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Friends of the Lower White River
Our Mission is to protect the biodiversity and health of the Lower White River Basin and it’s communities through Education, Supporting scientific research, Fostering citizen participation in government, and Buying and holding in trust, for the Public Good, critical areas, aquatic & riparian wildlife habitat, and other lands of ecological significance”.
Our Motto is "Water for Life
Be Part of the Pollution Prevention Solution!!!
Connect to the Puget Sound Starts Here website.
Look for coupons for discounts on "Your Rewards" for yard care, car care and pet care products or services that reduce pollution going into our lakes, streams and Puget Sound!
http://www.pugetsoundstartshere.org/
Follow "Puget Sound Starts Here" on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PSStartsHere
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Puget-Sound-Starts-Here/135802909534
On MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/psstartshere
Your FLWR e-News Editor is twittering for the Watershed!
Get Information and Updates in smaller doses with your cell phone's twitter application
You can get FLWReditor posts at http://www.twitter.com/FLWReditor
Low Impact developement research continues at WSU-Puyallup Extension Campus.
Scientists are researching how to improve the quality of Storomwater runoff!
Pervious paving, vegatated bioswales(rain gardens) and other low impact development techinques are being studied at the Puyallup Campus. Saving Puget Sound hinges on how well we can keep pollutants out of our Urban waters (drainage systems, stormwater pipes, lakes and streams). Work at the campus Pervious pavvement research site may be seen online via a webcam.
http://cahnrsnews.wsu.edu/reportertools/news/2009/lid-puyallup-2009-08.htmll
Rain Garden Installations
The Puyallup River Watershed had several Rain Garden Installations this summer.
In the Lower White River basin, the City of Buckley installed a Rain Garden at the Youth Center at 251 S. River Ave, next to the Skate Park. Check it out next time you drive through Buckley on Hyway 410.
In Orting, in the Puyallup River Basin, a Rain Garden was installed at the Orting Depot (farmers market building) along the Rails-to-Trails Trail, at 110 Train St SE.
7 Rain Gardens were also installed in Puyallup on 8th NW, in the 1000 block. on the weekends of Aug 15 & 22nd. Cisco Morris broadcast his KIRO-FM 97.3 "Garening with Cisco" call-in show live from the Rain Garden street on August 22nd. Cisco interviewed new Rain Gardeners, City and County stormwater and health department employees, RG Volunteers, Watershed Council folks and local folks concerned with water quality,
This street is being retrofitted with bioswales and pervious pavement to handle stormwater. The residents are participating in meetings to design the look of their new stormwater retrofit. Tim Parham, City of Puyallup Associate Planner is coordinating this Low Impact Devlopment project with Stormwater Engineer Mark Palmer.
Go to the Stewardship Partners photo share site http://picasaweb.google.com/SPraingardens
for pictures from these and other installation.
Updated July 21, 2009
Emergency Training turns "Live".
Scouts help save a woman's life in Cascade Mountains after mountain-biking acci
See the Sunday July 19th King-5 video at
http://www.king5.com/video/index.html?nvid=381653
Reported by Dr, Jim Brass, Scoutmaster Troop 835
Pacific Community Church Pastor, and founder of HelpNorthwest
Emailed July 18, 2009 to FLWR Editor pacificnaturalist@clearwire.net
Writes Jim:
This week (Thursday July 16th) we took 3 Boy Scout troops out to train them for emergency preparedness
You would have been so proud of the boys. While we were teaching them to respond to emergencies, a man runs into our camp and yells "Help, Help she has a head wound" turns and runs back towards the woods. The boys all grabbed various equipment and followed him about half a mile away and up a trail where they found his girlfriend who had come down the trail on a bike and hit a stump, flipped and landed on rocks. She had a Subdermal Hematoma, Fractured Ribs, Punctured Lung, Fractured Chin, Cut on her Head and was in Shock. We went right to work on her and called 911.
