What's New in the Snoqualmie Watershed
In this edition...
Fall City Kids Chronicle a Salmon’s Journey
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What began as a lesson on the salmon life cycle led a group of 55 kids in the Fall City Family Co-op homeschool group on a journey of their own. A visit from local expert Ezekiel Rohloff, a wildlife biologist with the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, last year inspired the students to create a series of watercolor paintings and turn the paintings into a book. Kids of all ages got involved, with preschoolers helping with the pictures, and one of the oldest students combined her fellow classmates’ ideas into a storyboard. They figured out how to publish their book, called A Salmon’s Journey, and were featured twice as a story walk at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. The book has now sold over 500 copies and is currently on sale at Aroma Coffee, Wall of Books, the Vintage Flea, Fall City Meat and Seafood, the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery gift shop, and on Amazon. The young authors are very proud. We think it would make a great holiday gift for someone on your list!
Snoqualmie Tribe Reservation Floating Treatment Wetlands Installation
At the Snoqualmie Casino, bioswales and retention ponds capture stormwater runoff before it flows into local streams & wetlands, eventually joining the Snoqualmie River. These features slow the water and help to filter out pollutants. In 2023, a large volunteer effort helped to build floating treatment wetlands in the reservation’s retention pond. These will serve as an additional filter, to help provide clean water to habitats downstream. The floating treatment wetlands host many plants, who absorb excess nutrients and filter crude metals and oils, and create shade to cool the water. The Snoqualmie Tribe will continue to maintain and care for this project. As the plants grow in, they expect the water quality data will tell a story of improving aquatic habitat for everything that calls this place home.
Check out the blog post to learn about the work the Snoqualmie Tribe is doing to control pollutants, make habitat, and how this project connects to salmon and water quality!
Share Your Experience with Flooding or Drought in the Snoqualmie Valley
You are invited to join a new focus group and share your experiences with flooding and drought in the Snoqualmie Valley, including how these events have impacted property, assets, livelihoods, and more. The focus group’s input will be included in an action plan to bring a holistic approach to addressing these challenges in the Valley. The Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance, in partnership with the Snoqualmie Valley Watershed Improvement District, and collaborating with King County and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, are organizing this effort. Please sign up by January 10, 2025, in order to participate.
Give Input on a Tolt River Flood Risk Reduction Project
The King County Flood Control District, together with King County as service provider, is working on the Lower Frew Levee Setback Project, which will reduce flood risks and improve habitat in and along the lower Tolt River. The Flood Control District plans to remove the existing Lower Frew Levee—located between SR 203 and the Snoqualmie Valley Trail—and construct a new levee set back farther away from the river. The recreational Tolt River Trail will be rebuilt on top of the new setback levee and connect to the beloved Tolt-McDonald Park.
Your Input Counts: Now is your chance to provide input into the preliminary design—visit our project engagement hub and fill out the survey by December 31. Your comments will be considered as we develop the preliminary design of the project. We anticipate holding a community meeting on the preliminary design in 2025.
Visit the online hub to share your feedback or learn more on the project website. We look forward to hearing your thoughts!
North Bend Arbor Day
On the bank of the South Fork Snoqualmie River, surrounded by community, Mayor Miller proclaimed Friday, November 1, 2004, as Arbor Day in North Bend! Coordinated by the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, residents, city staff, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and community from as far as Woodinville and Seattle joined in planting nearly 200 native plants and trees along the river and creek. Mayor Miller acknowledged the importance of citizen participation and engagement. “Arbor Day provides us with an opportunity to work together and connect while nourishing our environment, which in turn fosters a deeper connection to the natural beauty that we cherish here in North Bend,” she said.
Read more about the day here.
Septic System and 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 search for an address and find out what rebates are available.
Patterson Creek Planting Continues
Just upstream from the Alderra Golf Course, King County has planted around 26,000 native trees in the reed canarygrass-dominated floodplain. This site received funding from the Cooperative Watershed Management grant program in 2016, and just keeps on going! This fall, the County’s Washington Conservation Corps crews planted another 7,000 live stakes along the creek and expanded the original planting area. Look west as you drive up Redmond Fall City Rd and you’ll see their great work. A future floodplain forest in the making!
Volunteer Spotlight: Dental Students Show Up for the Snoqualmie Valley
Stewardship Partners reports that it finally feels as though their volunteer program has emerged from its pandemic slump. 2024 was an exceptional season in the field both for the restoration crew and volunteer events. But one group shined bright even in the cloudiest, rainiest and muddiest weather: The University of Washington School of Dentistry’s Climate Action and Sustainability Team. They call them UW SOD CAST for (kind of) short. Back in November 2023 they contacted Stewardship Partners about getting involved. And getting involved they did. Together with other volunteers in 2024 they planted nearly 2,000 native trees & shrubs on various farms throughout the Snoqualmie Valley. That’s amazing and we are lucky to have them on our side. Go Dawgs!
