West Seattle Blog…

MLK Day of Service next Monday: Join West Seattle Spokespeople!

Still collecting opportunities for you to join in the MLK Day of Service next Monday on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We’ve mentioned the Nature Consortium work party, and now we’ve heard from Stu Hennessey of West Seattle Spokespeople: Stu’s inviting local bike riders to join Spokespeople “for a clean-up-under-the-bridge work party. Meet at 2 pm under the West Seattle Bridge along the bike path. Tools provided by the WS Tool Library. It’s getting messy under there. Work party should be no more than two hours.”

West Seattle Weather Watch: Burn-ban change

There’s still a burn ban in effect, but as of a few minutes ago, it’s lowered to Stage 1, from the original Stage 2. This still means you’re not supposed to use your fireplace unless it’s your main source of heat, and beach fires are still off-limits (even in the Alki rings), but it means pellet stoves and EPA-certified woodstoves and inserts are OK now, says the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

Today’s ‘king tide’ not so high – but new city map warns climate change has more in store

Without an accompanying storm, this morning’s “king tide” only rose to the bottom of the beach steps by the Alki Bathhouse – not high enough to swamp the Alki boardwalk the way the December 17th high tide did, four weeks ago:

But right about the same time we took the top photo this morning, the city was going public with a warning that it won’t take a “king tide” to submerge some parts of Seattle’s shoreline in a few decades, thanks to climate change. Part of the warning involves this map:

(Click image for larger view)
That’s the West Seattle section of a map just made public by Seattle Public Utilities, showing areas where they believe the rising sea level will dramatically affect the shoreline by 2050 – less than 40 years. If you look at it full size and zoom in as closely as possible, you’ll see Harbor Island and the Duwamish River shores are potentially hardest hit (dark blue), along with the immediate Alki/Beach Drive/Arroyos/etc. waterfront. Here’s a closeup of the area northeast of Alki Point:

(See the map for the entire city by going here. Once you have it open, you can zoom way in to see areas shaded light blue for possible 6″ higher, dark blue for up to 44″ higher.)

This is all intended to bring attention to the city’s plan to try to lessen this area’s contribution to climate change, and ways in which they’re asking for your opinion on how to proceed:

Click to read the rest of Today’s ‘king tide’ not so high – but new city map warns climate change has more in store…

MLK Day of Service: Spend it in the forest with Nature Consortium

(Photo courtesy Nature Consortium)
Two weeks till Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day – which has become more than a holiday; it’s become the MLK Day of Service. We are often asked in the days leading up to it “where in West Seattle can I volunteer that day?” – and this year, we have an early heads-up from WS-based Nature Consortium, including the preceding Saturday. Here’s the NC announcement:

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Nature Consortium will host a Weekend of Service with two opportunities to volunteer in Seattle’s largest remaining forest, the West Duwamish Greenbelt. The events commemorate Dr. King’s life and legacy as the father of environmental justice. On Saturday, January 19 and Monday, January 21, volunteers can spend “a day on, not a day off” as part of an ongoing effort to restore the forest to healthy condition.

Nationwide, minority communities are disproportionately affected by pollution, and Seattle is no exception. The Duwamish River is a toxic waste site impacting thousands of residents in South Seattle, the majority of whom are people of color. Philip Pantaleo, a South Park resident and Nature Consortium volunteer, describes how environmental injustice has affected his diverse community.

“The soil in South Park was so contaminated with pollutants introduced by local industry that it was not safe to grow food in our front yards,” says Pantaleo. He volunteers in the West Duwamish Greenbelt to help improve environmental health in his neighborhood.

Extending over 500 acres in West Seattle, the West Duwamish Greenbelt plays a critical role in filtering the air and water pollution in the Duwamish River corridor created by urban runoff and industrial waste. Nature Consortium’s work in the West Duwamish Greenbelt will aid the restoration of the watershed, creating a healthier environment for South Seattle and allowing more equal access to its natural resources.

On MLK Weekend, Nature Consortium and volunteers will plant trees and other native plants in an area of the greenbelt known as the Soundway site, 32 acres of land the City of Seattle had intended to sell to developers. Community members including Nature Consortium banded together in 2004 to save the property from development and have since worked year round to restore the urban habitat.

