Next stewards meeting is December 20th, 6:00PM POTLUCK NOTE room change to 116. No work party!

Vandals Return

We have not had a lot of vandalism in the park but it seems to be on the rise. Several trail signs were torn down along Salish and Bobcat down to Old Loop. The Childrens Forest has been plagued with several hits and interpretive signs pulled up and thrown throughout the park. Please keep an eye out for us all and report any vandalism. Thanks

Noxious Weeds

We use any and ALL methods available to control Scotch Broom. We hope to add mulching to our arsenal of control tools and are doing an experimental control project on Coyote Loop Trail. Steward Gail Rase donated bales of hay and stewards spread it over the log landing to prevent sunlight from reaching the seedbank. We will keep you posted.

>

Boardwalk Completed

Stewards completed the boardwalk on Salal Trail during the monthly workparty. The addition of a bullrail and erosion control completed the installation. As a final engineering test, we weight tested it.

Boardwalk Progress

After three years on the Work Plan, stewards finally got things moving with the boardwalk installation on Salal trail. This wet spot formed after years of silt erosion from "John Wayne Hill" and Coyote Trail silted out the seasonal stream channel. A large puddle forms each winter and has been causing patrons to make new trails and find other ways to cross without getting wet feet. A great work party with 5,400 lbs of concrete to move by hand we were fortunate to have three great young sailors from NAVHOSP Bremerton Logistics Division. Not only did they load all the concrete, they pulled Scotch Broom between loads. Scheduled for completion soon. Thanks for your patience.

Good News !

We recently reached $40,000.00 (halfway point) in the bridge construction project account, due to a very generous donation from Tom Coleman. Tom donated a small dozer to Friends, and it was sold on Craigslist for $3500.00. Tom generously donated the entire amount to Bring The Coho Home. Thanks Tom, you are a steely eyed muscleman!

Bad News

Kaitlin Sidhue is doing her Environmental Science Degree thesis field work in Newberry. She is investigating amphibian populations in restored parks, urban parks and using Newberry as a relatively undisturbed park. She has trapped three American Bullfrogs in her amphibian traps. This voracious predator has been decalared a "non native aquatic nuisance" in Washington State. It was introduced into the state prior to 1950. They eat everything from amphibians to ducks.

THANK YOU

We can't thank whoever (Turns out it was Dennis!) pulled the Scotch Broom at the junction of Salish and Old Loop Parkways enough.

Students Rock!

Several students from Olympic College joined forces with the stewards at our regular work party to collect erratics. These granite rocks surfed a glacier from Canada to Kitsap County about 15,000 years ago. We are collecting and staging them near the proposed bridge site to armor the bridge toe, and roughen the fish channel.

Thank You!