When the first EMT arrived the boys met him and guided him in, when the next one arrived the boys assembled the stretcher and carried it in. They also meet the paramedics and brought them in with more equipment. After a half hour of trying to get her stable we took her out to meet the air lift. She was taken to Harborview (Seattle) and is in ICU. The boyfriend sent us a message today and said that we had saved her life. It was good to be there at just the right time to make a difference. The boys from all thee troops worked together as one and did a great job. Between them they had all the right things needed as first responders to have possibly saved her life.
It was amazing to watch as the boys also comforted her boyfriend and all of them remained calm and professional. You can be proud of the Boy Scouts you love and support, you were there right beside us.
Jim
(Scoutmaster, Pacific Algona Troop 835
Dr. Jim Brass
253-735-5977 Church Office
253-939-9976 Apt Office
253-887-8600 Fax
206-227-5977 Cell
drbrass@msn.com
www.helpnorthwest.com
Editor's Note: These boys need a Parade through Pacific and Algona to celebrate them saving a life!
How about it, Mayor Hildreth and Mayor Hill?
Updated June 30, 2009, .....
City of Pacific & FLWR
Pacific Meadows Wetlands and Buffer Restoration Planting on June 27th
was a BIG rousting SUCESS!
To All you wonderful volunteers!
THANK YOU!
As soon as i receive Jay's pictures of the planting,
they will be posted online at http://picasaweb.google.com/rainier.photos
Volunteer groups represented..........
Scout Troop 540: The 8 members of Scout Troop 540 and the Schunke Family deserve special recognition! They came first, and stayed late to water plants!!
White River Valley Lions Club, Pacific Partnerships, Pacific Meadows Homeowners Assoc/Residents, Pacific Mayor and Council, "outta-towners", Pacific Board of Park Directors, and FLWR
Because of the tireless work of these community spirited volunteers, all the plants were in by noon, and watered by 1:30 PM!
OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS!..........
James Schunke (Scout troop 540),
Trent Sommers, (ST540)
Chris Perry, (ST540)
Nicole Schunke,(ST540)
Valerie Schunke,(ST540)
Billy Shunke, (ST540)
Annette Perry, (ST540)
Jim Shunke (Troop 540 Scoutmaster) ---
Linda Dabson (Bonney Lake),
Maggie Dabson,
Dan Decker (Bonney Lake),
Barbara Lordes(Pacific Council),
Vashaela Naranjo ,
Arlene Hatten (Pacific Partnerships (PP),
J.Frank Hatten (PP),
Leanne Guier (PP, Pacific Council, WRVLion, AND Pacific Centennial Committee Chairperson extrodinairre),
Clint Steiger(Pacific Council),
Mark Delight,
JoAnne Futch (White River Valley Lions Club, PP),
Karandeep Singh (Pacific Meadows Resident) ,
Victoria Masterjohn (WRVLion),
Rico Masterjohn (WRVLion),
Athena Masterjohn,
Thomas M. McCulley,
Caren Barnes (WRVLion),
Sukhwinder Singh (Pacific Meadows Resident),
Max Apata (WRVLion),
Tracey Apata,(White River Valley Lion Club President),
WATERING:
The plants will be watered the equivelent of 1 inch or rain per week over the summer. That amounts to 1-3 gallons of water per plant.
JOBS:
The City of Pacific has requested "stimulus package" park maintainence laborer "interns" from King and Pierce Counties to work at the Pacific Meadows Wetlands, to follow up on weeding and watering. These jobs would help Youth learn park mainatenence skills for natural areas and recreational areas....through a paid 150-hour "internship" in July and August. Local "at risk, disadvantaged youth" ages 18 to 24 are encouraged to contact King County. For more information about the program or the information sessions, contact Grace Kong, YouthSource Program Manager at 206-205-6765 grace.kong@kingcounty.gov or go to http://www.kingcounty.gov/socialservices/WorkTraining.aspx.
Read more about the King County program at http://www.kingcounty.gov/socialservices/WorkTraining/SYEP.aspx
TRASH
There was also a truck frame and discarded tires to haul out. Rich Hildreth hauled those out with a fork-lift, and Public Recycling Center (117 Frontage Rd N.) sent a flatbed for the metal. Rich donated $58 from the recyclers to FLWR. FLWR will present the money to the Park Board at the next meeting, and the Board can decide how to use it for Parks in Pacific.