In the spirit of Nature Consortium’s mission to “connect people, arts, and nature,” these outdoor events will also feature live musicians to entertain volunteers while they work. Saturday’s event will also offer free chair massage for volunteers provided by Essence of the Sun Bodywork and Massage as a show of gratitude for their hard work.

For more information or to register for a volunteer event, visit www.naturec.org.

Any other MLK Day service opportunities in West Seattle/White Center/South Park? Please let us know – editor@westseattleblog.com – so we can help get the word out. Thank you!

Post-holiday recycling: Christmas lights; more tree options

Popular question for these days between Christmas and New Year’s: Where/how to recycle no-longer-needed lights and/or the done-for-the-season tree? We just got two new answers to the latter. But first, the former:

RECYCLING CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Thanks to Victoria for sending this link to KING 5‘s list of locations - while it starts off with details about a mostly Tacoma-centered program, it includes a mention that McLendon Hardware is recycling lights this year, and that means you don’t have to go far; they’re at 16th/102nd in White Center.

MORE OPTIONS FOR RECYCLING CHRISTMAS TREES: We’ve mentioned the city’s how-to a couple times, for curbside pickup or transfer-station dropoff. Just in, two other options: First, the West Seattle Rainbow Girls are again recycling trees by donation at the Masonic Hall in The Junction (40th/Edmunds), this Saturday (January 5), 10 am-2 pm. Second, Dreamscapes Landscaping owner Jacob Ford says he’ll pick your tree up for free in West Seattle – he mulches the branches and “makes things out of” the rest. 206-412-7707.

Christmas tree ready to go? West Seattle tree-cycling reminder

Ben e-mailed today to ask, “Where/when do we take our Christmas trees to be removed? Will the city pick them up?” The info is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, but for expediency’s sake, here’s the bottom line: Between now and January 13, you can put your tree out for curbside pickup OR take it to the transfer station (nearest one is in South Park). If it’s taller than six feet, you need to cut it to that length before putting it out for curbside pickup – or take it to the transfer station, where it can be intact up to eight feet tall. The city’s full how-to is here. P.S. Also remember, if you have Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday trash/recycling/yard-waste/etc. pickup, it’ll be on one-day delay again this week because of the holiday – Tuesday pickup will be on Wednesday, and so on. Then it’s all back to normal the week of January 7th.

West Seattle holidays: Early reminder about tree-cycling

Always hate to start talking pre-Christmas about what to do with the tree post-Christmas, but in case you’re wondering, Seattle Public Utilities has just sent the information (which gives us another occasion to remind you that if you have Tuesday solid-waste pickup, it’ll be on Wednesday the next two weeks since Christmas/New Year’s are on Tuesdays):

City residents who subscribe to curbside food and yard waste collection can put their Christmas trees and holiday greens out on their regular collection day at no extra charge, from Dec. 26, 2012 to Jan. 13, 2013.

Multi-family buildings can put out one tree next to each food and yard waste cart per collection day at no extra charge during this time.

Trees should be cut into sections of six feet long or shorter, with branches trimmed to less than four feet to fit into the collection trucks. Sections should be bundled with string or twine. Metal, plastic and ornaments in trees and wreaths must be removed.

Trees that are flocked and/or have tinsel or ornaments will be collected as extra garbage. Customers will need to cut the tree into three-foot pieces and each piece will be charged as extra garbage. Each unit of extra garbage costs $8.60. Plastic trees are not recyclable.

Seattle residents can also drop off their holiday trees and greens for free at Seattle Public Utilities’ North and South Recycling and Disposal stations between Dec. 26, 2012 and Jan. 13, 2013. The tree sections must be cut to eight feet or less in length and the trunk must be four inches or smaller in diameter. The limit is three trees per vehicle. Only trees and wreaths without flocking or decoration may be disposed free of charge.

The City of Seattle’s North Recycling and Disposal Station in the Fremont/Wallingford area and the South Recycling and Disposal Station in the South Park area will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25, and New Year’s Day, January 1. The North Recycling and Disposal Station is located at 1350 North 34th Street. The South Recycling and Disposal Station is located at 8105 5th Ave South. The stations are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

In case you need it again for reference, we’ll add this to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, which will be up and running through New Year’s Day, too.

