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TROUT UNLIMITED MEETING FEBRUARY
10 
You are invited to this meeting which
will be held at the Issaquah Brew House
on Sunset opposite the Library. Hans
Berge, King County Fisheries
Biologist, will make a presentation
about the results and findings of the
2009 Kokanee Tagging Project. Hans will
also talk about upcoming efforts to
perpetuate the unique, wild, native Lake
Sammamish Kokanee winter run.
The meeting starts at 7:00 pm
The Issaquah Brew House is at 35 Sunset Way
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city of sammamish SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM (SMP)
The Sammamish City
Council Adopted SMP has been published.
It has been posted on the City of
Sammamish Shoreline Master Program
Webpage and is available in print
($15.32) or CD ($15.00) at City Hall at
Sammamish Commons, 801 228th Ave SE,
Sammamish, WA 98075.
The URL for the document is: http://www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/files/document/6208.pdf
The SMP will be submitted to the State Department of Ecology, along with supporting documents such as the Shoreline Inventory and Characterization Report, Designation Maps, and Restoration Plan, for their review. Submission of these documents is anticipated to occur in February 2010.
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SUPPORT WASHINGTON STATE SENATE BILL
6289 REDUCING USE OF PHOSPHORUS IN LAWN
FERTILIZER
The
biggest problem in Lake Sammamish is
growth of algae and weeds. The critical
factor promoting this growth is
phosphorus. The objective of
Senate Bill 6289 is to reduce phosphorus
in lawn fertilizer used by citizens and
industry of Washington State to protect
our aquatic resources.
Please contact your Senate and House
representatives by phone or E-mail
asking for their support of this bill.
Go to
http://www.scn.org/earth/savelake/You.htm#CONTACT%20YOUR%20ELECTED%20OFFICIALS
on the SLS web site and click on Contact
Your Elected officials. Note the time
saving tips and scroll down to Federal
and State House and Senate
Representatives and follow the
instructions. We know this is a tedious
process, but the Legislators will know
you went through some trouble so the
issue MUST be important to you.
History and Problems related to Fertilizers containing the element Phosphorus:
-Phosphorus loading of surface waters can stimulate growth of weeds and algae. Excessive plant and algae growth can adversely impact water quality, impede lake recreation, and affect lake aesthetics. Additional algae growth may also threaten the health of people, pets and wildlife.
-Turf fertilizers are known to contribute to phosphorus loading of the aquatic environment, and limits on turf fertilizer containing phosphorus can significantly reduce the discharge of phosphorus into the state's ground and surface waters.
-This ban would not affect agriculture, golf courses, new turf, or areas for which soil tests show that phosphorus is deficient.
-Other states have passed similar legislation to deal with fertilizer containing phosphorus to protect their natural waters. The states include: Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida.
-In Washington State, local municipalities have taken the initiative to pass local ordinances to control the application of fertilizer containing phosphorus; Whatcom County and Liberty Lake Water and Sewer District (2005), while King County passed a very similar ordinance to the proposed state bill in 2009.
-Phosphorus is not needed for a healthy established lawn, its the nitrogen in fertilizer that promotes greenness in lawn grass.
-The bill states that after January 1, 2012, a person may not apply fertilizer containing the plant nutrient phosphorus to established lawns, unless soils are shown to be deficient.
-Also declares a person may not apply a fertilizer to an impervious surface. Fertilizer released on an impervious surface must be immediately contained and either legally applied to turf or any other legal site or returned to the original or other appropriate container.
-Allows a city or county to adopt an ordinance providing for enforcement of the requirements of this act.
-Support from all different groups/agencies Avista Utilities, Inland Paper Company, King County, Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District, Spokane River Keeper, Puget Sound Keeper, Save Lake Sammamish and People for Puget Sound
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MOUNTAINS TO SOUND GREENWAY NEEDS HELP
POTTING PLANTS AT THE NATIVE PLANT
NURSERY
Volunteers are needed on the following
dates:
Jan 16, 18, 23, 30, and Feb 6
To sign up, go to:
http://www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer/events
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KING COUNTY WEEd NEWS
The weed
of the month is English Laurel. English
laurel is becoming especially common, it
is joining English holly in
out-competing and replacing native
evergreen trees such as hemlock, cedar
and Pacific yew. To read about this and
other weed news, go to the King County
web site at:
http://www.kingcounty.gov:80/environment/animalsAndPlants/noxious-weeds/weed-news.aspx
. o O o .
