What's New in the Snoqualmie Watershed

In this edition...

• King County "Into the Weeds" Webinar: May 7 & 14 – Register Now!
• 2025 Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grants
• Land acquisition to protect and restore Kimball Creek, Upper Snoqualmie
• Stormwater: The Silent Threat Video in English and Spanish
• Septic System Maintenance Rebate Programs
• Fish Passage Barrier Assessments by Washington DNR
• Join Community Action Training School to Improve your Watershed!
• Salmon and Orca in the News
• Job Opportunities and Events

King County "Into the Weeds" Webinar: May 7 & 14 – Register Now!

Photo by Sara Price, King County Noxious Weed Specialist.

Join the King County Noxious Weed Control Program for their annual weedy workshop series! This 2-part series is free to the public, worth up to 8 WSDA pesticide applicator education credits (4 per day), and will be held online via Zoom.

Dive into exciting new environmental restoration focused invasive species management topics each day. Find the agendas, FAQ, and more on the Eventbrite pages below. Questions? Contact the Program.

Please register for each day separately (different agendas/Zoom links):

Day 1: May 7th, 8 am - 12 pm (Eventbrite)

Day 2: May 14th, 12 pm - 4 pm (Eventbrite)

2025 Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grants

On April 1, the King County Flood Control District announced the availability of at least $13 million in grant funding for projects that reduce the impact of flooding. These grants are for small and medium local flood reduction projects that address existing or potential flooding. Eligible applicants include homeowner associations, schools, non-profits, tribes, cities and towns, and King County agencies. Join the informational session on April 16, 2-3:30 p.m., Spanish translation will be available. Applications are due May 23. Learn more and apply.

Land acquisition to protect and restore Kimball Creek, Upper Snoqualmie

Lands on Kimball Creek purchased by King County in Upper Snoqualmie watershed.

King County recently acquired land and easements to support clean water and healthy habitat on Kimball Creek in the Upper Snoqualmie above Snoqualmie Falls. King County was not actively working in this creek reach and the Snoqualmie Tribe had been conducting restoration on the property. When the property went on the market, the tribe contacted King County Parks to ask if the county could purchase it and work with them on future restoration.

Denise Di Santo, Basin Steward with King County’s Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) took on the challenge because Kimball Creek is an important ecological area with a lot of potential for restoration. There were zero startup funds available but several people from WLRD offered their expertise and program funds to cover the initial work until the Conservation Futures Advisory Committee could award the necessary funds. During a walk-through prior to closing with Becky Peterson, Land Acquisition Agent, Denise realized more could be done if a neighboring property owner was willing to sell their vacant land on the other side of the creek. Denise reached out to them in early January, and they are now considering a sale. It’s a small area (5-7 acres) in the grand scheme of King County’s Land Conservation Initiative though it’s a great example of how a small plot of land can become a series of meaningful acquisitions and restoration projects that make a big impact. King County and Snoqualmie Tribe are working together and more plans for restoration here are in the works. The picture tells a great story and even more awaits. For more information, contact Denise Di Santo.

Stormwater: The Silent Threat Video in English and Spanish

From Latino NW Communications: this video, Stormwater Pollution: The Silent Threat was produced with the support of King County and the City of Renton. The video addresses a silent threat that is endangering the ecosystem around us and, as a result, our health. It also highlights the actions we can all take to reduce the negative impact of this threat in the Pacific Northwest and other regions of the planet. Contamincion de Aguas Pluviales: La Amenaza Silenciosa (Spanish version).

For more information, or a copy of the media tour report, contact Mary Rabourn.

Septic System Maintenance Rebate Programs

Do you own a septic system and live in King County? King County’s septic system rebate program is offering up to $500 for income-eligible residents to have their septic system inspected, pumped, or have riser(s) installed. The rebate is available throughout all of King County (not just unincorporated areas), however there is an income eligibility requirement for properties outside of Vashon-Maury Island and the Poverty Bay Shellfish Protection District in South King County. Businesses are eligible if they are a small business (the simple definition is in the application).

The rebate program website has an eligibility map where you can add an address to and find out what rebates are available for your property.

Fish Passage Barrier Assessments by Washington DNR

WCC Supervisor Tessa Thom performs a Level A crossing assessment on a tributary to the Snoqualmie.

Throughout the Snohomish Watershed, Washington Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Watershed Resilience Program has been working with Tulalip Tribes, Sound Salmon Solutions, and other partners to assess fish passage of stream crossings on small forest landowner property. Through DNR's outreach efforts, and thanks to the watershed’s salmon-minded landowners, 15 previously unknown private crossings have been evaluated for fish passage! DNR will work with landowners to secure funding to replace high-priority fish passage barriers, opening up fish habitat further upstream.