Land-use decision for overflow tank across from Lowman Beach

(Recent aerial of Lowman Beach Park and future overflow-control tank site, by Long Bach Nguyen)
From today’s city Land Use Information Bulletin – the land-use permit decision for the million-gallon underground storage tank and other components comprising the county Wastewater Treatment Division’s Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project. (You can read the decision here.) This is the county’s plan to reduce overflows from the Murray Pump Station that’s underground at Lowman Beach Park; it will be built across the street from the park, where six residential buildings are fenced off and awaiting demolition. There are two dates of note coming up: December 20th is the date set for this decision to be appealed (here’s the process for that); December 27th is the date for appealing a separate related decision involving underground piping (find that decision here).

One other note regarding the project: The community Design Advisory Group meets again next Tuesday, December 11th, 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). While the agenda is not yet online, PDFs with renderings that will be shown – Beach Drive views around the project – can be previewed here, along with the plan for where interpretive signs will be placed.

ADDED 4:52 PM: We asked KCWTD about timetable for demolishing the structures on the future storage-tank site, now that this decision is in. The reply from spokesperson Annie Kolb-Nelson:

The City of Seattle today conditionally approved King County’s Master Use Permit (MUP) and Shoreline Development Permit for the Murray CSO Control Facility. The County needs a MUP before it can file for a construction permit to cover activities related to deconstruction of the buildings on site. Now that the County has that permit, it will file for a construction permit, and when that permit is obtained – typically a much shorter process than the MUP process- the County will bid a contract for deconstruction of the buildings. If all proceeds smoothly, that means deconstruction could occur in early 2013.

West Seattle development: Trio of teardowns? Not quite

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

New life is ahead for three old homes near Westwood Village.

Instead of being torn down to make way for townhouses or apartments – or big new homes – they will be transformed into three new/almost-new, modestly sized, energy-efficient homes, as part of a program financed by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.

We visited the site a few days ago, as the owners/builders – Green Canopy Homes – and WSHFC reps met the neighbors to explain the project :

Click to read the rest of West Seattle development: Trio of teardowns? Not quite…

West Seattle trees: Jacobsen Road removal; Seaview arrival

In case you missed the Seattle Parks announcement on Friday – tree removal is under way along Jacobsen Road (uphill from Beach Drive); Parks says more than 20 alder trees that are in bad shape are being taken down by contractor Asplundh. En route to check on that work, we happened onto another area where trees were being planted:

That was the scene along SW Graham in Seaview this afternoon – not far from the neighborhood project mentioned here back in October; we’re checking to see if it’s related.

A West Seattle wetland needs you! Help @ Sanislo tomorrow

The weather looks better tomorrow – cloudy and only MAYBE showery – so here’s an outdoor idea:

Join us at Sanislo School the Saturday after Thanksgiving – to give thanks by giving back – and to work off those calories from feasting! We’re restoring the wetland headwaters of Puget Creek, a culturally significant watershed upstream of the Duwamish Tribe’s efforts to restore salmon habitat, and important to King County’s Wastewater’s efforts to improve water quality in the Duwamish River. It’s tree-planting time – evergreen trees reduce sewer overflows by intercepting winter rains. Come alone or bring a friend!

Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Join for an hour or all day)

Where: Sanislo School Wetland; 1812 SW Myrtle … Meet at front of school.

What to bring: We have gloves and tools (write your name on any personal tools). Wear long sleeves/pants, sturdy shoes or boots, & hat/rain protection. Snacks and water provided.

Happening now: CoolMom in Fauntleroy, with don’t-idle advice

(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Out in the rain in their yellow safety vests, moms and kids from West Seattle-founded CoolMom are at the Fauntleroy ferry dock this afternoon, with a message for drivers as part of CM’s “Think Outside the Car” campaign. They’re distributing educational reminders including:

*10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it

*An idling vehicle emits 20 times more pollution than one traveling 32 mph

*Idling 5 minutes daily emits 30 pounds of toxic pollutants and 300 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year

Idling, of course, is not just a ferry-line problem – drive-throughs are another place you can shut your engine off and help clear the air. You can get involved in the No-Idle Campaign with the info you’ll find here.