KING COUNTY OPEN SPACE AMENDMENT PASSES
- Thank you for your support!
We did
it! The Open Space Amendment was
resoundingly approved by King County
voters, and is now part of the county
Charter. Thanks to you, more than
156,000 acres of the best King County
open space now has extra protection
through the
county Charter. We are almost certainly
the first county in the nation to
safeguard our open spaces through our
county constitution.
Everyone pulled together to get the
amendment passed: the Charter Review
Commission, the entire King County
Council, many elected officials, over 50
groups and organizations, individuals
who endorsed this measure, and people
who
volunteered their time. The amendment
was successful because of the quality of
the measure itself, and because of all
of you.
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OPPOSE ALL CUTS BUDGET
Governor Christine Gregoire reluctantly released an all-cuts budget that threatens many things important to Washingtonians education, public safety, environmental protections, and our economic recovery.
If adopted, the all-cuts budget would devastate core environmental protections that keep our families and communities healthy. We rely on the state for basic safeguards like having clean water to drink, unpolluted air to breathe, and the clean-up of toxic contaminations. In addition, maintaining Washington's clean environment attracts business and qualified workers to our state and will help us rebuild our economy.
We need to let Governor Gregoire know that restoring funding to these programs is critical to Washington's health and future. Environmental protections have already been cut to the bone. Any further cuts mean these agencies will not be able to carry out some of their most important responsibilities. We agree with the Governor that this budget is not acceptable and does not reflect our state's shared values. And we support her decision to release a second budget. It is critical that funding for core environmental protections is restored in the second budget.
Please email Governor Gregoire and ask her to restore funding for critical environmental protection programs.
The budget for these programs is small compared to many of the state programs, but they are an essential investment for public health, economic opportunity, and quality of life here in Washington.
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LAKE SAMMAMISH KOKANEE MAKE A COMEBACK Check out a King TV bit showing our native species has not given up go to: http://www.king5.com/home/Lake-Sammamish-Makes-a-Kokanee-Comeback-69701207.html
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OH, HOW WE WISH IT WERE TRUE! REGRETTABLY, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. Currently the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is reviewing our petition to protect the wild, native Lake Sammamish late-run Kokanee under provisions of the Endangered Species Act. The Lake Sammamish summer-run (early run) of Kokanee were officially declared extinct in 2003. Last winter's (2008-09) spawners of the late-run (winter-run) Kokanee numbered less than 100 total. This is not a robust return. This year (2009-10), Kokanee (in the dozens, not in the thousands as happened 30 years ago) are beginning to enter 4 or 5 south Lake Sammamish creeks to spawn. How many of them will manage to dig redds, lay and fertilize eggs, and not get washed out of the creeks in the next big rain is an open question. These little creeks, especially Lewis and Ebright, have been destabilized by development and so they erode their channels. Soils and sediments are flushed downstream burying the Kokanee eggs, denying them life-sustaining oxygen. Survival is a long-shot. We still hope to pull these fantastic fish back from extinction but that will require a lot more effort than seen so far! To help or learn more, please contact info@savelakesamm.org |
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COMMUNITY WILDLIFE HABITATS -
CITY OF sAMMAMISH
Do you
have a passion for conserving natural
habitat for our local wildlife?
Then here's how you can have fun, reconnect with nature, educate your children, and be part of helping Sammamish become one of the first certified Community Wildlife Habitats in the nation with the National Wildlife Federation.
A Community Wildlife Habitat is a community that provides habitat for wildlife throughout the community in individual backyards, on school grounds and in public areas, such as parks, golf courses, places of worship and businesses creating a place where residents, flora and fauna can all flourish.
For details, go to: http://sammamishwildlifehabitatproject.blogspot.com/
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KC WEED News OCTOBER 2009
To read about the topics below, go to:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/noxious-weeds/weed-news.aspx
TOPICS
Weed of
the Month: Reed Sweetgrass (Glyceria
maxima)
Weed Tips for October
Garden Loosestrife: just a weed or
GIANT MUTANT CLONE?