Join Community Action Training School to Improve your Watershed!

"The CATS program is a wonderful introduction to the complex world of the watershed and its many living parts. For adult students, it is sophisticated, covering a huge amount of information, and showing the critical importance of protecting riparian systems and the Puget Sound for the survival of salmon and other aquatic species. It is lively, hands-on, and fun! All the presenters and specialists were engaging, and inspired the Cohort to really engage in protecting the environment."
- 2024 CATS participant

Community Action Training School (CATS) is a free program geared towards adults looking to learn more about how we can all improve watershed health. This program brings together partner presenters working in a myriad of capacities within the environmental sector to share the work they are doing, but also empower participants with positive actions they can take. Through virtual lessons and in-person field experiences, participants will gain a well-rounded understanding of how we as humans are impacting watershed health and how we can all be better stewards of the environment. Furthermore, participants are supported in a hands-on Stewardship Action Project that will contribute 50 hours of volunteer work to a project of their choosing in relation to improving watershed health and engaging their community. The 2025 CATS program will be offered from May - June with the projects being able to extend beyond the program dates. If you are looking to inspire meaningful change as a community leader in your watershed, please visit our website for more information and to register. A huge thank you to the King County Flood Control District's Cooperative Watershed Management grants for funding this program.

Salmon and Orca in the News

Historic orca calf born in the PNW, brings hope for killer whale population — MyNorthwest News

$5B proposal for salmon restoration aimed at addressing tribal lawsuit — Seattle Times

Salmon return to the Klamath’s Oregon waters, but the river’s headwaters are still blocked — OPB

The secret legacy of tidal beavers — Salish Sea Currents Magazine

King County scientists discover method to help salmon survive polluted stormwater — MyNorthwest News

Scientists discover "potential breakthrough" in protecting salmon from urban killer — Seattle Times

VIDEO: King County scientists identify a potential breakthrough for treating salmon-killing tire chemical — King County media release

Orcas are wearing dead salmon as hats, and scientists are stumped — Science Alert

Job Opportunities and Events

Stewardship Partners is hiring! 2025 Crew Member Job Notice
Stewardship Partners currently has full-time Habitat Restoration crew member positions available. These are great entry level positions on a conservation crew that has been serving the Snoqualmie Valley for over 20 years. Most competitive applicants are from the Snoqualmie Valley and have experience in environmental restoration, riparian restoration, green infrastructure feature installation, volunteer management and love working outdoors in all kinds of weather.

To apply: send resumes to Chris LaPointe, Director of Ecological Restoration or call 206-292-9875

View to job description

Outdoor Summer Intern Opportunities with Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust
The Youth Engaged in Sustainable Systems (YESS) internship is returning this summer! High school students from seven districts, including Riverview and Snoqualmie Valley, will explore restoration ecology and green careers through hands-on learning. Learn more and apply by April 24. Save the date: Join us on Friday, August 1st at the Snoqualmie Valley Youth Activities Center to celebrate the interns’ final presentations. Sign up to receive event details. This program is offered through the WANIC Skills Center, in partnership with Riverview School District, Pacific Education Institute, and Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. Contact Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust for questions.

Third Annual Carnation Arbor Day April 26
Free and open to the public. All ages welcome!

What: Enjoy live music, crafts, tree giveaways, storytelling, t-shirt printing, demonstrations and much more! Performers include 4&20 Blackbirds, Deacon Raleigh and Elizabeth Hill & the Valley Folk. Speakers will discuss topics such as wildfire mitigation, trees as medicine, medicinal native plants and more.

When: Saturday, April 26, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where: Tolt Commons, Carnation. At the corner of West Bird St & Stossel Ave NE

Plant for Earth Month with Stewardship Partners
Stewardship Partners is recruiting volunteers for Earth Month 2025! Give back to Mother Nature and plant with us this month! Sign up to volunteer!

Earth Deserves More than a Day
Join Rainier Avenue Radio in Southeast Seattle for an annual, FREE, all-ages environmental justice event "Earth Deserves More Than a Day". Enjoy panel discussions and activities at Columbia City Theater or online, after-school youth programming, a volunteer event at Skyway Park, an outing to the Duwamish River, and more.

What we eat and drink, the air we breathe, where we live, our access to the outdoors – these are all examples of how environmental justice shows up in our lives. Join us to find out more about environmental justice in your community.

Monday April 21- Saturday April 26th. Visit the webpage to learn more about the full event schedule, times, and registration.

And, as always, remember that the beautiful "From Mt. Si to Wild Sky" watershed posters — featuring the photography of talented Valley residents — are available FREE from Carla Nelson or by calling 206-263-3050.