directors, our Festival planning team, sponsors, vendors and volunteers, we thank you for your support and participation in the sixth annual Skagit River Salmon Festival. Enjoy the day! Kevin Tate Board President Skagit River Salmon Festival 2 Skagit River Salmon Festival 2017

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CONTENTS 2

Festival Goes Back to the Future at Edgewater Park

Edgewater Park Habitat Restoration Benefits More than Salmon

Test your Knowledge

Skagit’s Salmon Resources, Their Uncertain Future, and Being Part of the Solution!

12 Festival Map

13 Festival Event Schedule 14 Baker River Project Breaks Record for Number of Young Salmon Released 16 Native Bees in Your Garden 18 Water’s Value 21 2017 Festival Artist 22 Passport to Prizes! 23 Skagit Valley Herald Coloring Contest

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Proud SPawnSor of the Skagit river Salmon feStival Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities • Salmon Sightings: Sept 30, Oct 21, and Nov 4 noon-3pm. Join us to see spawning salmon at various locations. • Streamside Planting Parties Saturdays October 28, November 11 & 18; 10am-1pm; help plant native plants along streams to restore salmon habitat

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Photo Credit: Jessica Newley

All Ages welcome!

For more information: www.skagitfisheries.org

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Skagit River Salmon Festival 2017

Edgewater Park Habitat Restoration Benefits More than Salmon By Alison Studley, Executive Director, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group

he Skagit River Salmon Festival is thrilled to return to Mount Vernon’s Edgewater Park in 2017. Edgewater Park is an amazing community resource providing nearly a mile of shoreline along the Skagit River as it winds its way through the heart of

downtown Mount Vernon. It is the city’s second largest park offering over 65 acres of active, passive and open space recreation opportunities for our community. With both a boat launch and large sand bars, it is a hot spot for fishing activity during the Skagit River salmon season. In addition to be a recreation hot spot, the city has also made large investments in habitat restoration at Edgewater Park. Restoration has included recreating a functioning side channel at the southern end of the Park and planting over 13,000 native trees and shrubs along the Park’s sloughs and shorelines thanks to the assistance of many community volunteers. These restoration efforts are improving important habitat for Chinook salmon. Recreating and restoring side channels like this one in Edgewater Park

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Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau helps with tree planting along side a Washington Conservation Corps volunteer. Skagit Publishing LLC goskagit.com

is a high priority for recovering Chinook salmon runs. Off-channel slough habitat provides valuable resting and feeding areas for young salmon as they begin their incredible migratory journey from the headwaters of the Skagit River to Puget Sound. However, finding offchannel habitat in the Skagit River system is much more difficult than it once was for salmon due to a variety of human impacts. The Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group is working with a number of partners to identify and reconnect side channels and sloughs to the Skagit River in order to assist in the recovery of Chinook salmon. other fish and wildlife populations The benefits of reconnecting side that stimulate our local economy channels go far beyond increasthrough fishing, hunting, wildlife ing Chinook salmon populations. viewing and other outdoor recreRestoring habitat for salmon enation activities. Specifically, as Chisures that healthy habitat exists for nook salmon populations increase,

Interpretative signage at Edgewater Park

we are helping to ensure the survival of the endangered Orca whale and the economic engine they are to our tourist industry. Orcas (also known as killer whales) are an iconic species in Washington State.

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Salmon FeStival

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Skagit River Salmon Festival 2017

Interpretative signage at Edgewater Park

Three killer whale pods known as the Southern Residents frequent the Puget Sound and people from around the world travel to our area to catch a glimpse of these whales from land and at sea.

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These Southern Resident killer whales however are listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. One primary cause of their decline is the lack of food, specifically lack of Chinook salmon to eat. An Orca whale is highly dependent on salmon as a food source, with over 80 percent of their diet consisting of Chinook salmon alone. Chinook salmon are the largest of the salmon species with a high fat content and can be found in Puget Sound yearround, making them the primary food source for Orcas. As work is done to reconnect the valuable off-channels and sloughs along the

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Southern Resident killer whales, which frequent Puget Sound, rely on Chinook salmon for over 80 percent of their diet.