You can help, too!
Volunteer to "Adopt a Park". Contact the Pacific Community Development/Public Works Office at 253-929-1110 and leave a message for the Park Board and/or Planner Paula Wiech, or email me at pacificnaturalist@clearwire.net and i'll pass it on.
Or attend a Park Board Meeting, usually the First Tuesday of the month, 5:30PM, City Hall Conference Room, 100 3rd Ave SE. Pacific WA 98047
Updated July 10th, 2009
White River Valley Lions Club Website is UP! www.wrvlionsclub.com
New from Lions Club President Tracey Apata,
WRVLions Club next meeting: July 22, at the new Pizza and coffee Bar, Algona, 5:30 PM
"I wanted to share that our club received recognition at the June 23 District Banner passing. We were given a certificate for being runner up in Most Inspirational Club in the entire Multiple District Convention. We also received a banner patch for our zone for making a difference on the environment! We were then pick out of all the zones and received an award for environmental work! Make sure everyone tells Jeanne Fancher a big congrads! It is great to see Jeanne's leadership is being recognized! Thank you Jeanne for all you do and for leading us in doing our part to help the environment!"
FYI: the White River Valley Lions Club welcomes membership inquiries from businesses and folks of "good standing" in the community who are interested in community service in the White River Valley. Contact WRVLions President Tracey Apata at traceyapata@hotmail.com
GOOD WORKS:
WRVLions sponsors the 3rd Friday Late Night for Teens at the Pacific Gym, and any Auburn School District teen with an ASB/student id card can attend. Time: 7PM to 10PM.
Next Late Nite 7/17/09 will be a Family Movie Night in Volunteer/Centennial Park next to the Senior Center on 3rd SE.
For any of the Late Nights, teens and parents are reminded that once a teen signs out, they may not re-enter the gym/activity area, even if it is before closing. Please make arrangments accordingly.
FYI: During re-modeling of the Pacific gym, Summer Youth programs will continue, check with Jo Futch at Youth programs, Community Center: 253-929-1155.
FLWR editor (and Lions club member) is providing space for White River VAlley Lions Club announcements untill their website is fully functional
Other Community Groups In the Lower Watershed, Algona, and Pacific:
PacificPartnerships, Glenda White, Chair. (Glenda manages Pacific Post Office) collectdetect@comcast.net
Pacific Board of Park Directors, Kathryn Hull, Chair, kathrynhull@comcast.net
Scout Troop 835, Disaster response team, Jim Brass, Scoutmaster, drbrass@msn.com
Scout Troop 540, Jim Schunke, Scoutmaster, jvshunke@comcast.net
HelpNW, Teen counseling and assistance www.helpnorthwest.com , drbrass@msn.com
Pacific Centennial Committee, Leanne Guier, Chair, fitterqueen@msn.com
(New Centennial T-Shirts are in! Get 'em at the Pacific Post Office!!)
Email me and I will List your group's name and contact information
We celebrated Earth Day on April 18th this year!
We're "social networking" for FLWR!
Follow Friends of the Lower White River on Twitter with your computer or with your cell phone. Check-out our editor's short text messages at http://twitter.com/FLWReditor . Twitter posts will include news about FLWR Projects, the White River Valley Lions Club, Earthday events around town, Rain Garden Classes, Gardening for Global Warming presentations, and "breaking news".
You can also watch for watershed videos from Jeanne at YouTube.
Here's one from the Pacific Community meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aTq8sSJ0Ds, City Blding Inspector Roger Smith gives advice on hiring contractors...
The editor also posts photos at Picasa, http://picasaweb.google.com/rainier.photos
Pacific Resident and talented photographer Josh Putnam
has a very extensive photo-sharing site on Flickr!
