The Nature Conservancy and SCA Intern

The main project we contributed to was the vegetation monitoring program connected to the Port Susan Bay restoration efforts. Most of the summer was spent in the marsh using GPS units to follow various elevationbased transects, gathering plot data, and entering that data into larger Excel spreadsheets. These data contributed to a larger body of data collection that spans almost 10 years, allowing TNC to see measurable change in the marsh related to their efforts to reconnect freshwater supply to the marsh via the Stillaguamish River. Since 2012, TNC has worked with multiple tribal and state agencies to take down existing dikes and reconnect the marsh to the river, improving water quality, salmon habitat, plant regrowth, and climate resiliency. This work was done as a team with our supervisor and other biologists working with TNC.