Skagit River to restore Chinook salmon populations, we are also helping to ensure the survival of these amazing marine mammals. Restoring salmon and their habitat, benefits our community members and our visitors who value clean water, healthy communities, and the unique natural beauty and wildlife our community has to offer.

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AUGHT -C D IL W D FIN T YOUR SALMON A -OP LO CA L CO

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Skagit River Salmon Festival 2017

Community volunteers help restore salmon habitat along the Skagit River.

Test Your Knowledge

1. The Skagit River supports the largest wintering population of what bird in the continental United States? A. Trumpter Swans B. Snow Geese C. Seagulls D. Bald Eagles 2. How much water flows through the Skagit River every day? A. 10 million gallons B. 10 billion gallons C. 1 billion gallons D. A lot. 3. Can you name the five salmon species found in the Skagit River? 4. The Skagit River basin has supported human populations for how long? A. 400 years B. 2,000 years C. 11,000 years D. A long time 5. Can you name the hydroelectric dams located on the Skagit River? 6. How many different kinds of wildlife species live in the Skagit River watershed? A. 50 B. 102 C. 276 D. 400

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7. True or False: The Skagit River is the longest river on the west coast of the United States? A. True B. False ANSWERS ON PAGE 11

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Skagitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Salmon Resources, Their Uncertain Future, and Being Part of the Solution!

By Richard Brocksmith, Executive Director, Skagit Watershed Council

Unlike many salmon runs in Puget Sound, the Skagitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s populations are hanging on, but their health is a mixed bag and there is cause for concern. First, the good news is that Sockeye salmon runs into Baker Lake are increasing significantly, providing expanded fishing opportunities for fishermen and fisherwomen in Skagit County. Steelhead are on the rise again as well, following a reduction in fishing for a few years and some reforms in hatchery practices that we all hope will lead to restored fishing opportunities in 2018 in the Upper Skagit River. Bull trout are stronger in the Skagit than anywhere else in the United States. And even Chinook salmon are holding steady here. But, the bad news is that some goskagit.com

species are seeing strong declines, particularly Chum and Coho salmon. Chum salmon declines are very significant, and you can see the impact of this by tracking the

You can see cool graphs of the number of spawning fish and maps for each species at www.skagitwatershed.org. Check it out!

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id you know that our mighty Skagit River is the king of salmon in Puget Sound? The Skagit River supports all species of native salmon and trout while still producing a substantial resource for people to harvest and to sustain our natural environment.

Interpretative signage at Edgewater Park

parallel decline in the number of over-wintering bald eagles around Rockport. Coho salmon (after great years in 2012 and 2013) have suddenly plummeted to the lowest numbers in generations (maybe even of all time), and you can see the impact of this where recreational fishing has been eliminated throughout Puget Sound to protect Skagitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coho salmon. Our best hypothesis for the coho problem is that marine conditions are starving them due to a warmer ocean. What a loss for our cultural heritage! And while we can say with certainty that the 40 member organizations of the Skagit Watershed Council and our friends are working hard every day to reduce the legacy effects of actions our society took in the old days (such as fish-blocking culverts or diking off wetland areas 1655080

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for juvenile salmon), we cannot yet say that the future is looking brighter for these icons of the Pacific Northwest. Even while harvest, hatchery, hydropower and habitat reforms are progressing, emerging threats of human population growth and poorly planned development, climate change and invasive species weigh heavy on this region’s shared future, threatening the very existence of sustainable salmon runs. While it is painful to recognize that we are the problem, it’s hopeful to know that we are also the solution. You, and your friends and family, can make a difference with just a little effort. Here’s how: • Share this story with them. • Tell anyone who will listen that you are concerned about our natural resources such as salmon, forests and farmland.

cades Institute to learn about our natural environment through an experience. Go count eagles at the Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center and talk to the tourists about the plight of Chum salmon. Or just send a little bit of cash to your favorite, local conservation group so they can get their message out to the public. The point is that we are a necessary part of preserving this wonderful place, its natural resources and the communities we call home, and with just two or three days a year you can be a part of the solution, not the problem. Salmon and the Magic Skagit need your help now more than ever!

