Category Archives: Water

Clean water issues.

Community Orchard Grand Opening Saturday, July 9

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The 4th Annual Edible Garden Tour of West Seattle is July 9th.

Community Orchard of West Seattle will be having a Grand Opening ceremony at our Community Orchard at South Seattle Community College at 12:00 pm.

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin and food activist Viki Sonntag will be speaking, with catering provided by Herban Feast.

Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets –  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/181422.

The  next COWS Class and Work Party will be the next Saturday at the Community Orchard of West Seattle,  July 16th, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The topic  is Managing Property Next to a Greenbelt – Tracking Critters in the Urban Garden.  Animal trails are all around us and all it takes are careful eyes and a little practice to spot the. Come see at how common species interact with their local environment, including our gardens and orchards.  The instructor is Pete McGlenn, a West Seattle Tracker.

SWS, WS Nursery Host GreenLife Expo, Demos, Presentations

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Join Sustainable West Seattle and the West Seattle Nursery this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the GreenLife Sustainability Expo, a major part of this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest.

We’ll have booths for sustainable local firms and local community groups committed to sustainability and for all three days of the festival, we will be hosting demonstrations and presentations on a wide-ranging set of topics including backyard chickens, solar electricity here in Seattle and helping to clean up stormwater runoff.

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June Community Forum: Developing Sustainable Tourism

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Can West Seattle be a more defined partner to promoting regional tourism?

Alki Beach has been nationally proclaimed a key destination beach, but stewardship is needed to insure it retains its neighborhood flavor as a local playground. A “Sustainable Tourism” approach offers the potential to share with visitors the diverse wonders of our peninsula and help create a vibrant and sustainable economic engine for West Seattle businesses.

We’ll be meeting in the Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon Street, east around the corner from the intersection with California.  Come at 6:30 pm for socializing and bring a light snack or other nibbles.  The program begins  at 7:00 pm and ends at 9:00 pm. Continue reading →

Morgan Junction Festival Saturday, Music, Food & SWS

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The  6th Annual Morgan Junction will take place at Morgan Junction Park and vicinity this Saturday, June 25, from 10:00 am through 7:00 pm.  Music will take place on a stage set up in the Beveridge Place parking lot and near the crawling rock in the adjacent park.

Kids activities include Bubble Man at 11:15 am, chalk drawing on the art sidewalk in front of the park all day long, face painting, and gymnastic activities supervised by Little Gym.

Booths will be set up behind Zeeks/Feedback Lounge and across the street at the Washington Federal parking lot. Among those showing at the festival are:

  • Sustainable West Seattle
  • Solar Epiphany
  • West Seattle Natural Energy
  • Solstice Park P-Patch
  • Food Bank of West Seattle
  • Animals First Foundation
  • West Seattle Be Prepared and the Block Watch Captains Network
  • South Seattle Community College
  • many, many more local vendors and service providers

Music will begin at 10:30 am and run continuously through the day, there are two music areas – the main stage in the Beveridge Place parking lot, and the Park stage in Morgan Junction Park.  Featured musicians are:

  • 10:30 – Minor Dissonance with Wordsmith Jesse – classical pop
  • 12:00 – Soda – acoustic jazz and rock
  • 12:45 – Alan Ehrlich – folk and Americana
  • 1:15  – Bahia – folk and indie rock
  • 2:00 – Moon Girl – acoustic folk and rock
  • 2:30 – Norma Beach – rock and bluesy rock
  • 3:15 – Blue Grasshoppers – folk and bluegrass
  • 3:45 – Gary Reynolds and the Brides of Obscurity – alternative and alt rock
  • 4:30 – The Tongan Choir – Tongan music
  • 5:00 – Burley Mountain – alternative and classic country
  • 5:45 – Hal Merrill – steel pedal guitar
  • 6:15 – The Offenders – 60’s through 90’s rock cover songs

Also featured is the Bite of Morgan, a taste of the food available in the Morgan Junction area.  You will need to pick up a book of tickets at the Festival Booth (in the park).

