Map courtesy Nisqually Land Trust
My wife and I spent a delightful day on Saturday, July 23rd with the Nisqually Land Trust’s (NLT) river-rafting float trip of the Nisqually River, NLT being one of the stewards working to protect the river’s watershed (see map above)!
After assembling at Wilcox Farm at 9am, the group was bused to the put-in point at Nisqually-Mashel State Park, near Eatonville. Our bus passed through the recently restored Ohop Valley, part of the Puget Sound and the tributaries salmon recovery area, where we were updated on this project.
Read more on the salmon recovery efforts in the Ohop Valley, covered here October 17, 2010.
Photo courtesy Nisqually Land Trust
Participants filled 9 rafts and journeyed 13 miles down a remote, mostly undisturbed stretch of the Nisqually. Along the way we saw sweeping and undeveloped landscapes, including some of the Trusts conservation lands, wild animals and birds, all while enjoying the quiet, only broken by the rustling of the wind through the cottonwoods or pass ducks, hawks and swallows.
Half way through the journey, we were served a wonderful lunch on-shore. Our trip ended approximately 4pm back at Wilcox Farm, where our vehicles were waiting for us.
We were joined on the trip by Land Trust Staff, including the recently retired NLT president since the 1989 formation, George Walter, NLT Executive Director Joe Kane, NLT Land Steward Charly Kearns in our raft, and several other NLT personnel, who provided color and insights with their commentary along the way, staffing each raft.
Read more about the NRT’s terrific staff.
About the Nisqually Land Trust
“Founded in 1989, the Nisqually Land Trust acquires and manages critical lands to permanently benefit the water, wildlife, and people of the Nisqually River Watershed. Today we protect over 5,125 acres between the park and the wildlife refuge.” quoting the website.
How You Can Help
Read more on the various ways of giving to help purchase, protect, restore and manage natural areas and wildlife habitat in the Nisqually River Basin.
Read more and sign-up for volunteer opportunities.
WON’T YOU CONSIDER GIVING TO PROTECT THIS VITAL NATURAL RESOURCE AT OUR DOORSTEP?
TELL THE NISQUALLY LAND TRUST YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!
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