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YOU CAN HELP: West Seattle Eco-Fair on Saturday
September 12, 2023 4:49 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

If you wonder what you can do for our planet’s ecological health beyond basic steps you might be taking already, Saturday brings a one-stop chance to find out. It’s the West Seattle Eco-Fair, organized by the Care for Creation Ministry of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Holy Rosary Catholic parishes. Organizers say the event will feature “environment-minded organizations from around the region ā€“ including Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, West Seattle Bicycle Connections, Seattle University Center for Justice and Sustainability, Wolf Haven International, and Tilth Alliance.” You can talk with reps of those organizations and others in Walmesley Center at OLG (7000 35th SW), 10 am-2 pm Saturday (September 16th). Organizers say this has been in the works more than three years, “originally planned for April 2020 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day,” but the pandemic got in the way; “the seeming drumbeat of bad environmental news” has continued, and knowledge can empower people to take action that matters.

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WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Have you seen this heron? Plus, a plea
September 11, 2023 9:36 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Photo courtesy Dina F)

West Seattle-based wildlife biologist Kersti Muul is asking Lincoln Park-area visitors to watch for a possibly injured Great Blue Heron. She explains that it got tangled in fishing line:

The heron got caught up in a live line (active fisher). He reeled it in and untangled it. The combat fishing affords no room for wildlife. It also attracts a high number of species (gulls and other water birds, seals, sea lions, crows, and other scavenging sea life) that are at high risk of getting snagged and/or entangled.

The amount of derelict gear and trash down there is astonishing. A lot of snagging going on, especially when people cast into the kelp beds. They will often just cut the line; which means the remaining line with hook and lead weights or lures is in the water. *Lead poisoning is a risk to eagles and loons* both of which frequent the area.

Overall, she says, not just people fishing, but everyone visiting Lincoln Park – including those drawn to see the newly installed troll – needs to help protect wildlife:

I plead to Fisher-people and park visitors to be more aware of their impact, pack out their trash, mind their feet on fragile beach ecosystems… Also, seems like a good time to bring this up. Folks have been stripping the sea spray roses of their rosehips, and taking large amounts of driftwood off of the beach. This is illegal, unethical and destructive to the ecosystem and the species that rely upon these habitats.

Meantime, to try to reduce the risk from fishing line, Kersti also says:

I’m having a derelict fishing gear container installed at Pt. Williams soon. It’s a WDFW container that I will have a maintenance contract with. Others will be going in along Alki. I also do a post-pink season snorkel to look for derelict fishing gear.

Kersti has dealt with other wildlife that suffered injuries from stray fishing line/gear:

That gull eventually lost one of the legs that got bound together as shown in the photo. P.S. If you see the heron, she says, “Even if it’s flighted and ‘seems’ OK, I’d like to visually assess it just in case.” (Kersti’s at kersti.e.muul [at] gmail.com)

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COUNTDOWN: 2 weeks until fall Recycle Roundup
September 9, 2023 5:27 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from spring Recycle Roundup last April)

If you’re doing fall cleaning and finding things you no longer need, remember that the fall Recycle Roundup at Fauntleroy Church is now just two weeks away – 9 am to 3 pm Saturday, September 23. The list of what Recycle Roundup partner 1 Green Planet will and won’t accept this time is available – see it here. (More than 60 items on the “will accept” list, only 20 on the “won’t.”) It’s free to drive up, ride up, walk up, and drop off your item(s); the church is at 9140 California SW.

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SMOKE WATCH: Hazy now, but no alerts
August 24, 2023 6:50 pm
|    Comments Off on SMOKE WATCH: Hazy now, but no alerts
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

6:50 PM: If you have a westward view like the one we photographed from Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook, you know the Olympics have gone temporarily missing again behind a smoky haze. This time, it’s smoke drifting down from British Columbia as the wind blows out of the north. Air-quality readings (like these on PurpleAir) show the results, but nothing like the last round, and so far, this time it’s not expected to get to alert level, and there’s even a chance of showers tomorrow morning.