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: ANSWERS 1. D. Bald eagles feed on Chum and Coho salmon that have returned to the Skagit and its tributaries to spawn. The eagles arrive in late October or early November and stay into February. 2. B. 10 billion gallons of water is drained every day from over 2,900 streams in the Skagit River watershed. Enough to fill 500,000 swimming pools. 3. Chinook (King), Coho (Silver), Pink (Humpie), Chum and Sockeye (Kokanee, Red). The Skagit is the only large river system in Washington that contains healthy populations of all five native salmon species and two species of trout— steelhead and cutthroat. 4. C. People have lived in present-day Skagit County and its environs for over 11,000 years. Today, there are over 118,000 people living in the county including the Indian tribal communities of the Swinomish, Upper Skagit, SaukSuiattle and Samish. 5. The Diablo, Ross and Gorge hydroelectric dams, which are built above a natural barrier to salmon, supply about 25 percent of the city of Seattle’s power demands. Puget Sound Energy’s Upper Baker and Lower Baker Dams are located on a tributary of the Skagit River. The dams’ reservoirs, Baker Lake and Lake Shannon, are fed by runoff from the flanks of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan. 6. C. Not including humans, the Skagit watershed is the home to approximately 276 wildlife species—25 fish, 17 amphibians, 10 reptiles, 73 mammals & 174 birds. 7. B False. The Skagit River is more than 160 miles long and the third largest river on the West Coast after the Columbia and Sacramento rivers. It provides about 30 percent of the fresh water flowing into Puget Sound and it’s a main source of our drinking water for Skagit County residents. It’s also home to about 30 percent of all salmon entering Puget Sound.

• Find a group or organization that you can help in their cause; there are plenty out there that will fit your situation! Go plant trees or count salmon with the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. Go pull weeds and look for birds and frogs with the Skagit Land Trust.

Go ask your city council how you can help them with their sustainability plans. Go help steward your local park with Skagit County Parks and Recreation. Visit the Children’s Museum of Skagit County or spend a weekend at the North Casgoskagit.com

Upper Skagit Indian Tribe is a Proud Sponsor of the 2017

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Perk up your backyard wildlife habitat with the Skagit Conservation District.

Skagit River Salmon Festival 2017

Festival Map Main Information Booth & Merchandise Volunteer Check-in

Conservation Alley

Food Arts & Crafts

Sardis Raptor Program

Outdoor Recreation Area

Info & First Aid

EVENT NOTES - Festival is free to the public. Free parking. - Over 30 conservation booths with educational activities. - Be sure to pick up your Passport to Prizes at any booth in Conservation Alley and bring your completed passport page to the Tesoro Kidz Zone for a chance to win prizes. - The Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum of Skagit County is hosting the Tesoro Kidz Zone with lots of fun and games. - Festival T-shirts, hats, key chains and commemorative posters are available for purchase at the Information Booth.

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Tesoro Kidz Zone Beer & Wine Garden All Ages Dining

Main Stage

Fidalgo Fly Fishing

ORGANIZATION Booths Camano Sound Water Stewards Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum of Skagit County Coastal Volunteer Partnership Conservation Northwest Fidalgo Fly Fishers Illuminated Wildlife Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Museum of Northwest Art National Wildlife Federation North Cascades Institute Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Orca Network Pacific Biodiversity Institute Padilla Bay NERR Puget Sound Energy Skagit Climate Science Consortium Skagit Conservation District Skagit Conservation Education Alliance Skagit County Master Composters/ Recyclers

Skagit County Noxious Weed Control Board Skagit County Public Works Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group Skagit Land Trust Skagit Marine Resources Committee Skagit Public Utility District Skagit River Bald Eagle Awareness Team Skagit River System Cooperative Skagit Valley College Department of Environmental Conservation Skagit Watershed Council Swinomish Tribe Department of Environmental Protection The Nature Conservancy Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife Washington State University Extension Shore Stewards/Master Gardeners Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

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On Stage at the Skagit River Salmon Festival Sardis Raptor Center: 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m. The Sardis Raptor Center presents the Hunters of the Sky raptor show with an introduction to birds of prey. It’s a chance to see these magnificent birds up close and learn about their natural history, species identification, environmental issues and the roles raptors play in our watershed.

