Pilchuck Julia Landing

On a frigid November morning, a dozen or so volunteers gathered along the banks of the Snohomish River to plant cedar and red alder. It was a landscape that the landing’s namesake, Pilchuck Julia, would most likely hardly recognize since her passing 100 years ago. The old growth trees, sword ferns, and salal have almost all been eradicated from the 20-acre park by non-native grasses and invasive species that took over when the land was logged and eventually turned into pasture. The Snohomish Conservation District and volunteers with organizations like Green Snohomish and the Snohomish Garden Club, in partnership with the City, are working to try and change that.

“Replanting at Pilchuck Julia Landing is a key component to the City’s longterm plan to restore the area with native plants and improve critical habitat for wildlife to help combat climate change,” said Mayor Linda Redmon. “With help from community volunteers, we can work to restore a landscape that is ecologically diverse and, one day, may produce food for our surrounding communities as we work toward the installation of a Food Forest.”

Julia Landing is a key component to the City’s long-term plan to restore the area with native plants and improve critical habitat for wildlife to help combat climate change.

Redmon was a councilmember when the City worked with the Tulalip Tribes to rename the park in Pilchuck Julia’s honor. “There was not a stronger woman than Pilchuck Julia,” said Tulalip Natural Resources Special Project Manager and Tribal member Patti Gobin at the time of the dedication. “To me she exemplifies a true Sduhubš, or Snohomish, woman who we all descend from. We believe that when you speak the name of Pilchuck Julia, even though that was not her traditional name, that she’s here with us. From this day forward she’s going to be here, amongst us forevermore because we are honoring her in this special way.”

—Mayor Linda Redmon

The work continues to restore habit and replant native species to the area Pilchuck Julia called home. On April 29 (which happens to be Arbor Day), the City and Conservation District will host another planting and hopes to see more volunteers and community members join them in the work. “The work will be physical—and probably muddy—but it will also be tremendously rewarding,” said Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Initiatives Shari Ireton. “This is an opportunity to have hands-on involvement in a project which will benefit future generations.”