Outdoors for All with Sound Salmon Solutions at Chinook Bend
When: January 20, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Where: Chinook Bend Natural Area, Carnation, WA
What: We at Sound Salmon Solutions are strong believers that the outdoors are for everyone. Join us in celebrating this MLK Day by giving back to public spaces. Together we will be working to ensure that the Chinook Bend Natural Area is accessible to all members of our community and our native wildlife that lives there. By removing invasive vegetation, we will be restoring this land to a healthier and native ecosystem. This work will directly benefit the community as a whole by providing accessible spaces for wildlife viewing and aiding in salmon recovery along the Snoqualmie River. Volunteers ages 5+ with parent/guardian are encouraged join us.
Learn more and register here.
Job Opportunities
Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance – Hiring a Floodplain Field Technician
The Floodplain Field Technician will support the Floodzilla Gauge Network and BeaverWise programs. The Floodzilla Gauge Network monitors water levels throughout the Snoqualmie Valley in real-time. Flood impacts are significant to farmers, residents, commuters, floodplain managers, and more. This information is critical in helping them to prepare for and mitigate flood risks. BeaverWise is the SVPA’s beaver management program. This program was developed to help valley landowners and land managers, primarily agricultural producers, mitigate and reduce beaver-caused flooding, drainage issues, and damage to property and infrastructure. See the full job description.
The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust – Hiring Several Seasonal Positions
Learn more about the organization, positions, and benefits.
- Restoration Crew Members
- Restoration Crew Assistant Lead
- Restoration Crew Lead
- Volunteer Specialist
- Educators
- Trail Specialists (coming soon)
Priority will be given to applications received by January 5th (Restoration Crew positions) or January 15th (Volunteer and Education positions).
Funding Opportunities
Cooperative Watershed Management Grant Program – Now Open!
Restoration & Protection - Education & Outreach - Monitoring & Assessments
Each year, the King County Flood Control District (FCD) allocates a portion of its capital budget to fund implementation of Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) Forum priority activities via the Cooperative Watershed Management Grant Program (CWM). For the 2025 grant round, the FCD has approved $2,309,496 to fund watershed restoration and protection projects in the Snoqualmie & South Fork Skykomish Watersheds – King County portion of WRIA 7.
Project Sponsors are asked to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply by January 17, 2025. Check out the website for details or contact Erin Ryan-Peñuela, Project Coordinator.
Snohomish Basin 2025 Salmon Recovery Grant Round Request for Proposals – now open!
The Snohomish Basin Lead Entity is soliciting proposals for projects that implement strategies identified in the Snohomish River Basin Salmon Conservation Plan. The LE expects to allocate upwards of $3.3M in state Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB)) funding including ~$640K targeting riparian work*.
Notices of Intent to apply are due January 17, 2025. Visit the Snohomish Basin Grant Round webpage for full details.
*Exact available amount may change
Other relevant grant opportunities:
King County Conservation Futures Funding Available
These grants can help purchase land to be used as open spaces and parks for passive recreation, including urban greenspaces, restoration sites, forests, community gardens, farms, trails, stormwater parks, and parks near affordable housing. Projects serving historically underserved communities may qualify for a match waiver to cover the full purchase price. Acquisitions must be located within King County. Along with acquisition, grants can fund initial site stabilization costs of demolition, signage, and fencing. Cities, the county, and park districts are eligible, as are some nonprofits. Visit the Conservation Futures application webpage for more information and application support.
The Washington Native Plant Society will accept grant applications for projects that promote native plants and their habitats within the State of Washington starting January 1, 2025, until midnight March 1, 2025. Successful projects must provide public benefit and must support the WNPS mission to promote the appreciation and conservation of Washington’s native plants and their habitats through study, education, and advocacy. Applications will be accepted in three categories: Conservation, Education, and Research & Plant Inventory. Please review the committee description and grant criteria for each program to determine the best fit for your project or program before applying. Please visit our website for application information and contacts for conservation grants, education grants, and research.
Federal/National Funding Opportunities:
United States Department of Transportation:
Example funding programs include Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, Pipeline Safety and Damage Prevention Grants, and others.
Bureau of Reclamation - WaterSMART:
Example funding programs include WaterSMART Planning and Project Design (collaborative planning and design projects to support water management improvements), Water and Energy Efficiency Grants, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects (study, design, and construct aquatic ecosystem restoration projects that are collaboratively developed, have widespread regional benefits, and result in the improvement of the health of fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic habitat through restoration and improved fish passage), and others.
National Fish and Wildlife Federation:
Example funding programs include America the Beautiful Challenge, Conservation Partners Program (support organizations that provide staff and technical assistance to private landowners in order to maximize the benefits of Farm Bill programs on working lands), Bring Back the Native Fish, and others.
Salmon and Orca in the News
Chum salmon run shows habitat restoration is worth the effort — Seattle Times
Southern Resident orcas have been seen wearing salmon “hats.” What are they up to? — KUOW
New mural at Carnation Elementary pays homage to salmon — Snoqualmie Valley Record
The power of a logjam: A vision of the Northwest’s rivers of old — The Seattle Times
Biden-Harris Administration, NOAA make $99 million available for Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund — NOAA
From grieving orcas to opossums playing dead: how animals respond to death — The Conversation
Robots just collected something significant from the breath of these rare orcas — DiscoverWildlife
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 Renee Leichliter or by calling 206-848-0836.
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