Peter Ali (Native American Flute) 10:05 – 10:50 a.m. Main STAGE

Jason Dodson (American Roots) 1:40 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. Acoustic STAGE Sardis Raptor Center

Peter Ali

Peter Ali is a Native flutist who creates his music not from notes, but from spirit within so each performance is unique and special. He plays a variety of Native flutes and shares their stories as well as stories of his rich ethnic heritage. Listen to the sounds of eagle, running river, nature and spirit in the flute’s song.

Recess Monkey (Family/Pop) 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Acoustic STAGE

SISTERS (Progressive Pop) 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Main STAGE SISTERS

Recess monkey

Recess Monkey is a nationally acclaimed trio of teachers – Jack Forman (vocals, bass), Drew Holloway (lead vocals, guitar) and Korum Bischoff (drummer) - who make smart rock and pop music for kids and families. Time Out New York named them as one of the top three family music bands in America, and as USA Today notes, “There are bands you can’t go wrong with, and this is one of them.” Their album Novelties was nominated for Paula Bog gs Band a Grammy Award for Best Children’s Album 2017.

Paula Boggs Band (Soulgrass) Noon – 1:30 p.m. Main STAGE Starbucks vet Paula Boggs and the 6-piece Soft Sleep Paula Boggs Band traverse jazz, world, rock and Americana with their music. They released their debut album A Buddha State of Mind in 2010 and Carnival of Miracles, produced by Grammy-winning Trina Shoemaker, in 2015. Their sound is Seattle-Brewed Soulgrass and the band has performed 50+ shows throughout the country since releasing Carnival of Miracles. goskagit.com

Jason Dodson is a singer-songwriter and frontman for The Maldives, an American roots septet that has been called “the hardest working band in Seattle.” He also spends time writing and playing music for folk-rock trio Sons of Warren Oates, and the mysterious rock collective Cosmic Panther Land Band. Jason Dodson His music has been compared to that of Neil Young, the Band and Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and featured at SXSW, Bumbershoot, No Depression Festival, CMJ and Sasquatch. The Maldives’ latest epic release, Mad Lives, has been called an “unerringly brilliant work around which cults are born.”

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Like popping the cork on a bottle of bubbly, SISTERS’ music is made to make joy, built to build up and up and explode into the highest heights. It’s no accident that songs from their new album Drink Champagne will redline your dopamine level. Andrew Vait and Emily Westman, the soul-siblings of SISTERS, are both lifelong musicians, deeply dedicated and formally trained. Their only goal is to make you feel, and feel good.

Cascade, Cascade (Folk/Acoustic/Indie) Cascade, Cascade

4:10 – 4:55 p.m. Acoustic STAGE

Seattle musician Carly Calbero, knew that she didn’t want to go back to singing and writing strictly on her own. Cascade, Cascade is the space between. Performing songs written by Calbero and Nika Wascher (formerly of The Alkis), she allows the soulful power of her vocals and rhythmic guitar playing to break through the introspective quiet, normally associated with singersongwriters. With a national tour under her belt and a top finish in Rolling Stone Magazine’s search for the best busker, Carly is welcoming the change, the only constant, in her new solo project - Cascade, Cascade.

Soft Sleep (Indie/Pop Rock) 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Main STAGE Guitarist Tony Ruland, from the now-defunct The Lonely Forest, has taken a loose collection of artistic impressions and, with help from Erik Walters (Silver Torches, The Globes) has crafted them into a dreamy collection of indie soundscapes, releasing them in the form of his new project, Soft Sleep. Skagit River Salmon Festival 2017

Baker River Project breaks record for number of young salmon released More than 1 million migrating juvenile salmon will head to the ocean

Lower Baker Dam

aker River, in the North Cascades juvenile Sockeye and Coho salmon of Washington, has collected and from Puget Sound Energy’s (PSE) downstream trap and haul facilitransported more than one million ties. This is only the second time in history to hit the milestone and will beat the all-time record set in 2014 with two more months left in the season.

