SOUND STEWARDSHIP

Volunteers are trained in shoreline ecology and volunteer management to become stewards of habitat restoration sites.

Become a Sound Steward!

: Dedicated Sound Stewards orient volunteers at the Union Slough restoration site near Everett.

Sound Stewardship is a community-based program that contributes to the long-term success of restored shoreline habitat while engaging citizens of all ages and all walks of life. Sound Stewards provide critical monitoring and maintenance of restoration sites managed by People For Puget Sound. People For Puget Sound manages 22 restoration sites from the San Juan Islands to Olympia. Events at these sites also provide avenues to engage the larger community in shoreline restoration activities.

What does a Sound Steward do?

Sound Stewards are trained to work with volunteers and educated about coastal habitat restoration. Once trained, they commit tat least 40 hours of work within a year in support of the program. A group of dedicated stewards return year after year to play a leadership role in their “adopted” sites. Sound Stewards visit their sites regularly to monitor conditions; we use this information to guide goals and adaptive management practices. Teams of volunteers regularly perform maintenance activities such as weeding, planting, and debris removal. Sound Stewards act as crew leaders for these volunteer restoration events.

Where do Sound Stewards work?

The Sound Stewardship program is divided regionally: North Sound: San Juan Islands and Bellingham, Central Sound: Snohomish and King County, and South Sound: Thurston and Pierce County.

How are Sound Stewards trained?

Program participants are educated in the management and ecology of restored habitats. Guest speakers and People For Puget Sound staff provide practical information on native and non-native plant identification, monitoring methodology, maintenance techniques and specific site histories. Lectures also include Puget Sound ecology and the relationships between habitat and wildlife. People For Puget Sound conducts approximately four trainings a year. All trainings involve an orientation to the program followed by field training session that changes depending on the season. Interested volunteers can join the program during any of the sessions and then continue training throughout the year.

NEW: 2012 Training Dates now available for Central Sound and North Sound Program- click here.

Why is stewardship is important?

Long-term monitoring and maintenance plans for restored sites are particularly vital due to their highly vulnerable nature. These areas often present degraded soil conditions, small lot sizes, high foot traffic areas, and a close proximity to invasive plant seed sources. Ongoing monitoring allows for early detection and removal of invasive weeds and other problems that arise in these frequently urban settings. This monitoring allows us to prioritize stewardship needs and our hard working Sound Stewards ensure that the work gets done. We have learned that empowering citizens as stewards is the key to ensuring long-term restoration site success!

Become a Sound Steward today:

Training dates are available for Central Sound (King and Snohomish County) and North Sound (Orcas Island), check back later for opportunities to get involved in the South Sound. To sign up for any of these dates, email the Restoration Ecologist for your region.

2012 Central Sound Stewardship Training Schedule:

Wednesday evening, March 28 – Sound Steward orientation

King County: Saturday, March 31 OR Snohomish County: Saturday, April 7– Field training: How to organize and run a restoration event, How to manage volunteers

Monday evening, June 18 – Sound Stewardship orientation

Saturday, June 23 – Field training: Native/invasive plant identification, Vegetation monitoring methodology

Wednesday evening, August 22 – Field training: Puget Sound ecology, History of the Duwamish River

Wednesday evening, October 10 – Sound Stewardship orientation

Saturday, October 13 – Field training: Properly installing and caring for native plants

2012 North Sound (Orcas Island) Sound Stewardship Training Schedule:

Friday April 20, 6- 8 PM: Sound Stewardship Orientation

Saturday April 21, 9 AM- 3 PM: Field Training, How to organize and run a restoration event, and How to manage volunteers

Sunday June 24, 10 AM – 2 PM: Field Training, Native/invasive plant identification and Vegetation monitoring methodology

Wednesday September 5, 6-8 PM: Ecology of Puget Sound and the Northwest Straits

Friday November 2, 6- 8 PM: Sound Stewardship Orientation

Saturday November 3, 10-2 PM: Field Training, Properly installing and caring for native plants

Interested volunteers can join the program at any one of these sessions, continuing their training throughout the year by attending the others as they occur. To sign up or for more information, contact your local Restoration Ecologist:

Rachel Benbrook | North Sound | 360.333.0651

Keeley O'Connell | Snohomish County | 206.382.7007 (ext.184)

Dhira Brown | Central Sound | 206.382.7007 (ext. 182)

Christina Donehower | South Sound| 360.754.9177

The Sound Steward Program is funded in part by: Google, IBM Catalyst, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Real Networks, REI, Restore Americas Estuaries, and NOAA