BENTON CITY -- The Benton Conservation District (BCD) is holding a community project to remove water stargrass from critical sections of the lower Yakima River at 9 a.m. Aug. 19-20.
The free event will be at Benton City boat launch.
Follow the BCD vehicle to project site.
Water stargrass causes problems for people who irrigate; salmon and other aquatic wildlife; shoreline residents and people who want to enjoy the Yakima River through recreation.
Volunteers will need to hand pull water stargrass to restore the Yakima River's natural shoreline.
Bring a life vest, sunglasses, sun protection, drinking water, gloves and footwear appropriate for walking over rock riverbed.
For more information, call 509-832-1329 or email rachel-little@conservewa. net or visit www.benton cd.org.
Heritage barn money available from Olympia
OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has announced that applications to request funding for the preservation of "heritage barns" is now available.
"Heritage barns" are more than 50 years old and are historically or architecturally important.
For more information or to register, visit www.dahp.wa. gov or call 206-624-9449.
Youth education day at McNary Wildlife Refuge
BURBANK -- A youth wildlife education day is scheduled Saturday at McNary National Wildlife Refuge.
From 8 a.m. to noon, children will learn how to band a duck, build a wooden duck box and identify pond life.
For more information, call 509-546-8300.
Go to http://nwr.mcnary.wa.us/ for directions and other information.
Angler earns $36,000 via pikeminnow program
One angler has already earned more than $36,000 in the first three months of this year's pikeminnow sport-reward fishery program for the Columbia and Snake rivers.
Almost two months left in the program this year, and 560 people have signed up.
When the season began, state fish and wildlife workers tagged and released about 1,000 northern pikeminnow into the rivers.
Each is worth $500, and about 100 of those fish have been caught.
The program pays registered anglers $4 to $8 per fish, nine inches or longer.
The more fish an angler catches, the more each pikeminnow they hook is worth.
Last year, the top fisherman in the program earned more than $80,000 in five months of fishing.
Northern pikeminnow are voracious eaters, consuming millions of young salmon and steelhead each year.
Research shows reducing pikeminnow through fishing numbers helps to increase salmon and steelhead populations.
For more information, go to www.pikeminnow.org.