8:58 PM: Another sign of smoke – the sunset. Here’s how Theresa Arbow-O’Connor caught it from Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza:

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GET READY: Next Fauntleroy Church Recycle Roundup less than a month away
August 24, 2023 4:54 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

If you’re ready for some pre-fall cleaning, you can start getting ready for the next Recycle Roundup dropoff event at Fauntleroy Church. It’s set for 9 am-3 pm on Saturday, September 23rd, and the list of what Recycle Roundup partner 1 Green Planet will and won’t take is available already – see it here. Then just be ready to drive up, walk up, ride up, and drop off your recyclables, free, that day. The church’s Green Committee coordinates this twice a year – last one was on Earth Day (April 22nd), with 450 people dropping off 14+ tons of recyclables.

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SMOKE: Early sunset, but relief’s on the way
August 20, 2023 8:11 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(From Fauntlee Hills – photo by Scott Wiesemann)

Thanks for the photos. Though the official sunset moment is right about now, the sun made an early exit tonight, shrouded in smoke after casting a pink shimmer on Puget Sound.

(Photo by Beth Jackson)

The National Weather Service says the wind has shifted in a way that should keep air quality from getting any worse, though it may take a while to “scour” the air. By Tuesday, there’s even a slight chance of rainshowers.

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SMOKE: Pink sunset, as air quality alert continues
August 19, 2023 9:34 pm
|    Comments Off on SMOKE: Pink sunset, as air quality alert continues
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by David Hutchinson – tonight’s sunset as seen from Alki)

It’s a sure sign of smoke – the sun appeared pink through the haze. We’re still under an air-quality alert until Monday morning, and readings show things have definitely worsened. The Washington Smoke Information site says this is smoke both from fires to the east and from fires in southern British Columbia.

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SMOKE: Regional alert for worsening air quality
August 19, 2023 10:54 am
|    Comments Off on SMOKE: Regional alert for worsening air quality
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

(Added 12:35 pm – Olympics obscured in westward view from Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook)

Most spots on the air-quality map looks OK now, but a regional alert issued this morning warns that smoke is moving in and could linger through early in the week. Here’s the main text of the alert:

This is a wildfire smoke alert from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the local public health agencies of King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Air pollution is increasing due to wildfire smoke and may cause health problems.

Wildfire smoke is expected to impact air quality in the Puget Sound region over the weekend, with higher impacts expected in King and Snohomish Counties. The air quality is likely to reach MODERATE or UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS on Saturday, with worsening smoke on Sunday that could reach UNHEALTHY or worse at times. We are expecting westerly surface winds on late Monday/early Tuesday which will help with clearing out the smoke.

Wildfire smoke can cause and worsen many health problems. … Limit your exposure by staying indoors, keeping your windows closed, and using air purifiers, if available.

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VIDEO: ‘Gratitude gathering’ beneath two doomed Gatewood trees with advocates who say ‘housing vs. trees is a false dichotomy’
August 17, 2023 11:29 pm
|      47 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Gatewood | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(The Gatewood Douglas Firs)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Tree advocates who helped save “Luma“ are branching out.

Tonight in West Seattle, they led a “gratitude gathering” that drew more than 40 people to pay tribute to two Douglas Firs that are among 16 trees planned for removal on a Gatewood lot where a house is to be built.

Organizer Sandy Shettler of Tree Action Seattle said they’re not sure these two can be saved as was “Luma” – she hasn’t even contacted the builder who owns the lot to plead the case – but she doesn’t want to see them go without at least a round of awareness-raising.

The trees – measured at diameters of 43″ and 27″ – are on a 4,200-square-foot lot in the 4100 block of SW Southern that, records show, had the same ownership as the house to its east until last year, when the house got a new owner, followed this past April by the separate sale of the lot to a West Seattle builder.

Shettler says she and her group were not there to vilify the builder and that they are not against housing – but they are against losing more “exceptional” trees to do it. (The Tree Action Seattle website declares, “The future is about housing and tree equity for all. Housing vs trees is a false dichotomy of the Old Way of unintelligent planning and short term profits for the few. We reject this limited thinking and embrace housing and tree equity for all.”) She says this project was cleared because the trees couldn’t be spared without the house being less than 15′ wide at one spot, but she contends the city has many homes that don’t fit the criteria, and showed a roughed-out sketch of how this lot could hold a home and accessory dwelling unit while sparing the two big trees.

Losing trees like these, lot by lot, is an ecological crisis, Tree Action Seattle contends. Leaders were joined in speeches tonight by West Seattle wildlife biologist Kersti Muul, who stated flatly, “If we don’t have trees, we don’t have whales” – trees cool and clean the air by the waterways that raise the salmon Southern Resident Killer Whales in particular need to eat.

