In 2024, the monthly Marymoor habitat restoration workparty had 237 volunteers. We planted 131 native shrubs and trees, including bigleaf maples, Garry oaks, Oregon grapes, Nootka roses, and Western red cedars. We spread almost 70 cubic yards of mulch and removed over 50 cubic yards of invasive species like common hawthorn, Himalayan blackberry, and reed canary grass.
As most of you are aware, invasive species can wreak havoc on native ecological communities. Without any natural controls such as browsers, predators, or competitors for resources, invasive species can spread rapidly. Many have often been shown to decrease localized biodiversity by outcompeting species that other wildlife have come to rely on.
Since 2007, June has been celebrated as the month of the Orca in Washington State. Governor Christine Gregoire first designated June as Orca Awareness Month. In 2019, the month was renamed Orca Action Month. We knew then that the population of salmon-eating orcas in Washington State waters, known as Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) needed help to survive as a distinct population.
