We are pleased to announce that The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and the Pierce Conservation District have awarded Friends of the Hylebos a $10,000 grant. Funding for this grant is drawn from The Green Partnership Fund of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and operating funds from the Pierce Conservation District.

The new grant will support stewardship of the 85-acre forest in the East Hylebos Ravine located in the City of Milton. The ravine is home to the best salmon spawning habitat on the East Hylebos Creek and a significant second growth forest which includes some of the best riparian forest in the Milton area. While the forest contains good quality habitat, it is threatened by non-native invasive plant species such as blackberry, scotch broom, English ivy, and Japanese knotweed.

In 2009, the Friends completed a forest health assessment that mapped and ranked all the invasive species in the forest. Using that as our guide, and working with volunteers and EarthCorps, the Friends will remove invasive species and replace them with native trees and shrubs. 

Thanks to The Green Partnership Fund, the East Hylebos' forest is on the path to a healthy future!

Interested in volunteering? Contact Lili Allala by email: lili@hylebos.org or by phone: 253-874-2005