West Seattle, Washington
01 Friday
Even as the city moves slowly toward a policy aimed at protecting trees, more are taken out daily, mostly for development. A short distance north of Lincoln Park, one big old tree is endangered for a different reason: A city transportation project.
Crews are working right now on the west side of Fauntleroy/Fontanelle [map] to build curb ramps. When they get to the east side of the intersection, Sara says, the huge chestnut tree at that corner of her yard is in danger.
She’s launched an online petition drive to try to save the tree, which they believe is more than a century old. The petition page tells the tree’s story in detail, including Sara’s personal plea:
We cherish this tree and its history. We love observing the animals it provides for, and are honored to behold its abundant glory and all the creatures that enjoy it. I gather snips of the flowers to make arrangements for meditiation. My housemate and her daughter collect the chestnuts annually and use them for arts and crafts! We were set to create a ladder this year so that we could climb it and build a treehouse! We long to protect it. Trees like this are sacred and SHOULD NOT BE DESTROYED!
Similarly, our neighbors over at the Kenney take walks and come to our tree specifically to gather chestnuts for their own decor, and to enjoy its sentimental value, as many of them have grown up visiting this tree in their childhood. We have many West Seattle residents pass by this tree to enjoy its splendor. This is a generational staple of our neighborhood.
After hearing from Sara, we asked SDOT about the tree. Here’s the response we received from spokesperson Ethan Bergerson:
SDOT has not made any decisions to remove this tree. At this point, we are only planning to temporarily remove some of the adjacent concrete sidewalk panels which were already lifted up by the tree roots, so that our arborists can get a closer look at the root structure. Our immediate objective is to better understand our options, and whether it is possible to trim the tree roots in a way that maintains the health of the tree so that the sidewalk can be repaired and the curb ramp installed.
As you noted, this tree is on private property. We have been having an ongoing conversation with the property owner, who has been aware of this situation since last September and understands that they share responsibility with SDOT for repairing the sidewalk damage. Their tenant learned of the situation more recently and initially believed that we had made a decision to remove the tree. We have since spoken with both the owner and tenant to make it clear that this is not the case and we will continue to share information about the tree and curb ramp design and construction as they become available.
Sara’s not taking any chances. Her online petition is collecting signatures, and her housemate’s 9-year-old daughter has written a letter with her own plea:
The petition page even includes a design proposal for building the curb and saving the tree. Sara writes, “I want to be very clear: we absolutely want our sidewalk and streets to be accessible for everyone! There are ways to do this that do not involve killing our tree.”
(WSB photo, this morning)
The city “remediation” cleanup at the SW Andover RV encampment – noted here last Friday – is under way. No RVs appear to have moved, but city-contractor junk-hauling trucks were there when we went through around 9 am, along with SDOT and SPD vehicles. The “no parking” signs that went up last week indicated the work would start Sunday, and we did see one of the junk haulers at the 28th/Andover corner again that day:
(WSB photo, Sunday)
As we reported last week, the “No Parking” signs are basically a request, not an order, and SDOT told us they would not be towing vehicles unless they clearly had been abandoned. This is the first “remediation” since last December, when the city reported removing almost four tons of “garbage and debris.”
The state Department of Ecology has sent advance word of a drill you might notice if you’re looking toward Harbor Island or the downtown waterfront tomorrow (Tuesday, April 12th). Starting at 9 am, the alert says, “Kinder Morgan and NRC will be deploying equipment to exercise their oil spill contingency plans, and test the geographic response plan for that area. Activities will start at the Kinder Morgan facility on Harbor Island [map], and then move to the waterfront near the Seattle Aquarium. Crews will operate oil spill skimmers near Harbor Island and deploy boom near the Seattle waterfront.”
(WSB photo from past Recycle Roundup)
Just a reminder that April 24th is the date for Fauntleroy Church‘s next Recycle Roundup, a free dropoff event, 9 am-3 pm in the church’s parking lot at 9140 California SW. Here’s the list of what will be accepted:
(You can also see the list here, including what NOT to bring.) Fauntleroy Church’s partner is 1 Green Planet, which usually brings multiple trucks, so there’s plenty of capacity.
(WSB file photo)
Also returning this year: The large-scale volunteer-work day all along the Duwamish River and its watershed, to help restore the health of Seattle’s only river. The spring 2022 Duwamish Alive! event is planned for Saturday, April 16th. Even before announcing it to the community at large, some groups have filled up the volunteer openings at various sites, but some openings remain: “Group B” for kayak cleanup (kayaks provided!) and habitat restoration – find the signup info here – and The Heron’s Nest, which is also open to groups and offering children’s activities – email info@duwamishalive.org to sign up for that site.
