Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Program: Restoring Trampled Trails and Flooded Lands

The Matt Albright Native Plant Nursery is a vital operation for restoration efforts in Olympic National Park. Here, volunteers plant seedlings to revegetate areas of degraded habitat in both front and backcountry areas of the park. The restoration behind what was once the Elwha River Dam is a shining example of the program's tremendous success. The nursery has grown into a resource center that supplies partners across the Olympic Peninsula with native plant materials and revegetation expertise, including cooperative agreements for revegetation and restoration work with the Quinault Indian Nation, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, the 10,000 Years Institute and Washington Department of Transportation. More than 44,000 volunteer hours make all of this happen, from collecting seeds and cuttings and assisting with the propagation and care of native plants in the nursery to installing erosion control devices and transplanting propagated plants in the field.

The Tide SW Foundation provided funding through Washington’s National Park Fund for the Volunteer Program. This provides for an on-staff volunteer coordinator, allowing the nursery to accommodate drop-in volunteers and incorporate groups from various organizations.

Text courtesy of WNPF