While the two Gatewood trees may not be next to a salmon stream – though Fauntleroy Creek is only about a mile away – they are important to birds, she added, showing a photo of a mating pair of Merlins that she found nesting in the area seven years ago, with their offspring seen nearby ever since. Her photo even appeared in the book “Magical Merlins” by Bruce A. Haak; she sent us this photo post-event:

The Merlins need tall evergreens for nesting – “mostly Douglas Firs.” She offered one more point for contemplation: “We have wants, Wildlife has needs.”

We recorded her remarks as well as those of the Tree Action Seattle leaders:

Shettler said they’ve been hearing from so many local people about doomed trees, she’s planning a West Seattle section on their website. (Friday update: That page is now live.) They’re also fighting for changes in the city’s new tree ordinance, which they say actually reduces protection possibilities for exceptional trees by giving the city less leeway in considering their fate. They’re hoping to make this an issue in the seven City Council campaigns and urged attendees to ask council candidates – Rob Saka and Maren Costa in District 1 – where they stand. “Our best hope is the new council.”

As the setting sun cast a golden glow on the trees, the “gratitude” part of the gathering began; Tree Action Seattle brought a basket of flowers and created a mandala on the pavement for people to pause to contemplate the trees and offer thanks for their existence.

Some then left; many of those who stayed gathered for a group photo.

WHAT’S NEXT: The newest version of the tree-removal notice filed today for this site says removal might start as soon as a week from tomorrow. Unlike the “Luma” saga, Shettler didn’t expect “direct action” in this case, but each spotlight shone on a situation like this, she said, could plant a seed of inspiration for housing plans that spare trees.

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STAGE 2 BURN BAN: This means no beach fires, among other types
August 15, 2023 5:10 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

A Stage 2 burn ban is now in effect, first ordered by the King County Fire Marshal for unincorporated areas and extended into Seattle and other cities by agreement of the King Co. Fire Chiefs Association. Here’s what this means:

During a Stage 2 burn ban, any outdoor fire such as a backyard fire pit or campfire using chopped firewood or charcoal is prohibited.

Under the ban, any person with a recreational fire who fails to take immediate action to extinguish or discontinue when ordered or notified to do so can be charged with, up to and including, a misdemeanor. Seattle firefighters have also been directed to extinguish any illegal fires during this ban.

Manufactured portable outdoor devices are allowed, including barbecues and patio warmers that are used in accordance with the manufacturerā€™s instructions. Approved fuel devices ā€“ including those that rely on charcoal, natural gas, or propane gas ā€“ are also allowed.

Of note, this means no beach fires, even in the rings at Alki.

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Wildfire smoke returning to West Seattle
August 13, 2023 12:35 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

While out on errands, we started getting messages from people wondering about a smoky smell in the air and noting there are no local fires on the Real-Time 911 log. Yes, it’s apparently wildfire smoke again – take a look at not only the view from Don Armeni Boat Ramp a short time ago (the Cascades aren’t visible), but also the air quality readings. The Washington Smoke Information website also foresaw smoke from the Sourdough fire heading to the west side of the Cascades, with wind out of the north/northeast (which is how it’s blowing right now).

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UPDATE: Smoke shows up in West Seattle’s sky
July 3, 2023 8:24 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

8:24 PM: Notice all the haze to the west this evening? The National Weather Service‘s forecast discussion notes that “some elevated smoke from fires in Canada may drift over the region, but this is not expected to significantly make it down to the surface.” While the air quality remains OK right now, the smoke forecast for the next two days shows it moving down into the “moderate” zone.

ADDED TUESDAY: Thanks to Jen Popp for that photo of the smoky sunset.

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FOLLOWUP: It’s safe to go back in the water at Lincoln Park
June 30, 2023 2:00 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: It’s safe to go back in the water at Lincoln Park
 |   Environment | Health | West Seattle news

After the icon showing a swimming advisory for Lincoln Park beach vanished from the state’s beach-status map, it wasn’t clear whether the advisory was still in effect. So we asked Public Health today and they confirmed the advisory was lifted Thursday – just in time for the long holiday weekend.

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REMINDER: Don’t wade or swim in the Sound at Lincoln Park
June 28, 2023 3:58 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Health | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

3:58 PM: A reader suggested a reminder is in order that a swimming advisory is still in effect for the beach at Lincoln Park. We first reported last Friday that health authorities were warning of elevated bacteria levels and advising people to avoid contact with the water there. You can check its status via this map.

