|
Lower Green River Corridor Flood Hazard Management Plan (LGRCFHMP)
The King County Flood Control District is developing a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to inform development of a LGRCFHMP. The LGRCFHMP will guide future District investments in flood risk reduction and help shape the future of the Lower Green River valley. The District is accepting comments on the scope of the PEIS – including the three proposed alternatives – through February 4. Two public scoping meetings will be held on January 6, 2022. Please visit the LGRCFHMP Website for more information about engaging in the planning process.
Duwamish Basin Steward Update
King County, Seattle, Tukwila and the Port of Seattle have agreed to terms for funding for a full-time basin steward position in the Duwamish Basin. The WRIA 9 Watershed Ecosystem Forum also approved $25k to support standing up the position in 2022. The position will be housed within the King County Basin Steward Program. It is anticipated that this position recruitment will be announced in the first quarter of 2022. Additional partnerships are being explored to broaden support and better align the position with existing initiatives underway within the Duwamish. If you have any questions regarding the Duwamish Steward position please contact Janne Kaje, King County Water & Land Resources Division, Regional Partnerships Unit Supervisor.
 |
|
King County Noxious Weeds’ staff delivering riparian vegetation via kayaks. Photo courtesy of King County-Katie Beaver.
|
King County Noxious Weed Control Program finds innovative ways to revegetate steep banks
The banks of Lower Green and Duwamish River are frequently steep and covered with blackberry, presenting challenging and unsafe conditions for traditional revegetation efforts. To overcome this barrier, King County Noxious Weed Control Program partnered with Dirt Corps and Nicoterra Trails to install live willow stakes along steep banks by kayak. This fall – with the support of WRIA 9 funding – they successfully installed 4,680 live willow stakes along roughly 5,700 linear feet of shoreline in Tukwila. The willows will help provide overhanging vegetation, improving water temperatures, reducing erosion, and providing cover and habitat complexity for salmon.
City of Normandy Park Nature Trails Park Management Plan
The City of Normandy park has been hard at work restoring forest health, structure and function to its natural areas. The Nature Trails Management Plan has a prioritized list of projects and can be used as a guide for restoration and stewardship of Nature Park Trails. For more information, please see the Nature Trails Park Management Plan.
Robust new lesson plans from Sustainability Ambassadors
Sustainability Ambassadors is developing a new series of lesson plans for middle school and high school classrooms that invite teachers from across the curriculum to engage their students in water systems thinking. The lessons are problem-based, place-based curriculum pathways that align with both the WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan and the King County Clean Water Healthy Habitat Strategic Plan, the latter intentionally integrated with equity outcomes and climate action.
SALMON IN THE NEWS:
Inslee announces new strategy and $187 million in investments to protect and restore salmon
On December 14, Gov. Jay Inslee announced ambitious legislative and policy proposals to bolster the governor’s statewide salmon strategy. The governor was joined by people from the Swinomish, Tulalip and Nisqually tribal communities, legislators and state agencies who work on salmon, water and habitat issues. The proposals call for protecting and restoring vital salmon habitat; investing in clean water infrastructure for salmon and people; correcting fish passage barriers and restoring salmon access to historical habitat; building climate resiliency; aligning harvest, hatcheries and hydropower with salmon recovery; addressing predation and food web issues for salmon; enhancing commitments and coordination across agencies and programs; and strengthening science, monitoring and accountability.
To read the press release.
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell outlines big wins for Washington State's infrastructure, salmon and economy
U.S. Senator Cantwell has been a long-time advocate for the environment and salmon recovery. Cantwell recently announced that the newly passed “infrastructure bill” makes significant investments to advance salmon recovery and remove fish barriers.
Full press release.
 |
|
A research barge flows in the Green River under the Southcenter pedestrian bridge in Tukwila. The barge is part of a chinook salmon monitoring effort that informs King County habitat restoration work. (Hannah Weinberger/Crosscut)
|
Washington fish researchers use tiny sensors and other tech to save salmon
Using thousands of glass vials smaller than a grain of rice, glorified glue guns and a floating barge, scientists are changing our understanding of how endangered fish spend their time in the Lower Green River. Preliminary data has revealed things about fish activity that we didn’t know before, including that fish are staying in the Lower Green anywhere from two to 63 days, with smaller fish sticking around longest.
Read the full story.
 |
|
Don Crawley, Janet Crawley, their grandson Henry and Ashley Allan of King Conservation District. Courtesy of Henry Stewart-Wood/Sound Publishing
|
Auburn homeowners help to restore the Green River
Auburn homeowners, with the help of the King Conservation Districts Riparian Habitat Improvement Program, remove invasive English ivy and Himalayan blackberries and replant their shoreline with over 200 native trees and shrubs. The project reduced shoreline erosion, improved riparian habitat, and enhanced landowner connection to the river.
Read the full article.
In the Duwamish Watershed, communities respond as coho salmon face a new threat
Community-based salmon surveys along Longfellow Creek highlight the risks of stormwater runoff to salmon, and the importance of community-based organizations' efforts to improve water quality and advance environmental justice in the Duwamish.
Read the full article.
Amended Plan leaves more salmon for endangered orca in low return years
Following nearly 40,000 public comments, NOAA Fisheries is approving an amendment to the fishery management plan for Chinook salmon off the West Coast. It will make more fish available for endangered Southern Resident killer whales in years when salmon returns are low.
Full article.
GRANT AWARDS / FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES:
WRIA 9 Regreen the Green and Monitoring and Research Grants
Regreen the Green grants support riparian revegetation to improve instream water temperatures and habitat for salmon. Monitoring and Research grants supports enhanced effectiveness monitoring and research to address priority data gaps related to salmon recovery in the Green Duwamish and Central Puget Sound. Applications due March 4, 2022. Please contact Suzanna Smith or call 206-477-4641 for more information.
Grant Workshops:
Wednesday January 12, 2022 from 12 – 1:30 pm – Register here.
Thursday February 10, 2022 from 6 – 7:30 pm – Register here.
King County Parks Levy Grants
The voter-approved 2020-2025 Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Levy allocates approximately $110 million over six years for grants for parks, recreation, and open space throughout King County through four program areas.
Open Space – River Corridors applications due Jan 31, 2022. Contact Kelly Heintz, 206-477-6478 or kelly.heintz@kingcounty.gov.
Healthy Communities & Parks Fund applications due Jan 21, 2022. Contact Grace Chai, 206-263-7230 or gchai@kingcounty.gov.
DNR 2022 Urban and Community Forestry Grants
Grants are available to support a wide variety of projects and resources that will help create healthier communities. Applications are due by 4 pm, local time on March 4, 2022.
Upcoming Events
Normandy Park - Family Foresters education and planting event
Two events: January 8 and February 12. Learn about the environment, how to plant trees, and ways to impact climate change. Includes a scavenger hunt and prizes! Interpreters are available for these fun, educational planting events. Register in advance as space and tools are limited.
For more information visit our website at www.govlink.org/watersheds/9/.
If you would like to submit an item for inclusion in the next WRIA 9 e-newsletter, please email carnelson@kingcounty.gov.
Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com.
|