That’s just part of what community volunteers picked up along West Marginal last weekend. Organizer Erik Bell sends word that four community cleanups are planned around West Seattle this weekend – including a return to West Marginal – and you’re invited to pitch in:
Saturday:
7-8 am Alki Cleanup (Statue of Liberty start)
10 am-12 pm Alki First Saturday Clean (2452 Alki Ave SW start)
10 am-12 pm Pop-Up Clean / SW Holden (24th & Holden start, family-friendly)
Sunday:
10 am-12 pm Marginal Way / Missing Link (Həʔapus Park start)
Equipment (and bags) provided, but if you have your own pickup stick/bucket, bring it!
Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network and SR3 are planning a major beach cleanup for Friday, April 15th – open to everyone, since it’s spring-break week for many students. Here’s the announcement:
Volunteers needed! SR3 (Seattle Response + Rehab + Research) and Seal Sitters are hosting a cleanup of Alki Beach at 10:00 am on Friday, April 15, in honor of Earth Day and to celebrate the first anniversary of the SR3 Marine Wildlife Hospital, the SeaLife Rescue Center. Show your love for all of the creatures that depend upon our beaches & learn about the important work being done by SR3 & Seal Sitters.
Please dress for Seattle spring weather and bring appropriate footwear (waterproof is recommended.) In consideration of the environmental impact of single-use bottles, water will not be provided, so please bring whatever water and refreshments you’ll need.
Equipment (gloves, hand sanitizer, bags, buckets, grabbers) will be available, but please bring your own if you have them! Please RSVP here. Meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza, Alki Ave SW at 61st Ave SW.
All ages welcome!
(Stonefly exoskeleton, photographed in 2018 by Dennis Hinton)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
Did aquatic insects living in lower Fauntleroy Creek benefit from the 244 spawner carcasses that have been decaying since November? You bet, according to student researchers from Louisa Boren STEM K-8.
A dozen fourth graders, led by volunteer educator Shannon Ninburg, conducted the Fauntleroy Watershed Council‘s annual early-spring count of stonefly exoskeletons on Sunday, March 27, and found the third-highest number in the study’s 22-year history.
Stoneflies live in freshwater up to three years, then crawl out to shed their exoskeletons, fly, and mate to start the cycle of life over again. Stonefly nymphs are a significant food source for juvenile salmon, plus they are an indicator of water quality as they cannot tolerate high pollution.
(Sunday video by Tom Trulin)
Teams of students counted all the exoskeletons they could find in the study area, looking on trees, bushes, fences, and bridges near the water. One team focused on measuring torsos.
They found 62 exoskeletons – the most in three years. Average size of 10 specimens was 4 cm; one measuring 6 cm was among the largest ever recorded over the years.
After reviewing their data, the students reached conclusions about why the number of exoskeletons was so high this year and why most stoneflies exited the creek where they did. After students approve the final report, the watershed council will share it with regional salmon-habitat specialists and post it at fauntleroywatershed.org.
(Photo courtesy Erik Bell)
Can you follow in their footsteps? Those cleanup volunteers tackled a stretch of West Marginal Way SW last weekend – and tomorrow, volunteers are invited to a followup cleanup, 10 am-noon Sunday (March 27th). Organizer Erik Bell sent the invitation:
This is the finishing touch to last week’s extraordinary cleanup along W. Marginal Way SW. Although highly successful, we didn’t quite make it to the S-curve between the south end of Həʔapus Village Park and CalPortland cement plant. This stretch still has quite a bit of debris to get through but I believe we can knock it out tomorrow.
Our work will make the Duwamish Trail safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, prevent litter from further polluting adjacent waterways, and make this stretch of road more aesthetically pleasing.
This is a grittier-style roadway clean (adults only.) Vests, gloves, buckets and pickup sticks will be provided. Dress in layers for the weather; the environment includes blackberry bushes and lots of debris from car wrecks and dumped materials. This week’s weather may make some areas very muddy so wear footwear and clothes that you don’t mind getting wet and dirty.
Parking: We’ll meet in the parking lot for Həʔapus Village Park (4500 Duwamish Trail). From there we’ll head south along West Marginal and clean towards CalPortland cement plant, just under 1 mile. We’ll work in groups and will be practicing safety first and foremost — especially those cleaning on the west side of West Marginal, which has no sidewalk or shoulder in most places. The east side has a bike path / sidewalk for more buffer from the road. Come for as little or as much as you’d like…bring a friend.
