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2022 Green River Chinook Salmon Returns
This year an estimated 5,587 adult Chinook salmon returned to spawn in the Green River. The relatively strong return exceeded the five-year average of 5,119 by 9% and was the largest return since 2018. While this figure exceeded the current co-manager escapement goal of 2,744, it remains far below the established recovery target of 27,000.
Partner Updates
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Community Salmon Investigation for Highline volunteer displays a female Coho carcass |
Miller and Walker Creeks Salmon Surveys - Miller/Walker Stewardship Program
In 2022, many rivers in Puget Sound experienced higher salmon returns and Miller and Walker Creeks within Normandy Park were no exception. Volunteers counted over 180 coho this year: the most returning adults since 2012! While these return abundances are exciting and encouraging, pre-spawn mortality remains an important issue for coho salmon in Miller and Walker Creeks, as well as other urban creeks in Puget Sound.
Visit the webpage to stay updated about the results from this year’s
CSI surveys, learn more about the program, and sign up for Miller-Walker emails
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King County Chinook Wind Mitigation Project site |
King County Chinook Wind Mitigation Project
The Chinook Wind Mitigation Project provides 6 acres of new estuarine habitat for juvenile Chinook salmon within the Duwamish. Although the new off channel habitat was connected to the mainstem river in August, additional riparian plantings will extend through first quarter of 2023. Riparian planting will be completed by Dirt Corps and King County's Green Start Training Program crews.
Watch a video to learn more about the project.
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Volunteers at Duwamish Alive Orca Recovery Day 2022 |
Duwamish Alive Orca Recovery Day 2022 was held on November 19th by Green River Coalition and was a hit!
Despite the reschedule, plenty of volunteers and two partner groups attended the Duwamish Alive Orca Recovery Day held at Riverview Park in City of Kent. Orca Conservancy spoke about the Southern Resident killer whales and Long Live the Kings spoke about the salmon. This event was dedicated to restoration work at the Riverview Park. Partner’s presentations educated the volunteers about how the restoration work done that day helps the salmon upstream and orca downstream. We are all in this together, from the headwaters in the Cascades, to Elliott Bay!
View information on Orca Conservancy.
View information on Long Live the Kings.
The Duwamish Floating Wetlands project constructed floating wetlands (CFWs) to determine if they could increase salmon habitat
Completed by students at the University of Washington and individuals from the Green Futures Lab and Port of Seattle, the goal of this project was to increase salmon habitat and improve water quality to support the survival of out-migrating juvenile salmon in the Duwamish. Salmon smolts were observed resting and feeding, supported by invertebrates produced by the CFWs. Water quality analysis showed that the wetlands removed heavy metals. Through the COVID-19 crisis, local community members aided in monitoring and maintaining the CFWs and were critical to the overall success of the project.
Watch a short video about the project.
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Longfellow Creek Floodplain Restoration |
Longfellow Creek Floodplain Restoration
Longfellow Creek was once an important salmon stream in Seattle but due to historic development, its habitat and ecological functions have been dismantled resulting in high peak flows, flooding, erosion, channel incision, fish passage barriers and habitat degradation. Through the Longfellow Creek Floodplain Restoration project SPU will reconnect pieces of the creek to support salmon recovery, improves drainage, add resiliency to the creek, and invest in community needs. Through this project, SPU will evaluate the potential for creek and floodplain restoration at five locations along Longfellow Creek and likely advance restoration at 1-2 sites.
Contact Project Manager Arnel Valmonte with any questions.
Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters is hiring a Toxics and Stormwater Policy Manager
The Toxics and Stormwater Policy Manager will advance policies and campaigns that reduce impacts from toxics and stormwater on people, water, and wildlife throughout Washington State. Responsibilities include analyzing and developing policy and establishing advocacy strategies; engaging in rulemaking and implementation work; participating in and at times leading coalitions; and being a leader in toxics and stormwater policy.
Read the full position description.
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English Hawthorn Tree |
Nicoterra Trails - English hawthorn control
English hawthorn is a noxious weed that can form dense thickets, block animal movement, and obstruct restoration efforts. Nicoterra Trails is conducting a 4-year study on an existing patch of hawthorn trees at the Riverbend site in Tukwila. They are testing whether annual girdling will slowly kill established hawthorn plants while allowing the dying trees to provide bird habitat, shade, soil mulching, and other nursery-type benefits to new native conifer plantings.
Grant Announcements
Cooperative Watershed Management Grants - Application due March 3, 2023
WRIA 9 is soliciting applications for Regreen the Green and Monitoring and Research grants! Funding for both programs is provided by the King County Flood Control District. The Regreen the Green program provides financial support to partner efforts to restore tree canopy coverage along the Green/Duwamish and associated tributaries to help address elevated instream water temperatures. The Monitoring and Research program funds enhanced effectiveness monitoring and ongoing research intended to improve future investments in salmon restoration and recovery efforts.
View the WRIA 9 Funding Opportunities website for more information on upcoming workshops and how to apply.
Apply for a WaterWorks Grant to Fund Water Quality Projects in your Community
King County’s WaterWorks Grant Program is providing $5 million in funding for community-driven projects that will help protect water quality, control pollution, and build healthy communities in King County.
The grant cycle will start January 4, 2023, and applications are due March 8, 2023, for the competitive track. Non-profits, tribes, cities, schools, and special purpose districts are eligible to apply. Projects must provide an improvement to water quality in the Wastewater Treatment Division service area.
Project types can include installing raingardens or other GSI, restoration, community engagement and education, water quality monitoring, research, and pollution prevention.
For more information, view the website, email Water Grants, or call Elizabeth Loudon at 206-477-4296 or Kelley Govan at 206-263-1248.
King County Park announces 2023 levy grant programs
The 2023 Parks Levy Grants Guidelines have details about 2023 funding, eligibility, applying, and the evaluation process for multiple grant programs. The request for applications will open in January 2023. King County Parks is hosting a series of webinars to share details about these grant programs, procedures, and policies with prospective applicants and community partners. View the website for more information.
Sign up for upcoming webinars.
Sign up for the Parks Grants email list.
Open Space Acquisition Funding Available - Apply by March 6, 2023
King County is seeking applications for 2024 King County Conservation Futures grants. Conservation Futures grants can help acquire parks and open spaces for passive recreation such as urban greenspaces, natural areas, forests, community gardens, farms, and trails. Grants can be awarded to cities, the county, park districts, and eligible 501c3 nonprofit nature conservancies and historic preservation associations. Community groups or individuals may partner on projects with local agencies and eligible nonprofits. Acquisitions in historically underserved areas may qualify for a match waiver to cover the full purchase price.
View the King County Conservation Futures website or email Ingrid Lundin.
Ecology soliciting applications for local flood hazard planning grants
The Washington Legislature established the state Flood Control Assistance Account Program (FCAAP) in 1984 to help local and Tribal governments plan for and reduce their flood risks. Soliciting local grant applications starts February 15, 2023 and Ecology will be hosting two 90-minute workshops in January 2023 to help any interested FCAAP grant applicants.
View the FCAAP website for more information.
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