Proud SPonSor

HDR EnginEERing ing

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The Fidalgo Fly Fishers enjoy and promote the sport of fly fishing with • Monthly meetings • Volunteer work in education and conservation Learn more at fidalgoflyfishers.com 14 Skagit River Salmon Festival 2017

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• Fly Fishing Activities

The salmon smolts, which are mostly one-year-old fish, will be making their journey to the ocean, where they will spend the next two years before returning in 2019 as adult salmon. PSE has collected and transported over 1.1 million smolts this year. “This is an incredible achievement, especially given that in the 1980s the Baker River’s Sockeye population was nearly extinct,” said Matt Blanton, Baker River Plant Manager at PSE. “The milestone is a testament to the hard work and the partnerships built around this project.” PSE works closely with the NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish & Wild-

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life Service, Washington Department 1920s, but plunged to a low return of effect in the recovery of Baker Sockof Fish and Wildlife, the Sauk-Suiat- just 99 fish in 1985. Fish restoration eye, with a record 52,243 returning efforts since then has had a dramatic to the Skagit River in 2015. tle, Swinomish, and Upper Skagit Indian Tribes to manage this public resource. “This outmigration is worth celebrating,” said Upper Skagit Indian Tribal Board Member Scott Schuyler. “It means a lot to our tribe to be able to fish in traditional areas of our village location, and this recordbreaking number brings economic stability to our tribe through the jobs the fishery will provide.” The Baker River Hydroelectric Project, a 215-megawatt facility in northwest Washington, is PSE’s largest hydropower operation. As part of its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license, PSE has continued to invest in the fisheries system, which has produced significant gains in the river’s fish stocks. Sockeye and Coho salmon are the most abundant fish in Baker River. Its annual adult-Sockeye returns have averaged about 3,500 since the goskagit.com

LOCAL SUPPORTING LOCAL

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Native Bees in Your Garden By Kathryn Lindsay, Washington State University/Skagit County Master Gardener

Putting the most effective pollinators to work

hat images come to mind when you hear the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;beeâ&#x20AC;?? Honey bees? Bumblebees? For most of us, our primary bee experience is with honey bees (Apis mellifera) that were introduced to North America by European colonists about 400 years ago. They have been an important economic concern over the years, providing honey, beeswax and, more recently, pollination for

many commercial crops. Long before the arrival of honey bees, however, there were already many native bees here doing a good job pollinating. Worldwide, there are about 20,000 native bee species on every continent except Antarctica. In North America, there are some 4,000 species of native bees; of those, nearly 870 species are found in the Pacific Northwest.

In addition to pollinating native plants, native bees are recognized as important pollinators for specific agricultural crops. The alkali bee pollinates alfalfa, the blue orchard bee pollinates fruit trees, and bumblebees are used in greenhouses to pollinate tomatoes. Native bees contribute greatly to healthy ecosystems, helping to sustain and balance the interdependency of plants and animals.

THE CITY OF

MOUNT VERNON

IS PROUD TO BE PART OF

THE SKAGIT RIVER SALMON FESTIVAL

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More than 200,000 plant species worldwide depend on animals for pollination. About 75 percent of these animals are insects, including ants, bees, butterflies, moths and wasps. Pollination is needed by plants for developing uniform, well-shaped fruits and vegetables and producing seeds to grow more plants. About a third of the food we eat depends on pollination from insects. Bees are the best pollinators. For millennia bees have developed mutually beneficial relationships with flowering plants within their individual ecosystems. Flowers invite bees to visit them with specific enticements such as colors, scents and shapes. Bees deliberately visit flowers to gather both pollen and nectar to feed their offspring. Their hairy bodies are built to collect and

carry pollen. Some bees have pollen baskets on their hind legs (corbiculae); others have special hairs on their abdomens (scopae) that carry pollen. To help bees effectively and efficiently transfer pollen between flowers, they generate an electric charge that helps hold the pollen as they travel. Most native bees are considered “solitary” bees. They are not “social,” like honey bees that live in large colonies. Each solitary female builds and provides for her own nest without help from other members of her species. Groups of solitary bees, called aggregates, are like a bunch of single moms living in an apartment building. About 70 percent of our native bees are ground nesters who look for a patch of bare soil in a dry, warm, sunny location where they can tun-