He has photos of the work on 3rd Ave, connecting the Interurban Train with City Park, with new Bike Lanes, pictures from his commute across the I-90 floating bridge by Bike, and very cool pseudo-infared Mt Rainier photos from near Mt View cemetery in Auburn! Go to Josh's home page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jputnam/
_____-----------------------------------__________________--------------------------------____________________
Updated Jan 26, 2009
January 10, 2009 Postings. Where to get information in case of a "weather event"
BASIC Technology: Radio
Salmon Creek Wiki Page: http://flwr.wetpaint.com/page/Salmon+Creek added 9-16-2008
Please contact Jeanne at Pacificnaturalis@clearwire.net or call me at 253- 924-0211 if you are interested in writing for this website.
STORMWATER: Charity Carwashes need to use a Car Wash "washwater pumping" Kit!
The City of Pacific introduced its new "Fish-Friendly" Car Wash Kit at Pacific Days, 2008!
The Kit is used to pump soapy water, from Charity car washes, out of the stormwater catch basins and into the sanitary sewer where it belongs. Soapy water from car washing goes into the strorm drains and into the Government Canal (also wrongly called the "Boeing Ditch" according to Boeing Company representatives) and Milwaukee Ditches, then into Jovita Creek and the White River.
This polluted car-washwater water can kill trout and summer-migrating salmon fingerlings and smolts in small tributaries like Jovita Creek/Milwaukee Ditch. Plus it carries oil, grease and "road grime" into the waterways and into Puget Sound. The equivelent of 1/2 of the Exxon Valdez oil spill gioes into Puget Sound every year, little drips and drops at a time.
Stormwater also carries other toxic pollutants into Puget sound. No wonder the Orcas in Puget Sound are so polluted that dead Orcas are considered toxic, and EPA requires they have to be disposed of at a Hazarous waste dump....And we eat the same kinds of fish the Orcas eat!
BORROW the CARWASH KIT!
RESERVE IT FOR YOUR CHARITY OR HOME CARWASH
Call Wanda in Public Works before 4PM : 253-929-1110
The City of Pacific Public Works Department has the respnsibility of keeping the city's stornmwater clean, according to the Clean Water Act. You can help your City government keep stormwater expenses down by practicing fish friendly and water wise uses of water.
Ten Fish-Friendly Ways You Can Improve the Quality of Stormwater Runoff
1. Cover piles of soil, sand or mulch to stop them from being transported in stormwater. Plant grass or native plants where soil is exposed.
2. Sweep your sidewalks and driveways rather than hosing them down.
3. Put leaves and grass clippings in the compost, on the garden as mulch, or use mulching mower to recycle nutrients back into the lawn. Use fertilizers sparingly.
4. Direct roof water away from paved surfaces; consider a rain garden design or other approved system where it can be captured.
5. Keep pesticides, weed killers, oil, leaves and other pollutants off streets and out of storm drains.
6. Keep cars tuned up and repair leaks - better yet, walk, bike or utilize public transportation.
7. Wash your vehicle at a car wash, on grass or over gravel. Use as little detergent as you can and pour any left over soapy water on the lawn. Use Pacific’s “Fish Friendly” Car Wash Kit if washing cars on pavement. Charity Car Wash Event Sponsors or Individuals may reserve a Car Wash Kit from Public Works, 253-929-1110. 100% refundable deposit required.
8. Dispose of household hazardous waste according to the label directions.
Reuse turpentine once the paint has settled. For more info call the King Co. Health Dept. Hazards Line, 206-296-4692, or go to http://www.govlink.org/hazwaste/index.cfm
9. Clean up pet waste - bag it and dispose in garbage or flush it down the toilet.
10. Have your on-site septic system inspected by a professional every 3 to 5 years and have your septic tank pumped as necessary (usually every 3 to 5 years).
Boy Scout Troop 835,
"Stewards" of the West Passive Nature Hill Park, Pacific,WA
Help the scouts clear invasive Himalayan blackberries and English Ivy in preparation for spring planting. Scoutmaster Jim Brass says "Everyone is welcome to any workday. Water and snacks provided. Please bring your own gloves and boots and a big smile." It is a good idea to call Dr Brass the day before to make sure there are no changes:
Call Dr Jim Brass at 253-735-5977(office) or at 206-227-5977(cell).
who am I ? (answer somewhere below)
Interested in improving your own "bit of nature"?
