EarthCorps

In a joint effort across EarthCorps crews, we're helping to restore and care for an important watershed in Tacoma which includes the Puyallup River, the Hylebos Waterway, and the nearshore of Commencement Bay. 💧

It's part of our Commencement Bay Stewardship Collaborative, involving long-term stewardship of 17 sites affected by pollution or contamination.

Recently, our crews cleared large areas of blackberry and ivy to make space for native plants: these stewardship actions help restore critical estuary and mudflat habitat that supports juvenile Chinook salmon and shorebirds.

This hands-on work is an important step toward rebuilding this ecosystem. Learn more about our work at Commencement Bay at www.earthcorps.org/key-initiatives/commencement-bay.

Tucked in the city of Tukwila is the hidden gem of Southgate Park (also known as Lewis Creek Park). 🌿 This 11-acre green space sits on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Duwamish and Muckleshoot Peoples. While no longer an active public park, it remains an important place for wildlife, water systems, and community connection.

Over time, dense ivy, holly, and laurel have taken over, leading to major canopy loss and a decline of the ecosystem's health. This EarthCorps' Crew worked to slow that spread using targeted methods like herbicide pellets and hand tools to manage invasive species and create space for native plants to return.

This is long-term work: restoring the forest and riverbank will take time, care, and continued partnership. Every step brings this landscape closer to a healthier, more resilient future. 🌎