nel in to build their nests. Others are wood nesters, making homes in dead snags, hollow stems or tunnels left by beetles. Bumblebees look for abandoned rodent nests or clumps of grass for nesting. Some of our natives, like the mason bees, are visible for only a few weeks while they pollinate specific crops. The rest of the year they are hibernating. As we know from the news media, honey bees are in trouble. This translates to all of our pollinators, including native bees. Among the many threats to pollinators is loss of habitat. It is estimated that in Washington State 35,000 acres of wildlife habitat is lost to housing developments each year. Big Agriculture with its practices NATIVE BEES Cont. on page 20

Water = Life

Except for the air we breathe, water is the single most important element in our lives.

It’s too precious to waste. Use it wisely.

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For simple water-saving ideas you can use at home or work, visit www.SkagitPUD.org.

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Water’s Value What is the value of water to you? Did you know? W e drink it. We bathe and swim in it. We cook with it. But, • It takes 1,500 gallons to process have you thought about how much one barrel of beer. water is part of your daily life? Water is used in almost every manufac- • It takes 101 gallons to make one pound of wool or cotton. turing process from clothes to cars to food to computers. In fact, almost • It takes 1,851 gallons to refine one everything we touch every day has barrel of crude oil. been made with water.

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BE A VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY EDUCATOR TO APPLY CONTACT Alex duPont, alex.dupont@wsu.edu • 360/428-4270 x227

Cultivating plants, people, and communities since 1973

Did you know? • Although a person can live without food for more than a month, a person can only live without water for approximately one week. • Only one percent of the earth’s water is suitable for drinking water.

If you become a Master Gardener …

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The United Nations estimates about half the world’s population— potentially more than three billion people—may suffer from water shortages by the year 2025. It is estimated that more than two billion people do not have access to safe drinking water or sanitation. As populations grow, the demand on our water resources is challenged to keep up. In the United States, the infrastructure is outdated. In developing countries, infrastructure is needed.

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• It takes 62,600 gallons to produce one ton of steel.

• The average person in the United States uses 100-150 gallons of water each day, Europeans use an average of 74 gallons, Africans use 17 gallons and the Chinese use about 23 gallons.

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cast a spotlight on how important water is to the communities we live in. Water managers face a delicate balancing act when it comes to ensuring there is sufficient water for • Asia has significant water chalpeople, farms, and industry, while lenges with 36 percent of the world’s water supply, yet 60 per- still leaving enough in our rivers and streams to protect fish habitat. cent of the total population. The Skagit River and its tributaries • Leaks are an enormous problem. support some of the healthiest salmIn developing countries, nearly 40 on runs in the Northwest. When percent of the water is lost before stream levels drop too low, water it reaches its destination. temperatures go up and become lethal to salmon returning from the • In the United States, we pay ocean to spawn. about $.005 per gallon of water. Compared to a gallon of milk Skagit Public Utility District, at $3.75—750 times the cost of which operates the largest water water. system in the county, provides • About 70 percent of water is used for agriculture globally, while 20 percent is used for industry and 10 percent for residential use.

For many Skagit County residents, the main source of water for their homes and businesses originates from the Skagit River. This year’s extremely dry summer has

Reservoir system, which supplies the cities of Burlington, Mount Vernon and Sedro-Woolley. Pressure on water resources comes from many sources, including population growth, in-stream flows (protecting fish, wildlife and recreation), and business needs. Water systems using their water efficiently allow growth in their communities and water for other environmental uses. Promoting the efficient use of water helps ensure reliable water supplies are available for all customers. Take a moment to reflect about the importance of water in your daily life. A liquid we can’t live without. What is your water footprint? And, what can you do to make a difference?

on average nine million gallons of piped water to approximately 65,000 people every day. The Skagit *Did you know water facts came from a variety of sources, including: Global Water River provides roughly 45 percent Intelligence, US Environmental Protection of the source water in the Judy Agency, and the United Nations.