Discriptions of the NFW Community Backyard Habitats program can be found in the HOW section of this page, on the NWF webpages at http://www.nwf.org/community/, or in the Nov 2007 E-news on the FLWR Archive Page.
Backyard Habitats Links:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Backyard Habitats Crossing Paths Newsletter and
WDFW Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary information.
National Wildlife Federation's 1-2-3-4 steps to gardening for wildlife http://www.nwf.org/backyard/
Check out backyards around the County http://www.enature.com/backyardwildlife/nwf_bwh_gallery.asp
Download free wildlife gardening tipsheets http://www.nwf.org/backyard/tipsheets.cfm
Check the NWF Community Habitats page http://www.nwf.org/community/
Learn how native species are tracked by professional and citizen scientists, go to UW Nature Mapping , http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/
and how to Create a "Hapening Habitat" at your school http://happeninhabitats.pwnet.org/
FLWR Projects Overview:
Pacific Community Wildlife Habitat: Pacific is the newest of several National Wildlife Federation Puget Sound region Wildlife Habitat Communities. For more information, see "How" below, and checkout the NFW CH Newsletters attached to the Community Wildlife Habitats Page. or go to http://www.nwf.org/community/
FLWR held a Pacific brainstorming session November 2nd. The goal of the meeting was to determine how to reach out to the Pacific community. FLWR is committed to improve our backyards, businesses, government facilities, city parks, and school properties as wildlife habitats. We will work with NWF staff from their Western Regional Office in Seattle.. Please call FLWR member Jeanne Fancher at 253-924-0211, or at PacificNaturalist@clearwire.net if you want more information.
FLWR E-Newsletter: A monthly posting of news and programs of interest to watershed residents. Includes links from EPA, DOE, and other sources. Naturalist notes, and reader contributions.
E-mail Editor at PacificNaturalist@clearwire.nett to submit articles or links, to subscribe to the FLWR E-News... or you can watch the FLWR E-News Archive Page for the new monthly "E-News" Attachments!
FLWR Web-pages: a work in progress. You are invited to contribute stories, pictures, Art work, edit a page, create a page for your backyard habitat, your street, neighborhood, city or stretch of the River. Be a reporter on environmental happenings in your city or county. Help make this website a community asset! Contact the editor.
West Hill Park Stewardship and Pacific Algona Boy Scout Troop 385:
Pacific-Algona Scout Troup 385 has voted to remove invasive plants from the West Hill Passive Nature Park in Pacific. The scouts also have a lot of opportunity to Measure water quality, Learn about forestry and wildlife, Planting native plants and tending the forest. Goal is improved habitat, restored upland coniferous forest, and hence improved water quality downstream in Milwaukee Creek (Ditch) and Jovita Creek. See further discussion of the project under the "How" heading below. Contact scout master Jim Brass to help, drbrass@msn.com
Lower White River Biodiversity Management Plan. "Biodiversity" equals the diversity of life!
The Lower White River Biodiversity Management Plan Draft is almost ready! The Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance will be contacting local jurisdictions, like Auburn , Buckley, Pacific and Sumner, to discuss conservation strategies for their areas of the Biodiversity Management Planning Area. The LWR-BMA Stewardship Plan is a voluntary plan to preserve the rich plant, animal and riparian habitat of the Lower White River Corridor, from Buckley to Sumner. The goal of preserving habitat and protecting biodiversity is to “keep common animals common”. Landowners will be encouraged to improve their river-side properties as better habitat for wildlife. In exchange, LWRBMP Area property owners can get lowered tax rates from Pierce County.
Any community resident can participate in the upcoming public review and comment for the Draft LWR Biodiversity Management Plan. Contacts: John Garner, Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance, johng@tacomaparks.com and Michele Tirhi, WDFW, mtirhi@DFW.wa.gov . More information on the Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance can be found on our Biodiveristy page. FLWR will post notices when the Draft Plan is ready for review!
"Who Am I ?" answer: Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, one of 6 Hummers native to the Western coastal states, and the only one which does not migrate south in the winter.