Nature Consortium throws another green birthday party for Dow Constantine

(Birthday guy with Nature C’s Nancy Whitlock; photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
The College Street Ravine near King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s home got him into politics – and every year, the West Seattle-based Nature Consortium organizes a work party there to mark his birthday. Today was the day, and he was there before noon (right about the same time that, back in downtown Seattle, his office was sending word King County would start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples at 12:01 am December 6th). Later in the evening, he was scheduled for his traditional “39th birthday anniversary.” Back at the ravine, West Seattle musician Dan Pearson serenaded volunteers:

The Nature Consortium focuses on restoring forests/greenspace, and has a work party in the College Street Ravine every month (among other places) – sign up to join in, here.

What’s in our waterway? New site dives into Puget Sound pollution

This fall, we’ve already had multiple times to see and talk about Puget Sound sealife – orca visits, salmon runs, seal pups, even the Seacrest octopus controversy. There’s new information today about something that affects them all, and more, and us: Puget Sound pollution. One visualization is in “Diver Laura” James‘s photo above, pointing out cigarette butts strewn on the seafloor; she took the photo near the Fairmount Creek stormwater outfall off Harbor Avenue, in about 20 feet of water. Discarded cigarette butts are washed off sidewalks and streets when it rains, go into storm drains, and wind up here, leaching toxic chemicals into the Sound. Just one source of pollution, of course – one among, unfortunately, many. To help understand what’s happening in and to the Sound, the state has just launched a new website – described in this news release:

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has boiled down a 300-page report into a new, user-friendly website that explains what we currently know about toxic chemical pollution in the Puget Sound region.

The website links what’s known about toxic contamination in Puget Sound to ongoing efforts to keep the contaminants out of the nation’s second-largest estuary. The site draws attention to actions that individuals, businesses, community groups and federal, state, tribal and local governments can take to help reduce toxic threats to the sound.

Click to read the rest of What’s in our waterway? New site dives into Puget Sound pollution…

Octopus followup: Dylan Mayer advocates for protection in Olympia

12:36 PM: There’s a postscript today to last week’s big controversy over a 19-year-old diver removing an octopus from popular Cove 2 at Seacrest.

West Seattle environmental advocate “Diver Laura” James – the first person to tip us last week – monitored the proceedings in Olympia before state Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. In our coverage last week, we focused on plans to push for protection of wildlife at Cove 2, since otherwise, the octopus catch was completely legal. The state explained that public comment was welcome at commission meetings (today and tomorrow are the first ones since the incident). James reports that the octopus catcher, Dylan Mayer, spoke during the public-comment period of today’s meeting, “on behalf of closing Cove 2 for octopus and putting up clear signage.” She adds, “Massive props go to Craig Willemsen, the owner of Silent World Diving Systems, who met with him on Tuesday and discussed it as an option.” Mayer had defended his action in various discussions, including the WSB Forum, with several posts including this one. This morning’s meeting was webcast by TVW, and video will eventually be online here.

ADDED 6:37 PM: The official state news release about what happened today, including Mayer’s comments: Click to read the rest of Octopus followup: Dylan Mayer advocates for protection in Olympia…

Green Seattle Day with Friends of Lincoln Park: A success!

Friends of Lincoln Park sends a public thank-you tonight after a big day. From Lisa McGinty, who also shared the photo:

Thanks to everyone for joining Friends of Lincoln Park during our Green Seattle Day event at Lincoln Park! We had more than 35 volunteers, including lots of young ‘forest stewards’. The rain held out and everyone chipped in and helped find a good home for more than 250 trees and plants at our chosen restoration site. We’ll continue to maintain and manage the site along with all the other great spots that need our help in the park.

If you are interested in joining our efforts, we meet every first Saturday and third Sunday of the month. Visit our site for details: friendsoflincolnpark.org.

Lincoln Park was one of three West Seattle sites during today’s special Green Seattle Day round of work parties.

Beloved but unprotected: Octopus ‘harvest’ at Seacrest brings calls for protection

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

They are mysterious, majestic – and largely unprotected. Now the status of the Giant Pacific Octopus has come to light – harsh light – because of an incident here in West Seattle, but it’s a light that might also lead the way to overdue protection.