The Skagit River’s abundant salmon and trout resources are integral to our cultural heritage and economy. The 40 member organizations of the Watershed Council and hundreds of volunteers are working everyday to ensure our grandchildren enjoy and benefit from them as we have. You can help too!

For more information about salmon, the work of our members, and ways to get involved, please contact us or visit our website. 1655060

Photo credit: Natalie Fobes

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NATIVE BEES Cont. from page 17 of mono-cropping and heavy pesticide use has added to the demise of many species. Diseases and parasites are problems, but scientists warn that climate change also affects insects negatively. Any effort we make to slow or reverse these situations is vital for the future of bees. Providing flowering plants for bees is a good place to start. Choose nectar- and pollen-rich trees, shrubs and flowers. Native plants are an excellent choice; heirloom flowers and herbs are also good. Select a wide diversity of plants, overlapping blooms from late winter until frost. Many native bees, especially bumblebees, are active long before honey bees emerge in the spring and remain busy until cooler weather arrives. Winter-blooming heather is a good start for bumblebees. Have at

least three different species blooming at all times. Group three to five of the same species together rather than planting single plants here and there. Include different shapes and colors of flowers. Bees are generally attracted to yellow, white, pink and purple flowers. Bee species have different tongue lengths, so providing open, flat flowers like daisies and asters will allow those with short tongues easy access. Bees with longer tongues can feed from more complex flowers like lupines, penstemon and lobelia. Consider leaving some dandelions and clover for forage. Hybridized ornamentals with layers of petals won’t provide much food for pollinators. Many resources are available online or at your local library for lists of plants suitable for your area. It is advantageous to have nest-

ing and foraging opportunities close together. Bigger bees might fly a mile for food or nesting materials, medium sized bees 400 to 500 yards and smaller bees no more than 200 yards. Tolerating a bit of scruffiness can also benefit your bee environment. Leave some bare soil without mulch, dead branches and hollow stems to accommodate different nesting styles. Bumblebees often nest in a clump of dead grass over the winter. As with other wildlife, bees appreciate a source of clean water. Finally, remember that pesticides are very harmful to bees—use them only as a last resort. Learn more about integrated pest management (IPM) to enhance your stewardship of bee habitat. Bees benefit us in a variety of ways. We need to do our part to ensure that they can continue to contribute to a healthy ecosystem.

winomish Gives-Loving, Caring and Sharing. we are honored to be a leading partner who is committed to restoring and protecting the salmon. Just as our Children do, the salmon need just a few important elements to survive: an abundance of clean water and a healthy home and habitat. Swinomish People have lived in the Skagit for time immemorial, and it has been our sacred responsibility to ensure that our ancestral lands, waters and resources are sustained, so that our children’s children will have an opportunity to live the life we know and love in the Skagit. The Northwest has a wonderful golden star in the Lower 48, and we need to work together to restore and protect our salmon.

Fact: the Skagit is the only river in the lower 48 that spawns all five species of wild salmon.

Photo by: John Scurlock courtesy of Swinomish tribe

May the Creator bless you all for your kindness and consideration. ~ chairman Brian cladoosby

For more information contact: www.swinomish-nsn.gov Chairman Brian Cladoosby, bcladoosby@swinomish.nsn.us (360) 708-7533 Debra Lekanof, Government Affairs, dlekanof@swinomish.nsn.us (360) 391-5296 20 Skagit River Salmon Festival 2017

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We must stand together and shout to the World our message, “Pacific wild salmon is important to the people who call Skagit their home and it is an element that sustains a way of life for many people. Not to have that salmon would be tragic.”

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2017 Festival Featured Artist: Margaret Horak

Margaret Horak’s featured watercolor painting, Wild and Free, was a project that included research about the different salmon species in the Skagit River. In this painting, Horak captured numerous types of salmon as they swim upstream from Skagit Bay. Horak finds inspiration daily in the natural beauty of Skagit County. She also frequently creates commissioned works based on a client’s idea or image.

