Outdoor briefs for Sept. 19
Conservation
Festival celebrates Nisqually watershed
The 26th annual Nisqually Watershed Festival will take place Sept. 26 at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.
The free event is scheduled to run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The festival features art, education, music and family fun, while celebrating the Nisqually watershed’s history and culture.
New this year will be “Insect Extravaganza,” with insects from around the world.
There also will be storytelling in the Red Salmon Tent, guided walking tours, and food and refreshments, including the popular salmon barbecue.
Nonprofit groups and local agencies that work in the watershed will also be on-hand to share educational activities, crafts and information.
For more information, go to nisquallyriver.org/nisquallywatershedfestival.
Free parking and shuttle to the festival will be available at River Ridge High School, 350 River Ridge Drive, Lacey.
Hunting
Pheasant season begins with youth hunt
The pheasant hunting season begins this week, with openings for youth and senior hunters.
A youth hunt will take place statewide Saturday (Sept. 19) and Sunday, followed by a statewide opening Monday-Friday for hunters 65 years and older.
The regular season in Western Washington will open Sept. 26 and run through Nov. 30.
The Eastern Washington season will not open until Oct. 24.
Early indications are hunters should see more pheasants this season, thanks in part to favorable weather and conditions last winter and this spring.
For more information on the season, including license requirements, go to wdfw.wa.gov/hunting.
TU meeting
Speakers talk about key WDFW issues
Joe Stohr, deputy director of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, will give a program Wednesday on the agency’s key management programs and issues for 2015. He will be talking to the Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Stohr will talk about management directions enacted by the Legislature, progress on new Fish and Wildlife Commission-sponsored programs developed in 2014 and information on the agency’s budget for this year.
Kelly Cunningham, deputy assistant director of the fish program, will attend and give an update on the department’s hatchery reform efforts and establishment of Wild Steelhead Management Zones.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at North Olympia Fire Station, 5046 Boston Harbor Road NE, Olympia. The public is welcome.
Marine education
Cruise fundraiser aids group’s programs
Tickets are on sale for the seventh annual benefit cruise to support the South Sound Estuary Association’s marine/estuary education programs.
The cruise will be from 1-5 p.m. Oct. 11 aboard the 70-passenger yacht “My Girl.” The trip will go from Olympia to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge and back.
Joining the cruise will be Glynnis Nakai, manager of the refuge.
There will be food and a no-host bar.
Tickets are $50 for association members and $65 for nonmembers.
To get tickets, go to sseacenter.org.
Compiled by Jeffrey P. Mayor, jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com
This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 8:25 PM with the headline "Outdoor briefs for Sept. 19."