WSB Forums members have been talking about it for a day, divers’ discussion boards have been spreading it like wildfire, and citywide media has picked it up too – an outrage-sparking saga from the popular diving area off Seacrest – known as Cove 2 – involving someone “harvesting” an octopus that was originally reported to be a female guarding eggs.

If you haven’t heard about this yet – here’s a basic version of the original report, on a personal website. The citywide media reports include one from our partners at The Seattle Times today, and a story by KING5.com last night.

While some of the discussion has centered on the alleged braggadocio of the diver who took the octopus – and someone claiming to be him has been posting in the WSB Forums thread, denying that it was a female – others have focused on this question: How can this be made illegal, so that it can’t happen – legally – again? That’s what we looked into

Right now, state Department of Fish and Wildlife rules say it’s legal to “harvest” an octopus (if licensed, and per a daily limit) just about anywhere – except for Marine Protected Areas (here’s a map). As the map shows, there are some in West Seattle – Schmitz and Richey Viewpoints off Beach Drive. The state law regulating protected areas is here.

The first person from whom we heard about this, award-winning environmental advocate and diver Laura James, expected a petition drive to be started to designate the popular diving area off Seacrest as a protected area.

And that’s one way to make it happen, we found out when we called WDFW to ask what is required to get an area designated as a protected area. Spokesperson Craig Bartlett provided a raft of information – and told us that the department is also looking into the issue. Bartlett noted that in his 13 years with the department, he didn’t realize till this came up that the octopus is unprotected.

According to Bartlett, “There are two ways citizens can petition the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for a change in fishing rules: 1) fill out a petition form at http://www.ofm.wa.gov/reports/petition.pdf and send it to the commission or 2) attend a commission meeting and testify during a public comment period.” There’s a meeting coming up next Thursday and Friday, he notes – the calendar is here, and the agendas for both mornings show public-input periods. (You would have to go to Olympia, however.)

We also have asked Seattle Parks for comment on the possibility of protecting the waters at Seacrest; since it’s a city park, it seems as if they might have some jurisdiction. We’ll add that reply when we get it.

4:50 PM P.S. On the Northwest Dive Club discussion boards, where this first came to light, there is now a separate discussion about pursuing protection – see it here.

10:07 PM UPDATE: As Diver Laura (James) has pointed out in comments, a petition is now up and running online – find it here.

Another West Seattle walk: Take an ‘urban field tour’ Saturday

The Feet First series of three West Seattle neighborhood walks was such a hit, they added a fourth – and there’s still room to join it at 1 pm this Saturday:

Join Feet First Watershed Walks Ambassador Timothy Lowry, PE, LEED AP, transportation and watershed planner on an urban field tour of the High Point neighborhood. High Point is ten percent of the Longfellow Creek watershed; this tour follows up on Feet First Neighborhood Walking Ambassador Bryan Fiedorczyk’s Watershed Walk of Longfellow Creek. Experience High Point’s innovative community planning and sustainable design. We will walk the venerable and diverse Smart Growth neighborhood and see examples of green buildings, mobility connections to transit, parks, and Longfellow Creek. We will also see Low Impact Development/natural Green Stormwater Infrastructure installations. Approaching a decade in the ground, the Natural Drainage Systems, tree retention, landscape amenities and permeable pavements have matured into a very pleasing, walkable and desirable urban neighborhood.

It’s free (leaving from the High Point Library at 35th/Raymond), but FF does ask that you RSVP – which you can do by going here.

Green Seattle Day on Saturday: Where will YOU help out?

