Exciting news! Our unique and endangered “little red fish,” the native kokanee salmon of Lake Sammamish, rebounded significantly with over 2,000 counted late last year. Compared to 2017 when only 20 kokanee salmon were counted, we are seeing early, but encouraging, signs that the work to fix culverts, restore habitat and reduce pollution into Lake Sammamish tributaries is producing results.
 Like our tribal, non-profit and community partners on the Kokanee Workgroup, I’m committed to returning the kokanee population to robust health and ultimately re-establishing a fishery for kokanee on the lake. To that end, I contributed $50,000 from the County’s budget to fund a pilot project of Trout Unlimited’s Three Rivers Chapter to remove Eurasian Watermilfoil and Brazilian Elodea from Lake Sammamish.
Watch the King 5 News report to see the work in action:
Recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day
 Click on the image above to watch and listen to Art From Ashes 2022
This week people from around the world recognized International Holocaust Remembrance Day on the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. The atrocities that happened over seventy-five years ago can seem distant, but by commemorating this day we honor the over six million Jewish people and millions of others, including people with disabilities, Roma people, and gay people, who were murdered by Nazis during the Holocaust, as well the innumerable people who suffered and survived. We also honor them by recognizing that anti-Semitism and hate and the violence they generate continue today. Remembering our history is one way to prevent future genocides.
Music of Remembrance, a local community organization, remembers the Holocaust through concert performances, educational programs, recordings, and commissions of new works by some of today’s leading composers. This year, due to COVID-19 safety precautions, they released their performance, Art From Ashes 2022, online. I encourage you to watch and listen to this powerful tribute of remembrance:
Fight FOG with common sense
Earlier this week, a buildup of fats, oils, and grease - otherwise known as FOG - created a backup in a sewer line in Bellevue, causing a maintenance hole to overflow into the street for about an hour. While the crews from King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division were able to contain most of the flow, some of the wastewater made its way into the city storm drains that flow to Kelsey Creek.
 The almost 10 inches of FOG clogging this sewer pipe illustrates the damage that can be done
This is a good reminder that washing fats, oils, and grease down the drain can clog up the sewer system and result in costly and potentially dangerous overflows into our neighborhoods and homes.
Taking a couple of extra steps can prevent big problems in the future. Scrape out greasy bowls, pots, and pans before washing. Cool and solidify grease so you can put it in the trash instead of down the drain. Remember, garbage disposals do not keep grease out of pipes. For more information on how to safely dispose of fats, oil, and grease, visit King County Solid Waste’s “What do I do with…” website:
Weigh in on Sound Transit’s biggest project yet
 While light rail on the Eastside is in the final stages of construction before opening next year, other parts of the regional light rail network are still being planned. One of Sound Transit’s biggest upcoming projects is the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extension, which includes a new Downtown Seattle tunnel to handle increased regionwide system capacity.
Kicking off today and continuing until April 28, you can weigh in and provide public comment on Sound Transit’s West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Are you wondering what’s an Environmental Impact Statement? If so, last week The Urbanist published a helpful explainer with tips on how to read and comment on one).
Learn more about the project and have your say today:
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Sincerely,
 Claudia Balducci
King County Council
District 6
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