Please reach out with any questions, concerns or carpooling opportunities. I can be reached at 206-852-9552 or on Messenger.
7:51 PM MONDAY: A year and a half after installing a public electric-vehicle charging station in The Junction, Seattle City Light is proposing another one in West Seattle – this time, at a former substation site in Morgan Junction.
That’s an outline of the proposal, from the city webpage set up for the project. The site is at 4118 SW Morgan, kittycorner from the east side of West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). As shown, it could hold up to eight charging stations, which SCL says would be accessed from the north side of the site, off Fauntleroy Way SW. The description adds:
Anyone with an electric vehicle will be able to use the charging station. Drivers will need to pay a fee to charge. The fee is designed to pay for the electricity and the cost of building the station.
Construction could begin as soon as the 4th quarter of 2022. The project will take approximately three months to complete.
This is considered a good location for an EV charging station because it is close to neighborhood retail, services, and major arterial roads. There are currently no public EV fast chargers in the Morgan Junction neighborhood.
The substation was decommissioned 20 years ago and the city says the site is planned for cleanup first, with its existing trees to be removed and replaced. For the next month – until April 22nd – the city is running a survey to see what the community thinks about the plan – you can answer it here.
3:57 PM TUESDAY: We asked SCL spokesperson Jenn Strang about the project’s cost. She responded that “at this juncture it would be premature for us to assign a number to costs. There are many variables yet to be determined before we could form a concrete estimate.”
As always, recycling/shredding is popular – this year’s first West Seattle event has a big turnout. We just went over to the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) for a look.
Organizers didn’t have a master count yet but our informal look at tally sheets suggested at least 200 cars in the first hour; commenters on our morning-preview post mentioned a long line in the early going, and cars stretched back to the south entrance when we arrived in the area around 10 am. Once you get onto the campus, the line splits into two.
Some people parked on 16th SW north of the campus and walked their items in. This continues until noon, provided the trucks don’t all fill up!
Here’s what they’re accepting, while there’s capacity. The event is a collaboration between the West Seattle Junction Association, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and Seattle Public Utilities. If you miss this, Fauntleroy Church‘s first 2022 Recycle Roundup, also a dropoff event, is scheduled for 9 am-3 pm Sunday, April 24th.
Before we get to today’s highlights, last reminder about a big event tomorrow (Saturday, March 19th) – the year’s first West Seattle recycle/reuse event, including free shredding (4-box limit), 9 am-noon in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor). Our previous reminder includes the list of what they’ll be accepting until the trucks fill up. This is a drive-up/ride-up/walk-up event. The event is co-presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the West Seattle Junction Association
That’s where crews worked to repair a 27-inch-wide sewer pipe over the past few days, one week after it leaked, sending liquid bubbling up over the street and sidewalk on Beach Drive north of Lowman Beach. The King County Wastewater Treatment Division, which is responsible for this pipe, said sand and grit simply wore a hole in the concrete pipe, which KCWTD says is more than 70 years old. We asked about the volume of the leak, which bubbled up for hours. KCWTD spokesperson Marie Fiore tells WSB that via “modeling,” they estimate the total amount of the leak was 40,500, with about 33,500 of that discharged on the surface: “A portion was absorbed into the ground and most went into the storm drains.” Last week, after the leak was reported, KCWTD crews rerouted the flow from the leaky pipe into a parallel pipe, and cleaned the area; they returned starting this past Friday for repairs.
(WSB photos)
That trophy’s part of what’s up for grabs in a cleanup competition that has dozens of paddlers out on the Duwamish River this afternoon. They launched shortly after noon from the Georgetown side of the river, close to the First Avenue South Bridge.
We talked with one of the organizers, Cari Simson of the Duwamish River Paddling Club. She told us they were splitting into groups to head both north and south, to the areas they thought were most likely to be in need of cleanup, on both sides of the river.
So the kayakers and paddleboarders don’t get bogged down with everything they pick up, Global Diving and Salvage and the Port of Seattle were providing motorized-boat support.
The paddlers are having a friendly competition in categories including Most Mysterious Garbage, Most Colorful Garbage, Most Re-Useful Garbage, and Most Wearable Garbage. We hope to get an update later on the results of what organizers have dubbed River Booty 2022.
ADDED SUNDAY EVENING: See the comments for the update and photos – almost a ton and a half of trash removed!