Saturday is “Green Seattle Day” – your next chance to spend a few hours taking care of our cherished greenspaces, 10 am-2 pm. Two West Seattle organizations have invitations to share, in case you haven’t already signed up yet. First – the photo above, and the first invite, is from Friends of Lincoln Park:

Join Friends of Lincoln Park for GREEN SEATTLE DAY! Hosted by Green Seattle Partnership, Green Seattle Day is our big planting day of the year. We’ve worked hard to prepare the site and we’ll have about 250 plants, trees and lots of mulch. Starbucks is providing us with coffee and rumor has it Lisa and Sharon are planning to bake, so should be a very fun time! You can register here for this event. Here are the details:

*Meet at the kiosk in the north parking lot (Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Rose St)
*Dress in NW layers with rain gear and sturdy shoes/boots
*We’ll have tools and gloves, or bring your own
*We’ll be planting on the north side of trail 9 in the middle of the park. If you’re late, check the map in the kiosk to see where we are (we’ll have it marked). Hope you can join us! Please contact us with any questions: Sharon Baker: sabaker41@gmail.com or Lisa McGinty: lmcginty206@gmail.com. Or visit our site: friendsoflincolnpark.org

And the Nature Consortium is getting the word out about its designated site in eastern West Seattle:

Help keep Seattle green! Without a coordinated effort, Seattle is at risk of losing 70% of its forests in just 20 years. The Green Seattle Partnership, along with community members and nonprofits, is rallying volunteers to help save the city’s forests by pitching in on November 3rd.

The biggest forest in the city happens to be right here in West Seattle. At more than 500 acres, the West Duwamish Greenbelt is the largest contiguous forest remaining in Seattle and faces threats from invasive plants like Himalayan blackberry and English ivy. Those wanting to pitch in on Green Seattle Day can join West Seattle nonprofit Nature Consortium in the greenbelt to remove invasive plants and install new trees and shrubs.

In keeping with their mission to connect people, arts, and nature, Nature Consortium hires local musicians to play at their volunteer events. The November 3rd event at the West Duwamish Greenbelt will feature live music by the Rabbit Stew String Band and saxophonist Brian Kent. To volunteer with Nature Consortium on Green Seattle Day, sign up at www.naturec.org/volunteer.

Salmon homecoming! Drumming Sunday; creek-watchers ASAP

(2011 photo from Fauntleroy Creek, courtesy Dennis Hinton)
This Sunday is the day set for the annual Fauntleroy Creek community drumming session to call the salmon home. (5 pm, creek overlook at Fauntleroy/Director, across and uphill from the ferry dock) But they don’t seem to be waiting for an invitation – they’re approaching, and we just got word that volunteer creek-watchers are needed:

With the spotting of two coho spawners in the tidepool at the mouth of Fauntleroy Creek, Salmon Watch 2012 is getting under way a few days ahead of schedule. If you’ve thought about being a salmon watcher, this could be the year to see a lot of action. Volunteers schedule themselves for half-hour shifts when spawners are most likely to be present at the fish ladder (SW Director and upper Fauntleroy Way SW). Training on your first shift for adults and youth; children welcome with a parent. Sign up on the porch at 4539 SW Director Place; more information from Judy Pickens at 938-4203 or judy_pickens@msn.com.

State alert: Wednesday drill to test oil-spill-response readiness

The state Ecology Department just sent advance word about a drill planned for this Wednesday, off Blake Island on the other side of Puget Sound from West Seattle’s west-facing shores. While Ecology says it’ll be happening on the west side of the island – which would mean, facing Kitsap County – we’re publishing the alert in case unusual boat/aircraft traffic and other sightings catch your eye while participants are heading to and from the site:

Anyone spotting oil skimming vessels, containment boom and other response equipment on the west side of Blake Island in Puget Sound Wednesday Oct. 24 shouldn’t be alarmed.

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is testing the ability of six area oil companies to mount a rapid, aggressive and well-coordinated response to a major oil spill in central Puget Sound.

No oil will be discharged during the drill.

Harley Marine Services is sponsoring the multi-party oil spill preparedness drill with its cleanup contractor Marine Spill Response Corp. MSRC is a private, non-profit company supported by oil terminal and shipping company members.

