March 2009 Newsletter
Snoqualmie Watershed Forum

Snoqualmie Watershed Water Quality Synthesis Report January 2009

This report synthesizes information about water quality in the Snoqualmie River Watershed, located in eastern King County, Washington. The report brings together available water quality information in each of the key tributaries and mainstem areas to help identify priorities for on-the-ground actions. View the report page.

Survey on the Future of Agriculture in King County

The King County Agriculture Commission has been asked to report on the future of agriculture in the county. To do this, they have created a survey to gather input and report back.

Please take a few minutes to let us know what you think about the direction of agriculture in the County. [Survey completed in 2009]

A series of public meetings will be held to discuss the future of agriculture in King County.

Jan. 8, 2009 7-9 PM
Carold Edwards Center, Madrona Room
17401 - 133rd AV NE, Woodinville

Jan. 22, 2009 7-9 PM
Carnation Elementary Multi Purpose Room
4950 Tolt AV, Carnation

Feb. 12, 2009 7-9 PM
Auburn City Hall Council Chambers (1st Flr.)
25 West Main St., Auburn

Mar. 12, 2009 7-9 PM
Enumclaw High School - Commons
226 Semanski St. S, Enumclaw

For more information contact, Steve Evans.

Task force proposes new flood protection for County farmers

The Snoqualmie Flood Farm Task Force released a report in February 2008 recommending flood protection for livestock and farm supplies, continuing current flood protection and preserving valuable river habitat. Farmers and King County staff worked for three months to find ways to reduce flood impacts to agriculture without increasing flood risk to other people and property. One proposal is to track fill removed during flooding and allow an equal amount to be replaced for "critter pads" where farm animals, supplies and equipment find refuge from floodwaters. The optimum solution is to put buildings on post and piling.

Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account grant adds amenities to Chinook Bend

The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board (formerly IAC), Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account, recently awarded King County $397,500 to add a safer parking lot, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible trails, a river and wetland overlook and interpretive signage to the 59-acre Chinook Bend Natural Area. Scheduled for construction in 2009, these features will complement the site's planned wetland enhancement project – a project that will use reclaimed water from Carnation's new treatment plant to improve wetland hydrology at this important salmon spawning site. Read more in the Carnation Wastewater Treatment Facility Newsletter.

Grant bolsters construction of Camp Gilead project

King County recently received a $50,000 grant from the Pacific Salmon Commission Southern Boundary Restoration and Enhancement Fund to help build the Camp Gilead Off-Channel Habitat Reconnection project. Other project funding is coming from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and King County capital improvement dollars. The project is located in the far northwestern corner of Tolt MacDonald Park, adjacent to Camp Gilead. Construction is expected this summer and will reconnect a four acre wetland currently cut off from the Snoqualmie River by a levee/revetment.

Stilly Snohomish volunteers and students power restoration efforts

This February, the Stilly Snohomish Fisheries Enhancement Task Force kicked off restoration efforts at Stillwater Wildlife Area. More than 350 volunteers (including 225 students) planted 2,700 plants, restoring nine acres along the Snoqualmie River. Another 200 students from Monroe, Riverview, and Snohomish worked on plantings at McCormick Park in Duvall, and the Task Force provided students with 30 classroom lessons about the environment. Partners include WDFW and the City of Duvall. Efforts are funded by King Conservation District, Seattle City Light, USFWS, Hong Kong-Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), EPA, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Snoqualmie Watershed Forum.

Blue Teams take action in our watershed!

Local students, called Blue Teams, are taking on watershed action projects in the Snoqualmie Valley with help from Nature Vision. One team – the Water Warriors from Carnation Elementary – has helped restore an area along Griffin Creek. They removed a large stand of invasive English ivy, clearing it from the trunks of large Douglas firs and uncovering native ferns that were being overrun. The Warriors plan to work more this spring and perhaps take on more projects next year, in fourth grade. For more information on Blue Teams or Nature Vision, visit www.naturevision.org

Getting tough with garden loosestrife again this year

King County will request landowner permission again this year for work to eradicate garden loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris) along the Snoqualmie River between Fall City and Snohomish County. The project will continue 2007 work funded by an Early Infestation Grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology in which 116 small patches of garden loosestrife were sprayed with triclopyr, which has proven effective against this aggressive plant elsewhere. The Organic Food Program at the Washington State Department of Agriculture has assured us that the project will not affect any farm's organic status. Read more here or contact Katie Messick with questions.