Pacific Conservation District, in partnership with Grays Harbor Conservation District, has been tackling the European green crab problem—a highly destructive invasive species threatening Washington’s marine ecosystems.
European green crabs wreak havoc on eelgrass beds, marsh habitats, shellfish populations, and salmon recovery efforts. Left unchecked, these invaders can destabilize food webs and harm our shellfish aquaculture industry.
Since January 2022, an incredible 387,399 European green crabs have been removed from Washington’s marine waters. More than 300K were from the Coast Branch, which includes Willapa and Grays Harbor. This critical effort is a collaboration between conservation districts, tribal nations, state agencies, and local industry partners like the Willapa Grays Harbor Oyster Growers Association.
Thank you, Pacific Conservation District, for leading the charge to protect Washington’s coastal ecosystems—one crab at a time.
In an arid landscape dominated by dryland grain production and rangeland, this pilot focuses on reducing soil loss, improving water availability, and supporting habitat health. By tracking conservation practices and applying watershed tools, the work helps partners better understand how voluntary conservation supports resilient working lands under changing conditions.
In a working lands landscape shaped by dryland farming, grazing, and irrigated agriculture, this pilot focuses on reducing erosion, keeping soil on the land, and improving stream and habitat conditions. By tracking conservation practices and applying watershed tools, the work helps partners better understand how voluntary conservation supports resilient farms and healthy watersheds.
Within a productive agricultural landscape shaped by dairy and crop production, this pilot focuses on improving water quality, managing nutrients, and reducing flood risks. Monitoring and conservation tracking help partners understand how voluntary conservation supports both farm viability and long-term watershed health.
