The Nisqually River Education Project is a vital component of the overarching efforts of the Nisqually River Council to achieve its programmatic goals of protecting the health and integrity of this extraordinary watershed. By making the involvement of schools possible, the NREP directly supports the efforts of the Nisqually River Council and the Nisqually Tribe in creating a healthier Nisqually River and the preservation of its fisheries and shellfish resources. We have many other partners we work with throughout the year. Learn more about these amazing groups below!
Nisqually Indian Tribe
In the Nisqually Watershed, the Nisqually Indian Tribe takes a strong leadership role on the Nisqually River Council and in recovery of our two threatened salmon species: Chinook and Steelhead. Here are some resources to learn more about the tribe, their history and what they are doing today. The tribe supports our Salmon Tossing trips with their generous donation of salmon from their hatcheries and provides site access for some of our Water Quality Monitoring Field Trips. Additionally, the tribe’s Culture Department hosts our Salmon, Cedar, Canoe trips at their Culture Center.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
We partner with the Refuge for several of our yearly events, such as our Eye on Nature field trips and our Summer Institute for Teachers. From their website: “While most major estuaries in the state have been filled, dredged, or developed, Nisqually River’s has been set aside for wildlife. In 1974, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge was established to protect the delta and its diversity of fish and wildlife habitats. The Nisqually estuary was restored in 2009 by removing dikes and reconnecting 762 acres with the tides of Puget Sound. This is the largest estuary restoration project in the Pacific Northwest and an important step in the recovery of Puget Sound.”
Nisqually Reach Nature Center
We partner with the Nisqually Reach Nature Center for our Nearshore trips! From their website: “For 35 years, the Nisqually Reach Nature Center has offered environmental education to thousands of youth and young adults at Luhr Beach in Olympia, Washington, and in the classroom. The Center provides field trip opportunities, supplemental classroom activities and summer camps, all aimed at sharing the beauty and uniqueness of the Nisqually Estuary and learning the values of conservation, particularly with regard to South Puget Sound.”
South Sound GREEN
South Sound GREEN is a watershed education group like ours, but focusing on the Deschutes, Eld, Henderson, and Totten watersheds instead of the Nisqually! We partner with South Sound GREEN for many of our annual events, like our Water Quality Monitoring Training, Student GREEN Congress, Summer Institute for Teachers, and many more!
Chehalis Basin Education Consortium
The Chehalis Basin Education Consortium is another watershed education group, but focused on the Black River, Chehalis, and Skookumchuck watersheds instead of the Nisqually. We work with CBEC for events like our Summer Institute for Teachers and our Water Quality Monitoring Training.
Sponsors
Funding for the work we do at the Nisqually River Education Project is provided by…
- City of Yelm
- Friends of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Complex
- James Lea Foundation
- Nisqually Indian Tribe
- Nisqually Land Trust
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration- Bay and Watershed Education and Training
- Puget Sound Keeper and Rose Foundation
- Russell Family Foundation
- Sierra Club- South Sound Group
- Tacoma Public Utilities
- Thurston County Stormwater
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Aquatic Land Enhancement and Acquisition
- Washington State Parks No Child Left Inside
- Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office