Participating restaurants:

  • Meanders
  • Kokoras Greek Grill
  • Feedback Lounge
  • Zeeks
  • Abbondanza Pizzeria
  • Domino’s Pizza
  • Pet Elements (food for your dog or cat)
  • Caffe Ladro
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First Ever Annual NW Paddling Festival @ Jack Block Park

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Join the Northwest Paddling Community on the Shores of West Seattle for the First Annual Northwest Paddling Festival. This is the big development to help get the paddling community together for a celebration of the power of the paddle.

There will have a demo beach, presentation/classroom tents, vending booths, instruction beach, demonstration area, food, fun, and music. Come out if you are an experienced padder or a novice who is interested in learning more about the sport. Rain or shine, sign up here as registration is limited! We are also looking for volunteers, if you would like to give a hand in putting together this event.

Featuring:

  • Sea Kayak and SUP Demo Beach
  • On-Water Instruction
  • On-Water Demonstrations
  • Open Air Paddlesports Market with Vendors
  • Alki Paddling Challenge, Race on Saturday June 25
  • Classroom Presentations and Instruction
  • Music, Food, and Fun!

For more information and to sign up for the challenge race or to sign up for volunteer duties, go to http://northwestpaddlingfestival.com/.

The event is being co-sponsored by Sustainable West Seattle partner Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, the Port of Seattle, the Environmental Protection Agency, Paddle Events LLC, Sea Kayaker Magazine, and West Seattle’s own Alki Kayak Tours.

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Orca Stewardship Training

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Featuring…

The training will take place at the Alki Community Center, 5817 Southwest Stevens St., Learn more about the southern resident orcas, issues impacting them, and what you can do to make a difference. Become an Orca Steward and help us turn the tide for the whales.

Pre-registration is required at Brown Paper Tickets.  (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/177394). Attendance is limited. Register early!

This project funded in part by a Neighborhood Matching Fund award of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.  The training is presented by The Whale Trail – info@thewhaletrail.org.

About the Training

Puget Sound is home to three pods of orcas (J, K and L pods). These beloved and iconic marine mammals were listed as Endangered in 2005. Threats contributing to their decline include lack of prey, toxin accumulations, and stress and noise from vessel impacts. If current trends continue or worsen, they could go extinct in as little as 100 years.

Residents of the Puget Sound region have a tremendous impact on whether the orcas will make it. This pilot program will teach how individuals can make a difference for the whales, the Sound, and the marine life that it sustains. As part of the program, participants will be encouraged to make a commitment to one or more specific stewardship actions.  Lunch will be provided.

About The Whale Trail

The Whale Trail is a series of sites around the region where the public may view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. Its mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment. The project is partnering with groups, agencies and communities around the region to select and develop the Whale Trail sites, and to create and deliver educational programs. With 20 sites established, the project plans to add at least 20 more this year, including four in West Seattle. For more information, visit www.thewhaletrail.org or www.facebook.com/pages/The-Whale-Trail/114940735193641, or contact info@thewhaletrail.org.

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Tools To Help Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle for Earth Day, Everyday

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In honor of Earth Day 2011, here’s some useful tools to help you assess your carbon footprint, determine if there are ways you can cut down on energy use, help you find ways to contain storm-water runoff, and other useful items from a wide variety of organizations including King County and Seattle public utilities.

How big is your footprint and what can you do to make a difference?

You can also help reduce your use of paper and therefore save in the conversion of trees into pulp and the attendant issues associated with that process.  Here’s some ways you can reduce your use of paper.

You have a choice when it comes to how much junk mail, credit card offers, catalogs and phone books arrive at your home and workplace.

Help your recycling reduce bulk by opting-out of phone books and taking your name off catalog and junk mail distribution lists.  Here’s links to ways to do this:

Reduce, Reuse what you can, and then Recycle.  It’s pretty easy. Do you have a question about recycling, composting or reducing waste? Ask Charlie, CleenScapes online inquiry and question form.

Seattle ecycling stations are open from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm seven days a week except major holidays.

  • North Station: 1350 North 34th Street (located in the Fremont/Wallingford area at North 34th Street, near Carr Place North)
  • South Station: 8105 5th Avenue South (located south of the First Avenue South Bridge)

You can even see the waiting lines on-line at this link: http://www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Garbage/Recycling_&_Disposal_Stations/index.asp

For other recycling options in the Puget Sound area, visit the Take It Back Network.

Comments on Boeing Plant 2 Cleanup Due May 28

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Aerial View of Duwamish River

 

The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition asks “What’s New Along the Duwamish River?”