7:10 PM: As a commenter notes, Lincoln Park’s status has vanished from the state’s infomap in the hours since we published this. It has not been replaced by an “all clear” type of symbol, so we can’t assume that this means it’s OK now. We will check with state and county health/environmental authorities in the morning.

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ALSO AT LINCOLN PARK: Don’t go into the non-pool water
June 23, 2023 3:40 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Health | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

While the pools at Lincoln Park are about to open, you’re going to want to stay out of the water at the beach until further notice. Seattle Parks notes that county and state agencies advise avoiding contact with the water at Lincoln Park because of elevated bacteria levels. This isn’t a beach closure but rather an advisory.

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DEMOLITION: Ex-House of Kleen gone
June 21, 2023 6:47 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Triangle | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

Thanks to commenter James for the tip. The long-planned demolition of the ex-House of Kleen at 4425 Fauntleroy Way SW has finally happened. The demolition permit had already been in the works for months when the business moved out last fall (it’s now Alex Dry Cleaners at 4744 California SW in The Junction). But it’s not currently slated for redevelopment; as we reported in October, the property owner had told us the plan was just to demolish the 57-year-old building and clean up the site.

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YOU CAN HELP: Get involved with Watershed Woof! – starting with West Seattle event this afternoon
June 4, 2023 12:56 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Pets | West Seattle news

Speaking of clean water … if you share your life with a dog, there’s easy action you can take. A local student is teaming up with West Seattle-based Poogooder for a new initiative that includes a community event today. Just out of the WSB inbox:

Watershed Woof! is a local community engagement initiative to help raise awareness of stormwater pollution and simple ways we can all help keep our waters cleaner and healthier, such as reducing the amount of wayward dog poo left on the ground. Itā€™s a collaboration between Lori Kothe from Poogooder and Mac Callahan, a West Seattle resident and Maritime High School student who is focusing his freshman end-of-year project on preventing dog-poo pollution in our Duwamish River Watershed. Includes an informative web page with videos by Mac and others (watershedwoof.com), a fun event today (June 4) from 3-6 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), and a Poogooder prize drawing with goodies from Poogooder, Pawsitively Kleen, and Good Dog Daycare (enter on the website by June 5). We ask everyone to visit the Watershed Woof! page and share what they learn with others for a happier, healthier community and planet.

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WEST SEATTLE PARKS: New ‘Tree Walk’ in Fauntleroy
May 25, 2023 6:39 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Photos courtesy Fauntleroy Watershed Council)

Planning your Memorial Day weekend – or thinking about other ways to enjoy the outdoors on warm, sunny days? Here’s a new option: a Tree Walk in Fauntleroy Park. The Fauntleroy Watershed Council sent the announcement to us to share with you:

Something new is happening in Fauntleroy Park, thanks to the Fauntleroy Watershed Council and the West Seattle Garden Tour. Botanical markers now identify 12 iconic Pacific Northwest trees and shrubs along main trails and each links by QR code to species details.

Stroll through this beautiful remnant of a coastal forest with your smart phone to access text on the council’s website about distinguishing features of each species, their symbiotic relationship with wildlife, and their importance to Coast Salish nations. Remember to stay on trail and refrain from collecting these plants as mis-identification can be dangerous and harvesting can deprive wildlife of food and shelter.

(Volunteer Greg Aramaki installing salmonberry sign)

Lindsey Conrad led the team of volunteers that created the walk. A grant from the garden tour funded the markers and added to the council’s stewardship fund for restoration maintenance. For more about local flora – and a chance to win a native plant for your garden – stop by the councilā€™s booth at Garden C during the June 25 tour.

Anticipate trees and shrubs on the walk at fauntleroywatershed.org/index.php/park/treewalk.

Find garden tour information and purchase tickets at westseattlegardentour.org.

Learn how to support the council’s stewardship fund at fauntleroywatershed.org/index.php/donate.

