Picnic Point Habitat Restoration: A Community Effort to Protect Puget Sound’s Shoreline

Watch this community-driven restoration at Picnic Point Beach, where volunteers planted native species, stabilized the shoreline, and improved salmon habitat—captured in stunning drone and ground-level footage.

On March 1, 2025, 40 volunteers—ranging in age from 3 to 83—gathered at Picnic Point Beach in Edmonds, WA, to take part in a major habitat restoration project led by Olympic Fly Fishers of Edmonds in partnership with the Snohomish County Healthy Forest Project.

In just under two hours, the group successfully planted 89 native species, reinforcing the shoreline against erosion. We also took steps to further improve habitats for fish and wildlife along this critical stretch of Puget Sound.

📽️ Watch the Full Recap Video (4:28) – Shot and edited by club member Steve Ruppert, this beautifully captured footage blends ground-level action with sweeping aerial views of the restoration effort. Using a combination of drone footage and still photography, Steve highlights the teamwork, dedication, camaraderie, and environmental impact of the event.

🌱 Why It Matters: Native plants play a key role in stabilizing streambanks, improving water quality, and creating habitat for salmon and other wildlife. This event represents a cornerstone of our conservation mission. It is part of an ongoing effort by our club to help restore and protect the natural spaces that make the Pacific Northwest such a special place to fly fish or simply be out in nature.

📌 Event Highlights:

✔️ 40 volunteers, from toddlers to retirees, working together

✔️ 89 native plants installed in just over an hour

✔️ A full beach cleanup to remove trash within the park and along the shoreline

✔️ Stunning aerial shots of the Puget Sound coastline and restoration work in action

We are so proud of the result and have been continuously amazed by what happens when a community comes together for conservation. Whether you're an angler, a nature lover, or someone who just wants to give back, efforts like these help ensure our shorelines and fisheries remain healthy for generations to come.

Another huge thanks to the Snohomish County Healthy Forest Project and Snohomish County Parks & Recreation for their leadership, support, and inspiration.

And an even bigger thanks to everyone who joined us on the beach! See you next time!

🔗 Watch the short film above and see the changes firsthand.