The Boeing Plant 2 toxic cleanup is in progress!

Some of the old Boeing Plant 2 building has already been demolished. This is the first step towards cleanup and restoration of the site. The Boeing Company will pay to remove the contaminated mud from the river and in the upland areas below the old facility. This is currently the river’s most toxic site, and its cleanup will be a huge step forward for the river’s cleanup and restoration progress. Click here to view more information about Boeing Plant 2.

Your comments are needed by May 28th!

DRCC/TAG is reviewing the proposed cleanup plan, and will submit formal comments by the deadline on May 28th. We want to hear your comments and questions: Click here to email us! or call: 206-954-0218

EPA will accept written comments from the public on their cleanup plans for Boeing Plant 2 until May 28, 2011. This is the only opportunity for the public to give opinions on plans for the cleanup at the Boeing Plant 2 site.

Comments can be sent to EPA via email to: blocker.shawn@epa.gov.

Please cc: DRCC/TAG on emails at: contact@duwamishcleanup.org.

Standard postal mail comments can be sent to:

U.S. EPA, Region 10, ATTN: Shawn Blocker, 1200 6th Avenue, Suite 900, AWT-121, Seattle WA, 98101

DRCC Comments & Recommendations:

  • 1. DRCC supports EPA’s selected cleanup options – N2 (north bank) and S4 (south bank) remove the most contaminated mud, provide the thickest barrier, and are less vulnerable to earthquake damage.
  • 2. Extreme care needs to be taken to prevent the spread of contaminated mud during dredging, because escaping mud could wash up on South Park beaches.
  • 3. The cleanup needs to be coordinated with pollution control efforts up- and downriver or the area could be recontaminated. It is important to protect our investment in cleanup, as well as to ensure long-term protection of the environment and people’s health.

 

 

Draft Shoreline Master Program Regulations Posted for Review

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The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is pleased to present the draft Shoreline Master Program (SMP) regulations and proposed amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Accompanying these documents is the Director’s Report that summarizes the proposed changes to the SMP. We encourage you to review these documents and send us your comments. The documents are available on CD or hard copy by request, and at the following website: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/ShorelineMasterProgramUpdate/Overview/

The update of the City’s SMP regulations is mandated by the Washington Department of Ecology. The SMP constitutes the policies and regulations governing development and uses on and adjacent to marine and freshwater shorelines. This includes the waters of Puget Sound, Lake Washington, Lake Union/Ship Canal, the Duwamish River and Green Lake, as well as associated wetlands and floodplains. These policies and regulations affect land uses, structure bulk and setbacks, public access requirements, bulkheads, docks, piers, and construction practices.

In addition to the draft regulations and polices DPD will be releasing a restoration plan in March 2011. The restoration plan is part of the SMP.

Please provide your written comments by May 16, 2011, to Margaret Glowacki via e-mail at margaret.glowacki@seattle.gov or via US mail at:

Margaret Glowacki, City of Seattle – DPD, 700 Fifth Ave. Suite 2000, P.O. Box 34019, Seattle, WA 98124-4019

In March, DPD will host a public meeting to present information on the SMP update process and the proposed amendments. In the spring, Mayor McGinn will submit legislation to City Council. City Council will provide additional opportunities for public participation before adopting legislation.

King County 2010 Environmental Report Available Online

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The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks has published its 2010 annual report on Environmental Stewardship in King County.

Environmental Stewardship in King County, the 2010 Annual Report for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, describes the department, what it was tasked to do and what it accomplished in 2010. The report provides maps, facts and figures to convey the breadth of department responsibilities and includes overviews of executive initiatives, performance measures and results, and awards won by the department in 2010.

The 2010 Annual Report describes accomplishments by the department’s four divisions:

  • Wastewater Treatment;
  • Water and Land Resources;
  • Solid Waste, and
  • Parks and Recreation.

The report also outlines the 2010 achievements of the King County GIS Center, and includes an overview of finances for the department and its divisions.

Environmental Stewardship in King County, the Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ 2010 Annual Report, is available in PDF format, and is available in sections for faster download. To request a paper copy of this report, please call 206-296-6500.

Click here to download he full document  – Environmental Stewardship in King County, 2010 (6.5 Mb).