January 2010 Newsletter
Snoqualmie Watershed Forum
2009 Snoqualmie Watershed Forum-KCD Grant Allocations
In 2009 the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum allocated $745,000 in King Conservation
District (KCD) grants to 20 projects that improve salmon habitat and water quality
in the Snoqualmie Watershed. The projects included river and stream restoration,
fish passage barrier removal, noxious weed control, water quality monitoring and
watershed education. The Opportunity Fund grant program continued to excite and
engage landowners and generated projects focused predominantly in five ecologically
important areas of the watershed. As part of this program, Forum and KCD
Staff provided on-site technical assistance, project design support, and/or referral
services to 14 landowners. You can see the full grant list here.
Important Public Meeting -
Restoration Projects in the Agricultural Production District (APD)
- When: 9-11 am, Tuesday January 19.
- Where: DDES Hearing Room in Renton (see directions).
- Contacts: Harry Reinert, Special Projects Manager, DDES and Joanna Richey, Assistant Director, DNRP
Project sponsors take note! King County’s Departments of Development
and Environmental Services (DDES) and Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP)
will be holding an important public meeting to discuss the process and conditions
by which DDES and DNRP will review proposals for aquatic habitat restoration
projects sited within King County's Agricultural Productions Districts. The
two departments will use this process in order to determine whether proposed
projects comply with KCC
21A.24.381, adopted in late 2008.
King County Seeks Public Input on Proposed Rules for Wood Placement in Rivers
The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) is seeking public comments on a draft rule that describes procedures for considering recreational safety when placing large wood in rivers, which is done to improve habitat for fish and wildlife and stabilize stream banks. Click here to access the draft rule and supporting documents.
DNRP has scheduled meetings, January 25 and 28, where the public can learn more about the proposed rule, and provide comments. The deadline for comments is 5 pm, Friday, February 19th:
Monday,
January 25 - 9-11 am
King County Library Service Center (administration building)
960 Newport Way NW
Issaquah, WA 98027
Thursday, January 28 - 6–8 pm
Mercer View Community Center
8236 SE 24th St.
Mercer Island, WA 98040
Earth Day 2010
The Stilly-Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force will be hosting an event
to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at the
Stillwater Wildlife Area, just north of Carnation. We are looking for partnering
organizations to provide education and outreach activities to help us celebrate
this family-friendly event. Our goal is to bring information on topics such as
climate change and water quality to the surrounding communities, as well as plant
1,400 plants to save salmon. For more information, please call or e-mail Abby
Kuranz (425-252-6686) or visit our Web site.
Volunteers Help Restore Riverfront Park
Mountains to Sound Greenway volunteers are repairing hiking trails, removing invasive
weeds and planting trees to improve parks and natural areas in the Snoqualmie Valley.
Tate Maider, a student at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, recently volunteered
at Riverfront Park along with dozens of other volunteers. Together they planted
over 250 native trees and shrubs, including this Western red cedar. This is part
of a major restoration project at the park by the City of North Bend and Mountains
to Sound Greenway Trust.
The Greenway Trust is seeking volunteers for outdoor events throughout the year. Events run from 9am to 3pm with half day options. Groups and families welcome. To register: www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer or 206-812-0122.
Kinders and Tadpoles: Hope for the Pond
By Clay Heilman for Nature Vision, Inc.
Kinders in Ms. Edward’s class at Eagle Rock Multi-age School in Duvall decided
to become a Blue Team – a group of kids who take on an action project to protect
or enhance the health of our watershed. These little Kinders wanted to care
for the little, but vulnerable, inhabitants of their pond – tadpoles! Nature
Vision, the non-profit which manages the Blue Team program through a KCD grant,
led students in a fun game/lesson called “Toadally Amphibians”. In it, students
role play a frog’s life cycle while navigating a habitat-themed obstacle course.
Next the students visited the pond to see the tadpoles themselves. The following
week, they planted native plants around an eroded area of the pond, and began talking
with friends and family about non-point source pollution and its effects on their
amphibian friends.
Upcoming Event January 23 at Meadowbrook
Farm
Historical
Presentation Followed by Lakes/Trail Volunteer Event
- When: 10 am-12 pm, Saturday, January 23
- Where: Meadowbrook Farm Interpretive Center in North Bend (see directions)
Snoqualmie Valley Historical Society (SVHS), King County Lakes Program and Weed Watchers invite you to a joint event. Learn the history of the Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Company Mill and the missing mill town of Snoqualmie Falls in a SVHS video narrated by Dave Battey, with music by Harley Brumbagh.
Stay after the historical program to learn about how volunteers are helping the county detect environmental problems in lakes and forests. County staff will report on what volunteers have accomplished in the lake monitoring program and the lakes and trails Weed Watcher programs in 2009. All welcome!
'Tis
the Season for Flood Preparedness
Most floods in King County occur between November and February. Are you and your family prepared? Here are several things you can do to protect yourself:
- Get flood insurance. It takes 30 days for a policy to take effect and standard homeowners' insurance typically will not cover flood damage. Call your insurance carrier or learn more from the National Flood Insurance Program.
- Make an emergency plan and assemble an emergency kit. Learn how at www.3days3ways.org.
- Make evacuation plans for your family, pets and livestock.
- Monitor conditions via local media and the King County Flood Warning Info Line at 206-296-8200 or 800-945-9263, or visit their Web site.
- Get notified. By phone, text or email for real-time alerts about rising river levels. Sign up today for a King County Flood Alert or register by phone at 206-263-3400.
For more tips and resources visit the King County Flood Preparedness Web site.
Innovative Farm Pad Solutions
A collaboration among landowners, the Flood District and the Chinook Bend restoration project provided flood readiness for six farms in the Snoqualmie Watershed in 2009. New farm pads were built for a dairy, a mixed use farm, and a vegetable and flower farm. Three other farms added height to their farm pads built in 2007, ensuring their facilities are well above the 100 year flood elevation. The fill came from levee material removed at the Chinook Bend site--reducing costs for both the project and the landowners. The King County Flood District also provided support. DDES and KCD helped expedite the effort. Viva collaboration!
Elk Management
The Upper Snoqualmie Valley Elk Management Group (USVEMG) is seeking members of the community interested in sharing their opinions, expertise, time and resources to support elk management. For more information, please see their Web site.
If you would like to be added or removed from this mailing list, or if you would like to submit an item for inclusion in the next Snoqualmie Watershed Forum e-newsletter, please contact Maureen Dahlstrom.