Her work is featured in local art shows and can be found in public and private art collections throughout Mount Vernon and Skagit County. She has created numerous posters and flyers for local events and has donated art works to many worthy local non-profit organizations and causes, including The Lincoln Theatre, the Mount Vernon Farmers Market, the Children of the Valley, Pacific Northwest Opera and Skagit Rotary. Horak is a member of the Urban Sketchers, Anacortes Sketchers group, and The Painted Ladies (a watercolor group), and plans to continue her lifelong passion of artistic discovery through painting and music. To see more of Margaret Horak’s work, visit www. margarethorak.com.

Proudly Fueling Life in the Pacific Northwest Shell’s Puget Sound Refinery is more than an oil refinery – it’s a place where Puget Sound generations of area residents have found jobs, built careers, supported families, Refinery and made a positive impact on our community. We are proud to be a part of this community, and it’s a privilege to live, recreate and operate in such a special place.

In 2017, we presented a $250,000 grant to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation for killer whale research and conservation. goskagit.com

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DiD you Know?

Passport to Prizes! Y

ou could be the next winner! Enter to win fantastic raffle prizes at the Skagit River Salmon Festival by visiting nine participating conservation booths, getting your Passport stamped, and completing a Passport to Prizes entry card before turning it in. Passports can be found on-site at the Information Booth and at participating conservation booths. Passport to Prizes raffle drawings will be held throughout the day in the Main Stage area.

Passport to Prizes Raffle Drawing Times 11:45 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:25 p.m. 4:00 p.m.

Raffle Prizes Donated By Our Community Partners: Museum of Northwest Art (MoNA): Fishtown and the Skagit River, book published by the Museum of Northwest Art. National Wildlife Federation: A Ranger Rick backpack filled with educational goodies. North Cascades Institute: Day Hike! North Cascades, book by Michael McQuaide. Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission: NWIFC hat and hoodie sweatshirt. Orca Network: DVD Fragile Waters.

SALMON FES

TIVAL

PASSPORT to PRIZES

Visit at least nine booths to earn When you have a at least nine stam passport stamp. return the back ps, fill out and page of this Passp Information Boot ort booklet to h for a chance the prize. One entry to win a grea t raffle per person.

Skagit Conservation District: Five reusable grocery bags. Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group: Tickets to the Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the Lincoln Theatre and Kleen Kanteen pint glass.

Skagit Land Trust: One youth shortsleeve SLT t-shirt, one hard cover copy of the book Natural Skagit. Skagit Public Utility District: Home Water Retrofit Kit, which includes—WaterSense high-efficiency chrome showerhead, faucet aerators, and plumber’s tape. Skagit River Bald Eagle Awareness Team: Children’s book Beauty and the Beak, about an eagle that lost its beak and got a new 3D printed one. Skagit Watershed Council: SWC hat, cloth grocery bag, and t-shirt. The Nature Conservancy: A fun bag filled with a TNC ball cap, water bottle, lunch kit, and Conservation Atlas. Wolf Hollow: T-shirt

is a proud SPAWNsor of the

1215 Anderson Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98274 • 360.424.3251 • goskagit.com 22 Skagit River Salmon Festival 2017

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Skagit Valley Herald. Must be 14 years or younger to enter.

Submit your entry to Skagit Publishing, (1215 Anderson Rd., Mount Vernon, WA 98274) via mail or in person prior to Friday, September 8, 5pm. Winning entries will be printed in the

Phone or Email:__________________________________________________________

Age:__________

Name:_________________________________________________________________

Skagit Valley Herald Coloring Contest

SKAGIT RIVER SALMON FESTIVAL

Spawnsors Silver Spawnsors

Sockeye Spawnsors Steelhead Level

Humpy Level

City of Anacortes

Adventures NW Magazine

BECU

Fidalgo Fly Fishers

Jerry Smith Kia

HDR

KAPS/KBRC Radio

WSU Extension Master Gardeners

Puget Sound Energy SALMON FESTIVAL

Samish Indian Nation Sierra Pacific Foundation

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Upper Skagit Indian Tribe