September 28
Seattle Sites of the Day:

Save Lake Sammamish




Sammamish Stewardship Saturday - October 21

"Here's your chance to restore salmon habitat! ... planting native trees and shrubs along Issaquah Creek. The planting will improve the area for salmon by keeping water temperatures cool and controlling erosion.

"The planting, part of ongoing efforts to restore the creek's riparian zone, will take place from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 21, starting behind the Issaquah Valley Elementary School and Administrative Building off of NW Holly St.

"Wear old 'work' clothes and sturdy shoes and dress for the weather; we will plant rain or shine! Bring a shovel if you have one. We will have tools for those without.

"To reserve your spot or get more information, call Kollin Higgins at (206) 296-8026 or Margaret Macleod at (425) 837-3322.

SLS Petitions to Save Sammamish Kokanee

"Save Lake Sammamish, together with other environmental groups, filed to list the fish as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)" on March 16, 2000. "The petitioners asked for emergency regulations and protection for these fish, which have numbered as few as zero to four fish in recent spawning years.

"Kokanee salmon are landlocked freshwater salmon that live in lakes and their tributaries. The endangered kokanee run is a 'summer run,' so-called because they spawn in August. A larger run of introduced 'fall run' kokanee also live in Lake Sammamish.

"... the rapid and vast development underway in the watershed increased silt levels in the creeks, burying spawning grounds and smothering the eggs and newly hatched salmon. Increased runoff from the cleared and paved land washed young salmon from the streambeds.

"... according to Joanna Buehler, President of Save Lake Sammamish... 'What meager numbers of eggs are being produced, are being smothered with silt from run off, and poisoned by pollution.'

"'Scientists believe these kokanee will become extinct imminently,' notes Buehler, 'without... a captive breeding program and additional immediate habitat protection...'"

"... South Park. Contaminated sites are heavily concentrated in this area. We have been successful in calling attention to resident complaints about pollution and the non responsiveness of regulatory agencies to their concerns.

"We have initiated a health risk investigation near major sources of pollution in the neighborhood and inter-agency communication on major sources of pollution in the area. ...

"CCEJ has an environmental justice library with videos, books, newspaper articles, reports, and newsletters. Feel free to stop by when we are available to browse, borrow or copy information. ...

"If you would like a speaker or more information about environmental justice issues, please give us a call.

"CCEJ is working in partnership with the American Lung Association's Master Home Environmentalist Program and the Seattle Public Utilities to raise awareness about household hazardous waste, environmental justice, and air pollution.

"We provide 4-week trainings to residents of South Seattle neighborhoods. Trainees then conduct outreach in their communities to 'pass on' the information we've provided.

"If you would like to volunteer, please give us a call at (206) 720-0285.

"CCEJ is recruiting energetic individuals to join our board of directors. Youth, seniors, women, indigenous people, and people of color, are strongly encouraged to apply. We are especially seeking individuals who are active in communities of color on social justice issues and seek individuals with connections to funders."