New Weeds for King
County
and Old Weeds in New Places
State Adds Species to Quarantine List of
Prohibited Plants
Nov. 4 to 6 WA State Weed Association
Conference in
Yakima
Aquatic Weed and Saltwater Algae Grants
from Department of Ecology
Knotweed Workshops Popular, Will Be
Expanded Next Year
Collect Knotweed to Help with Biocontrol
Research
Knotweed Success on Lower Soos Creek
Knotweed Project Manager Moves On (But
Leaves Some of Her Know-How Behind)
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SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM UPDATES -
LAKE SAMMAMISH
The Cities of Bellevue, Issaquah and
Sammamish are in the process of updating
their Shoreline Management Programs (SMP).
In 1972 the State's Shoreline Management
Act was passed by referendum to "to
prevent the inherent harm in an
uncoordinated and piecemeal development
of the state's shorelines." It was an
attempt to protect the environmental
benefits of our rivers, lakes and
saltwaters for all citizens - see
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/sma/
(Note the City Council of Redmond
adopted its Shoreline Master Program
Update in August 2008.)
These regulations affect both the Lake's
health and how property owners use their
shorelines. Therefore, it is important
for us to let our City Councils know
that we continue to want to keep Lake
Sammamish fishable and swimmable for
this and future generations.
Save Lake Sammamish recommends the
following points be made to the
Councils:
1) Adopt strong standards for vegetated
buffers and building set backs:
a) vegetated buffers control runoff
into the Lake by capturing chemicals,
pollutants and sediment. Grass cannot do
that!
b) the view you save could be your
own - a neighbor's remodel waterward
could block your view and decrease your
property value
2) Limit percentage of impervious
surface on Lake Sammamish to:
30% Urban Conservancy, 40% Shoreline
Residential
30% lots less than 3,000 SF in size
a) lot line to lot line neighbor
houses diminish your privacy and
property enjoyment
b) runoff with pollutants goes
directly into the Lake - no room for
filtration
c) keeps houses in proportion with
neighborhood
3) Encourage bulkhead removal -
currently bulkheads may be constructed
to
protect a legally permitted structure
only from imminent danger. This has been
poorly enforced.
a) bulkheads destroy gradual beaches
damaging shallow water areas with
vegetation essential for the survival of
salmon fry
b) wave action against bulkheads
churns up sediment
c) water displaced by your neighbor's
bulkhead could damage your property
(concrete bathtub effect)
4) Retain 80% of significant trees
within shoreline buffer (non hazard
trees)
15% or 200 SF buffer area allowed for
access or active use, remainder
vegetated
Retain 70% trees in shoreline
jurisdiction
a) large trees frame views of the
Lake
b) provide habitat for bald eagles,
osprey, herron, kingfishers and others
c) intercept rainwater, hold
shoreline in place, prevent erosion and
produce oxygen
d) provide shade in summer - you save
electricity!
5) Mandate low impact development (LID)
techniques
a) insufficient room to filter
runoff and pollution from built hardened
surfaces along shoreline
b) over time you will save resources
and money
c) maintain your property value on a
clean, healthy Lake
6) Control dock size
a) little room is left for swimming
when docks are too close together
b) numerous docks destroy salmonid
habitat
Thank you for taking the time to get
involved at the following sessions!
-May 19, 2009 6-9pm Public Open House at
the Eagle Room, Issaquah City Hall
http://www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/News.asp?NewsID=1197
-May 21, 2009 at 6:30pm Bellevue City
Hall - Open House
http://www.bellevuewa.gov/shoreline-master-plan.htm
-May 28, 2009 at 6:30pm Issaquah
Planning Policy Commission Workshop and
Public
Comment at City Council Chambers, 135 E.
Sunset Way.
http://www.ci.issaquah.wa.us/News.asp?NewsID=1197
-May
29, 2009The Draft SMP Update for the
City of
The
City Council of
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KOKANEE IN THE MEDIA
Check out the short
video telling some of the Kokanee story
and documenting Kokanee returns last
fall:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/salmon-and-trout/sammamish-kokanee-video.aspx
.
And check out page 64 of the current edition of the national Trout Unlimited magazine for a focus on the plight of our Kokanee and what TU is doing to pitch in on solutions: http://www.tu.org/site/c.kkLRJ7MSKtH/b.5067579/k.4220/2009_Archive/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp#e6470671
. o O o .
