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The Nisqually River shoreline will once again become greener and healthier this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, thanks to Washington Service Corps AmeriCorps member Cris Peck.

For the third year in a row, Peck has organized volunteers to remove invasive species and plant areas of the shoreline with native shrubs and trees beneficial to stream-bank restoration. In honor of Dr. King's memory, this year Peck will lead a group of about 40 volunteers to plant Nootka rose, Pacific ninebark, Scouler's willow and other native species in part of the Yelm Shoreline Protected Area, a three-mile stretch covering almost 250 acres.

The University of Puget Sound, the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge and other AmeriCorps members will supply volunteer time and muscle.

Peck knows the shoreline well. He spent the last two years as volunteer coordinator at the Nisqually Land Trust, a non-profit dedicated to protecting and preserving the Nisqually River watershed. He recently started his third 10 1/2-month AmeriCorps term of community service there.

It's unusual for members to serve for three years, much less all in one place. Washington Service Corps members can serve at schools, non-profits and public agencies fighting illiteracy and poverty, and promoting public safety, access to healthcare and other community needs.

The Nisqually Land Trust has been a good fit for Peck, who moved to the Northwest from Ohio after receiving his bachelor's degree in environmental studies.

"I really identify with the Land Trust mission," Peck said. "Ever since I got here, I wanted to stick around."

To prepare for planting, Peck, Land Trust staff and volunteers spent months battling reed canarygrass, an invasive species that can grow an 8-foot tall carpet of grass in no time, crowding out native plants that support habitat and protect against erosion.

"We weed-whacked, then laid down burlap sacks to keep the canarygrass from sprouting in the spring," Peck said. "Then we came back again and again and again to weed-whack more and lay down more burlap."

"Our goal is to reforest the area for the health of the water and the health of the wildlife, especially the salmon that run upstream," Peck said.

Two planting sessions on Monday, Jan. 19

• 9 a.m. - noon
• 1 - 4 p.m.

Important: It's a 15-minute walk from the parking area to the worksite. Arrive at 8:45 a.m. or 12:45 p.m. to walk with Peck, or you may not be able to find the worksite.

Where
17836 State Route 507 SE Yelm, WA 98580, across the street from Stewart's Meat Market in Yelm. Find on Google Maps or call Peck for directions.