(WSB photo, March 2021)
In case you need to do some sorting before the weekend’s out, we’re reminding you that six days are left until the year’s first free recycle/reuse/shredding event in West Seattle, next Saturday (March 19th), 9 am-noon in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor). Here’s what you’ll be able to drop off:
ACCEPTED ITEMS:
§ Household batteries (no leaking or broken, tape ends)
§ Fluorescent tubes and bulbs (no broken bulbs, limit 4)
§ Small Electronics (TVs, computers, etc.)
§ Small Appliances (non-Freon (microwaves, toasters, etc.)
§ Paper for shredding (limit 4 boxes)
§ Styrofoam (Clean & Dry – remove labels and tape)
§ Clothing (shoes, pants, shirts, purses, belts)
§ Curtains and drapes
§ Small propane canisters (camp-stove size)More information here: seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/collection-and-disposal/recycling/beyond-the-cart
The event is co-presented again this year by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the West Seattle Junction Association
(WSB photo, last April)
Another big event is returning this year: Fauntleroy Church‘s Recycle Roundup. We got the announcement today; it’s scheduled for 9 am-3 pm Sunday, April 24th. Here’s what the church’s partner 1 Green Planet will be accepting for free drive-up/ride-up/walk-up recycling:
You can also see the list here. The Recycle Roundup was happening twice a year, spring and fall, until the pandemic; it skipped 2020 and happened just once last year.
P.S. If you have electronic and other non-curbside recyclables you would like to get rid of before then, check out the March 19th Reuse/Recycle event we’ve been previewing, co-presented by the West Seattle Junction Association and Chamber of Commerce.
(WSB photo, last Thursday)
Last Thursday, we reported on a broken 27-inch sewer pipe beneath Beach Drive just north of Lowman Beach. It’s a King County pipe, and the Wastewater Treatment Division has just announced plans for repair work later this week:
The parts needed for the pipe repair are scheduled to arrive tomorrow. We expect to begin the repair on Friday, March 11. At the start of work, contractors will close one lane of traffic. Work is currently planned to continue through Sunday. Upon completion of the repair a temporary patch of hot mix asphalt will return the road to an open condition. King County will return to complete the final restoration of the road at a future date.
During the work, one lane will be closed to traffic, so flaggers will be there to direct people through the area. Work windows are 7 am-7 pm weekdays, 9 am-7 pm weekends. As for the leak’s cause, KCWTD spokesperson Marie Fiore tells WSB, “Sand and grit has scoured the 70+/- year old concrete pipe, which wears it away with time and use. The parallel pipe is in good condition, as it experiences less use.” That parallel pipe is where the flow from the leaky one has been redirected until repairs are made.
Two recycle/reuse notes:
(WSB photo: March 2021 recycle/reuse event)
WEST SEATTLE EVENT REMINDER: We’re now less than two weeks away from this year’s big recycle/reuse event – with shredding as well as various dropoff stations – on March 19th. As first previewed here (follow that link for a list of what’ll be accepted), it’s happening 9 am-noon (corrected) Saturday, March 19th, in the big north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), co-presented by the West Seattle Junction Association and Chamber of Commerce.
RECYCLE MADNESS: Also involved with that event, Seattle Public Utilities, which has another event this month for you and people around the city – an online game called Recycle Madness. SPU has set up a 32-item bracket of recyclable items and invites you to fill it out, ranking them by recycling difficulty, and send it in for a chance at prizes throughout the month. You can play by sending your bracket by noon Wednesday (March 9th). Read about the game and find the bracket form by going here.
New information today about Thursday’s sewer-pipe leak beneath Beach Drive, north of Lowman Beach. As noted in a late-night update added to our original coverage, it’s a King County Wastewater Treatment Division pipe, and right now, a crew is on scene using a video camera to get a closer look at the problem. We’ve talked with KCWTD spokesperson Marie Fiore, who says the pipe carries West Seattle sewage to the West Point treatment plant across Elliott Bay. It runs parallel to another pipe, so they had to “hand dig” to get to it for investigative purposes, so the other pipe isn’t damaged in the process, Fiore explained; that one is now carrying what would have been routed through the leaky pipe. She says they’re 70-year-old concrete pipes. Once the camera crew – whose work has traffic down to one lane, with flaggers, in the area right now – is done, they’ll know the timing and scope of repair work. Meantime, the Lowman Beach shore – affected by the seawall construction work right now anyway – will stay closed at least through the weekend, as Fiore says water-testing results aren’t expected back until Monday. They’re also working on an estimate of how much sewage spilled before the leak was stopped last night.
