To date, approximately 150,000 square feet of Himilayan blackberries have been removed and we've replanted the area with over 2,300 native plants and trees. Riley Slough harbors six miles of potential rearing and over-wintering habitat for several salmonid species including coho, Chinook, bull trout and others. Historically, Riley Slough was fed from Haskell Slough which is connected to the Skykomish river. But the connection no longer exists between Riley and Haskell Slough. Riley is fed mainly from several hillside tributaries and surface and groundwater runoff.
Volunteers plant native shrubs and trees at the lower end of the slough at Frohning dairy.
The larger trees were transplanted from a salvage site in Machias in cooperation with Snohomish County and the Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancment Task Force. Currently, SCD has conducted restoration activities on six sites along the slough. We are working with other groups and agencies to remove culverts and place large woody debris. This included black cottonwood, Douglas fir, big leaf maple, western hazelnut, vine maple and several species of willow that will create quick shade and provide food sources for a variety of wildlife. This initial work would not have happened without the help of volunteer groups including the Everett YMCA, Monroe High School Earth Service Club, Oscar Cullums community service crew, Northwest Women Flyfishers and many individual volunteers.