U S Fish and Wildlife accepts petition to study listing the late-run Kokanee as an endangered species
USF&W is initiating a 12-month status review process through which they will decide on the question of listing the population. For more info, see their Press release . To view the petition, go to: www.scn.org/savelake/Kokanee.Petition.pdf
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kokanee op-ed
Following is an article that appeared in the August 3, 2007 Post Intelligencer.
Obscure salmon struggles to survive
MARK TAYLOR AND MATT MATTSON - GUEST COLUMNISTS
Beneath the surface of Lake Sammamish, a little slice of Washington's native salmon legacy is silently struggling to survive. Far from the minds of the water skiers and too few to register much of a blip on anglers' fish finders, the native run of Lake Sammamish kokanee salmon languishes in relative obscurity compared with the lake's other attractions.
Once so common that our ancestors harvested them to fertilize gardens, fewer than 1,000 remain today. The largest run of native kokanee in Issaquah Creek quietly blinked into extinction a few years ago, while the responsible federal agency did nothing to respond to citizen cries to protect them.
Today we have another chance to save a remaining native run of Lake Sammamish kokanee and, in doing so, preserve and restore another chapter in Washington's salmon tradition that would otherwise merely become a part of its history. We should not squander the chance to act this time.
Because of its acute need for cold, clean water and intact, healthy habitat, kokanee -- landlocked cousins of sea-going sockeye -- are indicators of a healthy watershed, and, conversely, their disappearance is among the first signals that something of ecological importance has gone wrong or has gone missing. That signal amplifies as it moves downstream toward Puget Sound. A healthy watershed fosters a healthy community and a functioning ecosystem that reaps economic and quality-of-life benefits throughout, for all its residents and visitors. That means not just the kokanee, but chinook, steelhead, whales and people.
The Lake Sammamish kokanee have survived this long facing much of the worst that human progress can dish out, even when it is exacerbated by Mother Nature's torrent. This past fall, it was amazing that a few of the little red fish made it up the rushing water to spawn, and even more surprising, their nests of eggs were not all washed away in the floods. They have hung on despite the worst of our land-use decisions, pollution and heating of the cool water they require, and now they are migrating to Lake Sammamish only to face ever-warmer waters and predatory warm water fish.
Rather than see how much more the kokanee can take, it seems like now would be a good time to offer these great fish some much-needed help.
Although a number of individuals and organizations in the basin are doing good things for kokanee, and the kokanee are responding, we can do more. Merely dodging their extinction for a few more years should not be the goal here; rather, real and lasting recovery should be.
Recently, a number of organizations, including ours, filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect Lake Sammamish kokanee under the Endangered Species Act. Giving these fish that safety net will bring together current activities aimed at saving the fish, and encourage others to join us.
We failed to act sufficiently in time for the Issaquah Creek stock, and the result is that it is now a part of our unfortunate history with salmon. But we certainly have the time and the means to act to save the remaining stocks, and to keep another critical part of Washington's native salmon legacy going. This time, we should remember the Lake Sammamish kokanee in time to act, not just remember them in history.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Taylor is president of the Washington Council of Trout Unlimited. Matt Mattson is tribal administrator of the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe. Other authors of this essay are Joanna Buehler, president, Save Lake Sammamish, and Kathy Fletcher, executive director, People for Puget Sound.
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petition submitted to list Sammamish late run Kokanee as an endangered species
Trout Unlimited has submitted a petition to place the Sammamish late run Kokanee on the endangered species list. SLS was a co-signer along with King County, the City of Issaquah, People for Puget Sound and the Snoqualmie tribe. Our thanks go to Trout Unlimited and all those who volunteered to count the Kokanee fry in Lewis Creek at night and in all kinds of weather to provide data for this petition. To view the petition, go to: http://www.scn.org/savelake/Kokanee.Petition.pdf
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past SLS summer newsletters
To read any of the following SLS newsletters, click on the corresponding date:
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Is Lake Sammamish dying?
This is the headline of an excellent article on many facets concerning
the quality of Lake Sammamish. The article was written by Sarah Koenig and
published in the Redmond Reporter. This newspaper does not have its own
web site and gave permission to include it in the SLS site.
Go to article.
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