MORE DETAILS:
FLWR advocates for Low Impact Development building practices, Habitat Restoration along all tributaries of the river, Community /Backyard wildlife habitats, and Education about conservation of dwindling water resources, as increased populations and climate change collide to make water even more precious a resource. Water for Life!
WHY:
Healthy communities need clean water.
"Potable", clean "drinking water" comes from the watershed's "storage vaults": Mount Rainier glaciers, Cascade Mountain snowfields, rivers fed by mountain and lowland rainfall, or wells drilled into deep aquifers or into the subsurface "watertable". All can be compromised by "non-point pollution" in "stormwater run-off". Most of the pollution is from vehicles (exhaust, leaking fluids, tire and brake dust), which is washed into streams and Puget Sound by rainfall. Add Point-source pollution from sewage treatment plants or other "permitted" outfalls which discharge into the rivers, or Puget Sound. The DOE establishes total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) of pollutants for our rivers and stream. But the pollution ads up. Well water from aquifers provide lots of people fairly clean water. Others get their water from protected watersheds (Tacoma and Seattle control the Green and Cedar River watersheds, respectively). Pacific taps an aquifer supplied by the White River Alluvial Fan, about 50 feet below the surface. What happens when an aquifer becomes polluted? How do people cook food, wash dishes and clothes, run a business or school, or even hava cuppa java? And what happens to the "biota"( the fish, frogs,salamanders, aquatic plants and organisms in the food chain) which are more sensitive to water pollution than are humans?
Pollutants from vehichles (cars, trucks, ships, trains) are the most common threat to water quality. How do we know our watersheds are healthy, that the water is clean? the DOE test the water, but they can't test all the streams everyday. There just is not enough staff, or money.
What are the biological indicators of clean water? Healthy salmon and steelhead runs indicate a healthy watershed, a healthy Puget Sound, and a healthy Earth. White River salmon, steelhead and char runs are far below historical levels. In Auburn and Pacific, the river is polluted with "class 5 pollutants" : fecal coliform, high temperature, and pH imbalance are listed impairments on the DOE 2004 “303 (d) polluted waters lists. Chemicals like car wash detergents, fertilizers from lawns and farms, and all the other convienience chemicals we use in daily life also contribute to making streams unhealthy for salmon and for people.
Example: the above tested-for Class 5 pollutants were found in 4 White River water quality test sites in Sumner (Temp, pH), and in Trout and Five Mile Lakes (Fecal Coliform). Leaking or inadequete on-site septic systems, and unshaded ground ( no forests) add up to warm, polluted lakes and rivers.
FWLR advocates that safe drinking water, clean, cold water for Salmon, and high quality wildlife habitats are inseparable, and that we must act locally to have clean water. Each of us can do a little bit, and it adds up to a healthy watershed.
HOW:
FLWR is helping to restore habitats and to work for clean water in several ways
West Hill Passiver Nature Park Stewardship:We have partnered with HelpNW.com for a 2007 King County Small Change grant to improve wildlife habitat in the Pacific West Hill Nature Park. The grant will help Pacific Algona Scout Troup 385 “adopt” the Nature Park as a stewardship project . The grant will buy tools, supplies, plants, water testing kits, and field guides, and to hire a licensed herbicide applicator. The scouts are will first control invasive plants: Himalayan Blackberries along the stream and on the hill, English ivy vines climbing up the 100 year old Douglas Firs, stream-side canary reed grass. Then they will replant the areas with native trees and shrubs to improve wildlife habitat. The grant will also pay for professional herbicide application to a small but highly invasive patch of Knotweed along the 3rd Ave stream (aka "Itsa Creek"). The goal is to improve habitat and to protect water quality down stream ( Milwaukee Ditch and Jovita Creek). West Hill Nature Park stewardship is a long term project. Scout Troop 385 voted to spend 2 to 3 years as stewards of the park. If you want to help the scouts, or become a steward yourself, contact Scoutmaster Jim Brass,@ drbrass@msn.com, cell 206-334-5977.
