BEC: Serving Connelly Creek with the Branch Hoppers Explorers and Company

The day began as finicky as ever. Steve’s car (which had all the tools in it) had malfunctioned, Greg drove to pick him up, Matt stepped in for Greg to help with the first group of Explorers (the Salamander Efts) to arrive at the site. As Matt and Dave gathered to share some thanks and put our minds toward the coming outing, we received a sudden deluge from the salty south. Our hats and raincoats came on, and we braced ourselves for the wet and cold ahead. By the time Branch Hoppers arrived, the temperature had shot up fifteen degrees and the sun was causing the rooftops to steam. Ahh… Spring!

When all had gathered, we took stock and prepared for our opening meeting. But, just as we were about to put our minds toward the day ahead and the meaning of our service, we heard a growl in the bushes. Explorers split off and followed it. After a little rummaging in the grasses, they discovered Dave, who was bearing a message: we were being stalked by an older group of Explorers, and our mission was to try to spot as many Explorers as we could while we walked the path toward the site. Challenge accepted! Those Salamander Efts were well hidden indeed! And the Branch Hoppers did a decent job spotting them. Once we had all made it to the site, we gathered to consider our work for the day.

The Connelly Creek site in Happy Valley Park is part of a partnership with the City of Bellingham Parks and Rec Department. We’d like to thank Rae and Ellen for their hard work guiding us and providing us with mulch, plants, and debris removal. Another important partner is the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) who provides us with many tools and guidance as well. Thanks Phoebe for helping to coordinate our project days. It’s nice to have a community of groups and people who support our commitment to serving the land!

Our tasks for the day were as follows: trim reed cannarygrass, dig blackberry roots, and lop away blackberry stems... AND get to know the Salamander Efts, who were slightly older than us and were willing to help show us the ropes. But before we sprang into action, it was important to get a good idea of the big picture. Steve showed our combined group two locations on the site. One was the result of ten years of work. The reed canary grass was nearly non-existent; trees established; shrubs producing flower and berry; Anna’s hummingbirds soaring joyfully through the landscape. The second was our actual work area, which now has seen two years worth of work. Already, this site has been remarkably transformed, and there is still work to do. By looking at the first location, we had a good idea of what the landscape would turn into.

We ate lunch while mentors demonstrated how NOT to use tools. It’s a good thing they were joking otherwise they might be a few fingers and teeth short. Then we reviewed how to safely use the tools and we got to work.

The pictures in the photo gallery will tell the rest of this story but the best thing to do would be to revisit the area with your Explorer so he can guide you along the work that he did. The sooner you get out there, the more prominent the changes will be when you return next time. With 10 groups visiting this season, we could make quite an impact.

Highlights include: Removing more car parts, digging up huge blackberry “heart” roots, freeing a tree completely of the blackberry that had overtaken it, learning the names and building relationships with members of the Salamander Efts.

Thanks for your great work, Branch Hoppers!!! You did a wonderful job, and the land is grateful. Parents, thank you for supporting these Explorers and for giving them the chance to serve the land with us.