One of the first of a series of annual, summer Nature Walks was conducted on Saturday, June 15 with a filled-to-capacity tour of 15 persons led by Nisqually Land Trust Executive Director Joe Kane and Operations Associate Nikki Dizon, who resides in Rainier.

This writer joined the participants, who received an educational and informational tour of the Nisqually Riiver Restoration near Yelm off Hobson Road, highlighted by a brown-bag lunch on a sandy riverbank. The cloudy conditions insured the walk on the river’s flood plane was not overly hot. The group spotted a tree filled with 5 vultures, saw deer and elk wildlife hooves left in the river sands and experienced old-growth trees at the foot of a river embankment.

In other news about preservation of the Nisqually:
“The Nisqually Indian Tribe and Washington State Parks have signed a partnership agreement for the development of Nisqually State Park.

The 1,300 acres of the undeveloped park are three miles southwest of Eatonville on state Route 7, at the confluence of the Nisqually River, Mashel River and Ohop Creek. The park includes steep-sided forest valleys, high ridges, reforested plateaus in the Mount Rainier foothills and nearly 5 12 miles of shoreline. Much of the land is in Pierce County, but a small section is in Thurston County.

The first phase of the development plans, funded by a recreation program grant, calls for a trailhead facility that will include a parking lot and restroom. The new trailhead facility is expected to be open by July 2015,” quoting The Olympian.
Read more