soil to the sea
Jim Creek, Arlington, Washington
Melinda Hurst Frye
Soil to the Sea for Surge: Geography of Flow, Museum of Northwest Art, 2026
This story begins in the foothills east of Arlington, Washington, under the ferns in a second-growth forest, at a seep beneath the loam, where water finds its way to the surface. Passing through an experimental planting site toward root systems through the mycelial webs beneath the leaf litter, this water will eventually feed a seasonal creek that later joins with Jim Creek, which joins with the South Fork of the Stillaguamish, which joins with the Salish Sea over 33 miles later. This is a glimpse into what the water sees on its path from the soil to the sea, and the importance of the forest floor’s health and its influence on water
Soil to the Sea for Surge: Geography of Flow, Museum of Northwest Art, 2026
This story begins in the foothills east of Arlington, Washington, under the ferns in a second-growth forest, at a seep beneath the loam, where water finds its way to the surface. Passing through an experimental planting site toward root systems through the mycelial webs beneath the leaf litter, this water will eventually feed a seasonal creek that later joins with Jim Creek, which joins with the South Fork of the Stillaguamish, which joins with the Salish Sea over 33 miles later. This is a glimpse into what the water sees on its path from the soil to the sea, and the importance of the forest floor’s health and its influence on water
In the Pacific Northwest, the vast forests and abundance of water shape our shared identity. Half of our water supply comes from forested lands, filtering the water as it passes through the soil. The winter of 2026 was Washington’s warmest on record in 130 years. While precipitation was above normal, bringing consequential flooding and disruption, the snowpack was estimated at as low as 35% of average, leading to significant drought conditions. With a commanding lead, irrigation for agriculture is the largest category of water use in the state of Washington, distantly followed by population usage. As the climate warms, our reliance on this resource deepens as it becomes more limited. A warming climate will lead to the forest’s role becoming even more consequential in carbon sequestration, water filtration, and shading the soil and streams from summer water stress in our forests, while discouraging invasive species and pathogens from finding their footing.
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Accompanied by a photographic mural of the Stillaguamish River and audio from Jim Creek, the three photographs of the understory demonstrate what the water passes through, near the site of the seep as it begins its route west, then through the forest floor, underscoring interconnectivity and broader ecologies.
Deep gratitude to Jared Busen, Agroforester & Ecologist, Agroforestry Northwest, David L. Peterson, Professor of Forest Biology, University of Washington, Chloe Dye Sherpa, Surge curator, and the Museum of Northwest Art.
