The Nisqually Watershed Sustainability Project was awarded an $883,000 grant from the EPA for several collaborating partners to promote market-based conservation and sustainable land use in forestry, agriculture, and residential development that will preserve the habitat and water quality of this relatively pristine Puget Sound watershed.

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Local farmer Andrew Stout teams up with Seattle Chef Maria Hines and Salmon-Safe to bring delicious green cuisine to Puget Sound.

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On May 8th, 2007 Stewardship Partners, in collaboration with Conscious Choice Magazine, hosted one of the most successful Green Drinks events in Seattle history.

Thank you to all of the Salmon-Safe farms, wineries, and local businesses that donated food and drink.

A special thanks to Herban Feast Catering for bringing it all together and to Evo for providing a great venue.

Download and read our 2006 Annual Report.

Wilcox Farms has become the largest Northwest farm to be certified as "Salmon-Safe". The certification was awarded for the salmon-friendly practices on their 1,800-acre farm located in the Nisqually River Watershed. Look for the label on their Organic and Omega 3 eggs. Click here for complete press release.

Stewardship Partners is co-sponsoring the 'Washington Forum for Conservation Incentives’ hosted by the Washington Biodiversity Council. This one day interactive event will expand and deepen the dialogue on how landowner incentives can help achieve biodiversity conservation and preservation of agricultural and forestry landscapes. The conference is being held on January 5th, from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM at the Tacoma Landmark Center. To register or learn more information about the forum, visit the website .

On June 19th, Stewardship Partners hosted a public ceremony at the Washington Athletic Club to celebrate the release of the Nisqually Watershed Stewardship Plan. The plan is a culmination of Stewardship Partners' work over the past three years to support the collaborative efforts of Nisqually stakeholders in establishing a suite of community-based conservation programs that preserve the ecological integrity of the watershed while promoting environmental and economic sustainability in agriculture, forestry, development, and tourism.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the first ever Daniel J. Evans Nisqually Stewardship Award to the Nisqually Tribal Leader Billy Frank Jr. Former Governor Daniel Evans presented the award, and spoke about his administration's early efforts to preserve the Nisqually watershed through the collaborative process that has evolved to become a model for cooperative conservation.

Billy Frank Jr., a Nisqually Tribal Elder, has been Chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWFC) for 22 years and has played a central role in securing fishing rights for Native American groups. Proceeds from the event went to support the Nisqually River Foundation, a non-profit organization that Stewardship Partners helped create to raise funds for implementing the Nisqually Stewardship Plan. Read more ....

Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton visited the Nisqually Watershed to recognize the accomplishments of the Nisqually River Council and its partners over the last 20 years as a preview to the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation in St. Louis (August 29 - 31, 2005). In St. Louis, Stewardship Partners was featured as the main partner for the Nisqually Project; one of 30 case studies from around the country. Gale Norton provided the keynote address and again highlighted the Nisqually as an example for others to follow across the country. It was a great honor to be on the national stage and receive the recognition for our work.

Chris Bayley, Chair of Stewardship Partners, recently received the first Environmental Innovator Award from the Washington Policy Center (WPC) on July 28, 2005 at their Annual Center for Environmental Policy Luncheon. The WPC recognized Mr. Bayley for his leadership in conservation and for using market based incentives that help farmers preserve land in Washington State.

Stewardship Partners is working with the owners of a 96 acre forested parcel of land just below Snoqualmie Falls to remove a fish blockage that will make available a mile of pristine habitat to migrating salmon on O Creek, a tributary to the Snoqualmie River.

"This is an excellent example of collaborative salmon recovery that has the community support and a willing landowner." Stewardship Partners collaborated with local residents, WA Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Stilly Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Taskforce, and volunteers from the Washington Fly Fishing Association to complete the project. Read more ...

Click here to view photos from the Snoqualmie Valley Flood of 2006.