Two and a half years ago, then-Mayor Jenny Durkan proposed taxing heating oil as a way to encourage people to phase it out. 
The City Council approved the 23-cents-a-gallon tax in September 2019. But it still hasn’t gone into effect, and it may not, until next year – if ever. The heating-oil tax originally was set to start in September 2020, a year after its passage, but by then, the pandemic response was at center stage. A start date of April 2022 was eventually decided. On Tuesday, the City Council will look at pushing that back further, to January 1st of next year. It’s estimated that 15,500 households still use oil heat, and that the tax will cost them about $120 a year. Most of the proceeds, according to this briefing paper, will be used to help low-income households cover that cost, and to fully pay for conversion to electric heat pumps. The briefing paper suggests the city’s Green New Deal Oversight Board might eventually recommend another source, like the JumpStart tax, to cover those costs instead. The tax-delay proposal is on the agenda for Tuesday’s 2 pm council meeting. If the council doesn’t take action in March, the tax will start in April.
West Seattle resident Christi came up with an idea for a community-wide cleanup beyond the usual site-specific group gatherings. She’s circulated the idea on social media but wanted to be sure WSB readers knew about it too:
Let’s clean up YOUR neighborhood! Do what you can, with what you have, where you are~
What: Neighborhood Litter pickup
When: Saturday, Feb. 26, 9-11 [or a time of your choosing]
Where: YOU CHOOSE!This is a community litter pickup event. Everyone that wants to participate is encouraged to spend two hours on Saturday, Feb. 26 picking up litter in your neighborhood, a block up, a block over, or wherever you feel the need.
No time, but want to participate? Just clean up in front of your house and against the sidewalk. Maybe extend it to the older neighbor next door. Your neighborhood is already clean, but you want to participate? Select your favorite restaurant or shopping area, go to their parking lot and pick up litter there. I am sure the business owners and employees would be thrilled! Your street is good (not two hours worth of picking), but your route to work always breaks your heart? Pick there! Everyone wants to live in a clean community.
I do firmly suggest you only go to sidewalk neighborhoods. It’s pretty dangerous otherwise. Meeting a friend for coffee then? Great! Enjoy your coffee and then stroll and pick up litter in that area. Kids have events at that time? Pick up the ball field – I bet others would join you as you set an example of responsibility; especially younger siblings of those playing. Dog needs a walk? They will enjoy a stroll and a sniff here and there while you pick up litter.
WARNING: You will feel good and will feel so happy when you next drive through that area! You may even want to pick up litter again!
If you decide to do this, consider sending us a pic so we can celebrate your efforts – thanks!
(WSB photo, March 2021)
On the last day of winter, you’ll be able to do some almost-spring cleaning by bringing shreddable paper and recyclable/reusable items to the next big West Seattle drop-off event! Here’s the announcement we received this afternoon:
Have stuff to recycle that doesn’t go in your cart? Bring it to the “Beyond the Cart” Community Reuse & Recycling Event on March 19th hosted by the West Seattle Chamber and the West Seattle Junction Association!
Saturday, March 19th
9 am-12 pmSouth Seattle College
Entrance #1, 6000 16th Ave SWACCEPTED ITEMS:
§ Household batteries (no leaking or broken, tape ends)
§ Fluorescent tubes and bulbs (no broken bulbs, limit 4)
§ Small Electronics (TVs, computers, etc.)
§ Small Appliances (non-Freon (microwaves, toasters, etc.)
§ Paper for shredding (limit 4 boxes)
§ Styrofoam (Clean & Dry – remove labels and tape)
§ Clothing (shoes, pants, shirts, purses, belts)
§ Curtains and drapes
§ Small propane canisters (camp-stove size)More information can be found here: seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/collection-and-disposal/recycling/beyond-the-cart
Thank you to Waste Management and Seattle Public Utilities for making this event possible!
Just received from Seattle Public Utilities:
A minor sewer overflow (less than 3,000 gallons) occurred near the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal earlier today (Thursday).
The cause of the overflow can be traced to a blockage in the line. That blockage has been mostly relieved, preventing any additional overflow.
Seattle Public Utilities staff are posting signs at Cove Park this evening that let people know the area is currently closed to water activities.
We’ll be collecting water samples in the morning to determine when the beach can safely reopen to water activities.
ADDED: Register says, “The blockage, which was in the sewer mainline, was caused by a large piece of wood and other debris that got caught around the piece of wood.”
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