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As the Chehalis Basin shifts into spring, longer days and changing river conditions offer a moment to reflect on the work underway and the work ahead. In this issue we:
- Welcome a new member to the Chehalis Basin Board
- Share progress and partnerships in noxious weed coordination and opportunities for citizen science
Brian is joining the Chehalis Basin Board, representing the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority, with a strong history of leadership and a deep commitment to addressing flooding challenges in the region. For the past eight years, he has represented the City of Hoquiam on the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority and served on its local projects committee, where he has seen firsthand the value of community-driven solutions. His decision to step into this role as the Chehalis Basin Board’s newest member is rooted in a desire to help ensure that local projects continue to play a meaningful role in the Basin’s long-term strategy.
With more than 30 years of experience as a city administrator, Brian has focused much of his career on securing grant funding and advancing infrastructure projects from concept to completion, particularly those related to flooding. For the past decade, he has been collaborating with the City of Aberdeen, local, state and federal agencies including the OCB on the Aberdeen-Hoquiam Flood Protection Project which is on the verge of starting construction this summer (scroll down for a bit of good news about federal funding!). As he steps into this new role, he is especially interested in supporting practical, achievable approaches that balance flood damage protection within Basin priorities. He looks forward to contributing his experience as the Board continues to evaluate and implement the long-term strategy options that reflect the needs of the communities of the Chehalis Basin and will have lasting impact for generations. Brian’s first Board Meeting will be on April 2 (details below). Welcome, Brian!
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Spring is when noxious weeds can take hold. Noxious weeds are non-native plants that spread quickly and disrupt ecosystems, agriculture, and waterways across the Chehalis Basin. They change habitat for fish and wildlife, affect soil and water conditions, and often take hold after land is disturbed—even during restoration work. That’s why controlling noxious weeds is a priority for the Aquatic Species Restoration Program (ASRP); effective habitat restoration depends on keeping these aggressive species in check.
Over the past year, new coordination efforts have strengthened how partners work together across the Basin. Noxious Weed Coordinator and employee of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, Sofia Sherman, has helped expand communication and collaboration through quarterly Cooperative Weed Management Area meetings, regular basin-wide updates, and new tools like a shared management plan and landowner agreements. On-the-ground progress includes interagency efforts to treat noxious weeds like purple loosestrife along the Chehalis River, as well as planning for large-scale projects targeting aquatic weeds such as Brazilian elodea. At the same time, partners are improving how data is tracked and shared to better understand where infestations are occurring and how they change over time.
Community members can play an important role in this work! Through platforms like iNaturalist, residents can report sightings of noxious weeds, helping partners detect and respond to new infestations early before they spread more widely. By detecting and controlling noxious weeds early, we keep the cost of managing them low and prevent the harm they cause when they become established. Sofia regularly reviews submissions to the platform, and these observations can lead to direct follow-up, education, and collaboration with you and herself!
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Want to join a future Chehalis Basin Cooperative Weed Management Area meeting? These meetings are held quarterly and are open to the public who are interested in learning more about projects, successes, and challenges in noxious weed management. The next meeting is scheduled for May 7, 2026. For more information, reach out to Sofia Sherman at ssherman@chehalistribe.org.
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Want to support weed tracking through iNaturalist? See the steps below on how to use the app:
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Download the iNaturalist app, create an account, and tap the green camera icon to start an observation.
- Take a photo of the plant or organism (or upload from your camera roll).
- iNaturalist will provide ID suggestions with confidence percentages. You can upload the suggested ID or search manually.
- All your observations are saved to your profile, so you can view and manage them anytime.
If you’d like to learn more about Sofia’s work, she recently gave a presentation on progress to the Chehalis Basin Board! Her slides and the audio recording of the March 5 meeting can be found on the Board’s website.
Chehalis Basin Board Meeting | April 2, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Fairfield Inn & Suits by Mariott, 6223 197th SE, Rochester, WA 98593
Once a month, the Chehalis Basin Board meets to discuss funding, evaluate priorities, and put flood and habitat projects in place that support the Chehalis Basin Strategy. Listen in to find out more. Access more information on the agenda and how to join the Chehalis Basin Board meeting virtually or in-person.
Chehalis River Planting | April 4
15 S Bank Road, Elma, WA
Join the Stream Team to plant native trees and shrubs along the Chehalis River. Gloves, shovels, and other gear will be provided. Please dress for the weather and bring water. For more information, e-mail khunter@graysharborcd.org.
Habitat Work Group Meeting | April 6, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
461 Secena Road, Oakville, WA 98568
Regular meeting of the Habitat Work Group to the Chehalis Basin Collaborative for Salmon Habitat. All are welcome!
Bug ID & Pizza Night with Grays Harbor Stream Team | April 11, 3 p.m.
32 Elma McClear Rd, Elma, WA 98541
Grays Harbor Stream Team’s first training is coming up – learn to identify stream bugs while enjoying free pizza. No experience needed! See their save the date on Facebook to stay in the loop.
Tenino Earth Day Celebration | April 18, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Tenino City Park Quarry House, 399 Park Avenue West, Tenino, WA 98589
Join for an Earth Day celebration held at Tenino City Park. The day will include a work party, informational booths, and free lunch. See the Friends of Tenino webpage to learn more and information on how to register.
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