Project 16-1476 Hood Canal Summer Chum Riparian Enhancement Project revolves around three main objectives: 1) controlling invasive/noxious weeds in critical habitat areas, specifically knotweed (polygonum spp.); 2) enhancing native vegetation in riparian ecosystems with an emphasis on conifers and ecosystem functions; and 3) education & outreach aimed at Hood Canal residents and stream side landowners. This project is specifically focused on enhancing Hood Canal Summer Chum riparian habitat, although non-targeted salmonids also benefit from this restoration work such as Puget Sound Chinook Salmon, Puget Sound Steelhead, Puget Sound Coho, Pink Salmon (Odd year), Fall Chum and Searun Cutthroat. The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) completed two seasons of knotweed treatment on eight Hood Canal rivers and streams totaling 45 miles of stream treated, and 200 total acres of riparian habitat treated. Using GIS field collection devices HCSEG's Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew surveyed and treated knotweed and other state listed noxious weeds which threaten the ecological functions and services of riparian zones. The eight rivers and streams surveyed and treated were the Union River, Tahuya River, Dewatto River, Big Anderson Creek, Big Beef Creek, Big Quilcene River, Little Quilcene River and Leland Creek Tributary, and the Dosewallips River. HCSEG and WCC also conducted smaller treatments on Eagle Creek near Lilliwaup, Tarboo Creek for Northwest Watershed Institute (NWI), and surveyed Lilliwaup Creek and Little Anderson Creeks. Our stewardship coordinator and college interns surveyed upper-watersheds and tributaries to confirm treatment occurred at the highest upstream point. They also treated individual landowner properties along roadsides and upland areas adjacent to riparian ecosystems and treated and surveyed several gravel pits to prevent possible future infestations into Hood Canal waterways. Data from this work is stored on HCSEG's server, on ArcGIS Online, and was shared with WSDA. In winter of 2018-2019 HCSEG planted 1 acre on the Union River, 2 acres on the Dewatto River, 1 acre on the Little Quilcene River and 2 acres near Stavis Creek. In winter of 2019-2020 HCSEG planted 4 acres on the Little Quilcene, 3.5 acres on the Dosewallips, and 1.5 acres on Mindy Creek a tributary to the lower Union River. During the 2018-2019 winter HCSEG's WCC crew planted 5,000 native trees and shrubs, and in 2019-2020 HCSEG planted over 10,330 doubling the amount planted. Altogether this grant planted: 15 acres of new riparian habitat,1 mile of streambank, and installed over 15,330 native trees and shrubs along riparian zones of the Hood Canal. HCSEG prioritizes conifers to support LWD recruitment into rivers and streams and move the successional trajectory of riparian forests to a later seral stage. HCSEG also utilizes native flood tolerant shrubs in addition to conifers to enhance bank stabilization, stream shading, biodiversity and organic matter input into the aquatic food web. HCSEG maintains a native plant nursery where hardwood shrubs and trees are propagated using cutting techniques and rooting hormone. Propagation is done by volunteer groups and the Mission Creek Women's Correction Crew, this reduces costs associated with native plant purchases since HCSEG only has to buy conifers. The nursery also has holding beds for our native conifers that do not get planted and allows them to grow larger before out planting, increasing their odds of survival.