Welcome to Skagit County

July 15, 2003

INVASIVE WEED SPARTINA TARGETED FOR REMOVAL JULY 26

The Skagit County Marine Resources Committee encourages Skagit residents to join them in the fight against the invasive weed Spartina by coming to the fifth annual Skagit Dig Day, Saturday, July 26, from 10 AM to 2 PM along the Swinomish Channel south of LaConner.

"Spartina invades salt marshes and mudflats," said MRC member John Giboney. "It grows rapidly to form dense meadows that take away the homes of fish, birds, and shellfish. We still have a chance to eradicate this dangerous weed in Skagit County if we work hard."

The MRC and partners Swinomish Tribe, People For Puget Sound, The Nature Conservancy, Skagit County Noxious Weed Board, and Padilla Bay Interpretive Center are asking volunteers (no children under 12) to bring work clothes, boots, shovel, gloves, and lunch and water for a day's work digging out Spartina.

Pre-registration is required. Contact Ruth Christiansen at (260) 382-7007 or email rchristiansen@pugetsound.org. Directions to the site will be sent the week before the event to volunteers who have registered.

Last year, the MRC and its partners cleared the south end of Padilla Bay near the Swinomish Casino of the invasive weed. The Skagit County MRC is a volunteer committee appointed by the Skagit County Commissioners to educate and involve residents in marine resource protection and restoration.

For more information about Skagit MRC activities and members, go to www.skagitcounty.net/SMRC

For more information: Mike Sato, People For Puget Sound, 360-336-1931