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THURSDAY: Online meeting to explain proposal for East Waterway cleanup
May 24, 2023 6:10 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a comment period has opened to get feedback on the proposed cleanup plan for the East Waterway, part of the north end of the Duwamish River, and part of the Harbor Island Superfund site. The comment deadline has since been extended until August 11th. But now’s a good time to find out more about the plan, so the EPA is having an online public meeting tomorrow night (Thursday, May 25th), 6 pm. From this one-sheet, here are key points of its proposal:

ā— Actively cleaning up approximately 121 acres of contaminated sediments, to include:
o Dredging 99 acres (or 63 percent) of the East Waterway Operable Unit;
o Capping 7 acres (this may include dredging to address final elevation needs);
o On-site (or in-situ) treatment of 12 acres under piers and docks using activated carbon or other organic amendments to contain and absorb contaminants; and
o Enhanced natural recovery of 3 acres for a portion of the East Waterway under the West Seattle Bridge/ Spokane Street Bridge corridor.

ā— Applying monitored natural recovery in 36 acres where there would be no dredging, capping or treatment, to allow natural processes to reduce sediment concentrations.

ā— Implementing institutional controls including fish advisories, educational outreach, waterway and land use restrictions, and regulated navigational areas to prevent exposure to contamination and protect the integrity of the cleanup.

ā— Conducting short-term monitoring during and after construction to measure the cleanupā€™s progress and effectiveness, and until cleanup levels are achieved.

ā— Conducting Five-Year Reviews to assess whether the cleanup remains protective.

Construction work for this preferred alternative is estimated to take approximately 10 years and cost $290 million. This timeline assumes dredging would stop during salmon migration and tribal fishing seasons.

Here’s the online link for watching and/or participating (more info here). The EPA says no interpretation will be offered at this meeting, but an in-person public meeting with live interpretation in Spanish, Khmer, and Vietnamese is planned Saturday, June 3rd – drop in any time from 11 am to 6 pm at South Seattle College‘s Georgetown Campus (6737 S Corson Ave S, Building C). Here are other ways to comment.

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Seeing red-orange water at West Seattle beaches? Here’s what’s happening
May 23, 2023 11:42 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

That photo texted from The Arroyos in southwesternmost West Seattle is first word we got today of that alarming-looking but relatively common phenomenon. It’s not “red tide” but rather a bloom of microorganisms called Noctiluca – explained here by the state Ecology Department, which says that “sunshine, nutrients, and warm temperatures contribute to large seasonal blooms.” Experts say it’s not toxic but it is a sign of environmental imbalance, as noted here.

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FOLLOWUP: Here’s the haul from Fauntleroy Church’s Recycle Roundup on Earth Day
May 1, 2023 11:59 am
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Here’s the haul from Fauntleroy Church’s Recycle Roundup on Earth Day
 |   Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, April 22)

If you dropped off recyclables during Fauntleroy Church‘s spring Recycle Roundup on Earth Day, here’s the tally, reported today by Judy Pickens:

450 people took advantage of 1 Green Planet‘s free, responsible recycling. The day’s take of just over 14 tons of recyclables brings the total since these roundups began, in 2010, to more than 336 tons. The fall event will be on Saturday, September 23.

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FOLLOWUP: Another ship running on shore power at West Seattle’s T-5
April 25, 2023 5:30 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

At upper left, seen from Jack Block Park, that’s the stack of MSC Yashi B, calling today at Terminal 5. What you don’t see in the photo is smoke from the stack – because Yashi B is the second ship to use shore power at T-5. The first was MSC Brunella, during a call two weeks ago. Which ships will use shore power and which won’t? Northwest Seaport Alliance spokesperson Melanie Stambaugh says that is for the terminal operator and shipping line to determine, with an annual report due to NWSA on shore-power use. But, she adds, “As this component of our modernization program is still new, both the NWSA and our project team will remain involved in the coming weeks. That being said, we have a commitment from our tenant that they will plug in vessels that are capable, meaning the vessel has shore power capability and it physically matches the dock-side infrastructure.” Who covers the bill, she adds, is between the terminal operator and the shipping line.

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HELPING: The Mount honors volunteers with something likely to last decades
April 22, 2023 9:30 pm
|    Comments Off on HELPING: The Mount honors volunteers with something likely to last decades
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

Many trees were planted coast to coast in honor of Earth Day. But this one had extra meaning. On Friday, Providence Mount St. Vincent planted a Japanese maple to mark the conclusion of Volunteer Appreciation Week. Both volunteers and staff pitched in to get the tree planted. The Mount’s new chaplain Peter Min also offered a blessing for the volunteers.

The new tree is by the southeast corner of the main building, not far from the front entrance.

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