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WMTP PlanTing Project
Reforestation in Popular Whatcom County Parks
Thousands of New Trees for Popular Whatcom County Parks in Ferndale, Lynden, and Nugent’s Corner Are Planned
WMTP Successes to Date
During 2024, our Washington Conservation Corp crew removed Himalayan blackberry at three Whatcom County parks to prepare the areas for future reforestation projects by WMTP. We also have been working with Whatcom County Parks Department and others to plan the upcoming tree plantings.
Introduction
We’re excited about our partnership with Whatcom County Parks. Besides invasive removal work in several County parks (including all three parks mentioned below), plans are moving forward that will eventually enable us to plant thousands of new trees in three Whatcom County parks.
Enhancements to parks like this will provide clean air, water/flood resilience, expanded habitat, shade for hot summer days, carbon capture, and many other benefits.
Our Whatcom County Parks projects include:
Nugent’s Corner River Access Park
Using a multi-year phased approach in partnership with Whatcom County Parks, we first brought our contracted Washington Conservation Corps crew to this popular park during 2023-24 to remove extensive invasives (mainly Himalayan blackberry) from the large open grass field where potential reforestation will occur.
When funding is secured by the County, WMTP will plant trees in those areas. We also may, if sufficient additional funding is secured, establish a short trail to a gathering platform/interpretive sign overlook of the Nooksack River that also has a terrific view of Mt. Baker.
Jensen Family Forest Park
This largely unknown 21.5 acre Whatcom County park near Lynden features a healthy mature native forest plus a few acres of formerly-forested open fields that in the past were used for hay growing.
The edges of the open fields were significantly impacted by invasive Himalayan blackberry until WMTP’s WCC crew removed the blackberry during Spring 2024. This was in preparation of future tree planting possibilities. When Whatcom County secures funding, a portion of those fields will be reforested by WMTP in a phased approach in partnership with the Jensen family and Whatcom Land Trust (stewards of the property’s conservation easement).
Hovander Homestead Park
After a Hovander Homestead Park master plan is completed by Whatcom County’s consultant in 2026, WMTP is on tap to work with Whatcom County Parks to poitentially reforest the non-wetland areas within 12 acres in a phased approach over several years. This area along Nielsen Road (see yellow area of the aerial map above) was formerly a cow pasture. Now left alone and ungrazed for many years, it is unfortunately riddled with dense reed canary grass and Himalayan blackberry. Those will be very challenging to successfully remove mechanically. (Unlike many other local entities, we never use herbicides.)
In ALL of Our Planting Projects
Each tree seedling is mulched, plus caged/tubed when needed for protection from animal nibbles. We’ll ensure they are regularly watered during hot summer spells, and have nearby grasses cut as needed. All of our planted trees are monitored for five years, especially after windstorms, severe rains, or extreme heat periods.
Any seedling mortality we’ll replace. Normally mortality can be 20-30% even in the best of circumstances. So far it has been only ~10% in our projects — a good indicator of our planting methodology as well as the care and love our volunteers have given to our planting projects!
Volunteer Opportunities
• Want to volunteer in a WMTP work party? Meet other tree-lovers, enjoy fresh air, have fun, and contribute to a cool project and important cause. Please join our work party contact list!
Related Links/Resources
• Nugent’s Corner River Access Park — Whatcom County Parks webpage
• Jensen Family Forest Park — Whatcom County Parks webpage
• Hovander Homestead Park — Whatcom County Parks webpage
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