Crew to pull invasive plants from campus hillside during February

A Puget SoundCorps crew will remove English ivy and other invasive species from the hillsides below the John L. O'Brien and the Pritchard buildings on the historic west Capitol Campus throughout February.

The Puget SoundCorps is part of the Washington Conservation Corps, an AmeriCorps program administered by the Department of Ecology. Puget SoundCorps crews support critical projects to help restore and protect Puget Sound.

Removing English ivy and other invasive species on the campus will protect water quality in Puget Sound by improving the health of nearby trees and forested sites.

According to the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), healthy trees reduce soil erosion, especially on steep slopes, and filter stormwater before it enters Capitol Lake and Puget Sound.

Trees also provide habitat for native plant species and their pollinators. English ivy, Himalayan blackberry and other invasive species harm trees by competing for water and nutrients, sometimes killing the trees in the process, according to DNR.

The five-person Puget SoundCorps crew will be removing invasive species on Capitol Campus from Jan. 30 through Feb. 23. The Puget SoundCorps members have supported similar projects on Capitol Campus throughout the past two years, including at Heritage and Centennial parks and the Governor's mansion.

More information

Capitol Campus:

Enterprise Services maintains the state's Capitol Campus, which covers 486 acres, and includes four parks and the 260-acre Capitol Lake.
More Capitol Campus Information
DES Communication Manager Linda Kent, (360) 972-6413

Urban Forestry Restoration Project:

The Urban Forestry Restoration Project is a community-assistance program managed by DNR's Urban and Community Forestry Program. Learn about the project online.
Urban Forestry Special Project Coordinator Micki McNaughton, (360) 902-1637

Washington Conservation Corps:

As an AmeriCorps program, the WCC creates future leaders through community involvement and mentorship. The WCC has more than 350 members and experienced staff statewide who restore critical habitat, build trails and respond to local and national disasters.
Visit us online to learn more and apply.
WCC Outreach Coordinator Laura Schlabach, (360) 407-6924

Sign up to receive Capitol Campus Updates via email or text message.

Follow Enterprise Services on Twitter.

Learn more about Visitor Services on Facebook.

Like Enterprise Services on Facebook.