More details, including “who’s participating,” ahead: Click to read the rest of State alert: Wednesday drill to test oil-spill-response readiness…

Video/photos: Duwamish Alive! volunteers, from the river to the greenbelt

(Video and photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Twice a year, hundreds of volunteers join forces across multiple sites along the Duwamish River and its watershed for Duwamish Alive!, a day devoted to caring for the vital waterway used by wildlife as well as industry and recreation, as well as the area that feeds into it. Today was the fall edition, with work parties at five sites; WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams went to the West Duwamish Greenbelt on Pigeon Point, to T-107 Park on the river, and to the Brandon Street Natural Area on Longfellow Creek; some of the sights are in the video above, and some in photos like these:

That’s Masha Sukneva working with an orange honeysuckle, while others worked on mulch:

More ahead: Click to read the rest of Video/photos: Duwamish Alive! volunteers, from the river to the greenbelt…

Video: Rainstorm runoff, underwater; plus, a clean-water chat

That 3-minute time-lapse video is shared by West Seattle environmental advocate Laura “Diver Laura” James, to tell the story of last Sunday’s rainstorm from underwater – the outfall off Alki where some of West Seattle’s runoff goes. (Be sure to watch at least the first half.) Want to make it less dramatic next time? The campaign against the Tox-Ick Monster will show you how. And you can discuss clean water – Puget Sound and beyond – with Laura and other Northwest advocates, journalists, and experts, in a live online chat at 11 this morning, presented by EarthFix – here’s the link.

Halloween on the river: Sign up for the ‘Toxic Terrors Tour’

(‘Slip 4′ Duwamish cleanup area, photographed in 2010 by Christopher Boffoli)
Even if you’ve toured the Duwamish River – you’ve probably never toured it THIS way. The annual Halloween-time tour is coming up in less than two weeks – 1 pm Sunday, October 28th, according to word we received tonight from Alberto Rodriguez at the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition:

It is about time for this year’s Halloween Haunted History Toxic Terrors Tour! This year we will have four speakers that will talk about:

*History of the Duwamish River and the Superfund site
*Native American supernatural legends
*Ghost stories of Georgetown and South Park
*”Scary” stories of the pollutants in the river

The tour will be 2 hours long and is $25 for adults and $15 for children. Find more information here.

That link is also where you can register for the tour.

Duwamish Alive! next Saturday: Sign up now to volunteer

(2010 Duwamish Alive! photo by Cliff DesPeaux for WSB)
Whether you paddle on the river, or walk into the watershed, there’s a multitude of ways you can help during the twice-yearly Duwamish Alive! cleanup next Saturday. All ages welcome! Choose a volunteer site here – or read on for details in the official announcement:
Click to read the rest of Duwamish Alive! next Saturday: Sign up now to volunteer…

Open house today: Fewer Sunrise Heights, Westwood bioswales to reduce sewer overflows

10 am-noon today, King County Wastewater Treatment staffers are at Westside School (WSB sponsor) for an open house to talk about the changes to the proposal for “green stormwater infrastructure” to reduce combined-sewer overflows from the Barton Pump Station in Fauntleroy. The map above – which is from this newsletter sent by the county – shows the new plan for 19 blocks where the county wants to put in “bioswales,” down from more than 30 in earlier versions of the proposal, which is now up to the “60-percent design” stage. There’s also a new aspect to the plan – incentives for voluntary participation in the RainWise program to install raingardens. According to the agenda for the meeting – which you’ll find here, along with other documents – there’s no presentation; they’ll explain the format at 10 am, and then information tables are open till noon.

West Seattle scene: Tree ambassador’s multi-century project

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
If you drive down 46th SW between SW Raymond and SW Graham in Seaview (map) right now and notice tree-removal work under way – you might leap to the wrong conclusion if you don’t know the whole story, which was shared with us this morning by Jonathan Stumpf:

Once upon a time, Thundercloud Plums lined 46th Avenue SW, as well as many other streets in the Seaview neighborhood. Highly susceptible to breakage, most have fallen to windstorms during recent years. This week, neighbors between Raymond and Graham have pooled resources to remove the last of them, clearing the way to take advantage of an upcoming SDOT planting project. Nineteen Copper Beeches, alternating with Scarlet Oaks, will soon replace the dying plums on this block. The new trees should live up to 300 years, and although they will need a number of years to grow, eventually they will form a canopy over the street, to be enjoyed by generations to come. One of Seattle’s Tree Ambassadors, Brandis Gray, inspired the community stewardship of this planting strip.

The preparation work we found when we stopped by the block just now is being done by Stonehedge Tree Experts (WSB sponsor). If you’d like to find out about being a tree ambassador, just go here.