In preparation for work in the park, Troup 385 plans to volunteer at a future planting , sponsored by the PCCD Stream Team, If you would like to volunteer for a Steam Team project, contact Melissa Buckingham, melissab@piercecountycd.org.
The NWF Pacific Community Wildlife Habitat Project is another way to improve wildlife habitat. The National Wildlife Federation is working to create Community Habitats throughout the Puget Sound region. Pacific is their newest project city. FLWR signed on to help get Pacific certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat Community.
The Backyard Wildlife Habitat Group.
The BWHG had a meeting November 3, 2007 at the Algona-Pacific Library to brainstorm about how to develope the Community Habitats Project in Pacific. We discussed many topics, and had a good time sharing ideas, information and even a feww native plants. Many of you have already registered your yards with the NFW or WDFW as Backyard Habitats. We need your help and experience. The FLWR BWHGroup would like to register several city parks and schools, as well as many, many Backyards with the NWF and WDFW. Get on the FLWR E-News list to receive more information. or contact Jeanne at 253-924-0211, or by email at PacificNaturalist@clearwire.net.
Connecting Teens with Restoration Projects:
In August FLWR helped the Auburn Valley YMCA find a community service project for the eXtreme Teen Program. 13 teens and their counselors planted native trees and shrubs along Mill Creek at the intersection of West Valley Highway and Peasley Canyon Rd.
The very successful event was coordinated by Auburn Planning and Community Development Department Environmental Intern Cindy Plass Spiry and YMCA eXtreme Teen Program Manager Genell Howell. Genell and Cindy are going back to university, but Tristin Oeljenstreet, YMCA Youth Development Director is looking for more projects! Do you have a project in mind where you live?? Contact FLWR, or Tristin at toeljenstreet@seattleymca.org.
Grants for your Students' Project:
And If you have an “after-school” environmental project in mind, it may be funded by a Natural Resources Stewardship Grant, available from King County, http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/pi/grant-exchange/NRSN.htm. Contact Linda Vane, by voice at (206) 296-8042, TTY 711, or by email at linda.vane@metrokc.gov. for more information.
For information about future planting events sponsored by Auburn Planning and Community Development, contact Aaron Nix, anix@auburnwa.gov . More Pictures on the YMCA Page
VISION:
FLWR’s vision is to have many restoration projects upstream and down from our Pacific (city) beginnings.
From Mud Mountain Dam to the mouth of the River in Sumner, and on all the tributaries, there are lots of opportunities for riverside and upland habitat restoration and/or protection.
In August of 2007 Pierce County Executive John Ladenberg and King County Executive Ron Sims co-signed a proclamation in support of biodiversity for the Lower White River. ( quoted in the FLWR E-News August, see the News archive page). The LWR Biodiversity Management Plan now being drafted by the Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance, (a coalition of local environmental educators, and of WDFW and UW scientists), will be a guide. Coincidentally, King and Pierce Counties are leading the way with several Inter-County floodplain restoration projects along the river, and across from the Pacific Park. Floodplain restoration will increase habitat for salmon, and improve riparian functions, though the project is primarily to provide more channel “volume” for floodwater storage.
A bigger "Vision"
How about expanding this concept to create a Big Nature Park /Wetlands Mitigation Bank/ Outdoor Recreation Area along the Left Bank (east side) of the River, and west of the thousands of homes of Lakeland, Auburn? FLWR envisions a 200 to 300+ acre “working” Park which encompasses the Sumner Meadows golf course and land to the north and south for floodplain restoration, storm water planning, habitat restoration, and tourist and residential recreation. The Big Nature Park would be a model for other progressive communities with river “resources” in Washington’s Urban Growth Areas. The Big Nature Park would become a valuable economic resource to our communities, just as the Puyallup-Carbon River valley “Rails to Trails” trail has helped Orting’s post-logging/diary farm economy. (see Big Nature Park attachments below)
More about Water:
Water sustains us. Clean water is needed for our families, our jobs, growing local food, and a healthy, sustainable environment. Clean water is taken for granted… it comes out of the tap at a turn of the handle. But clean water is not guaranteed unless we work to keep contaminants out of surface and ground water. Rivers and streams, like people, need care. Stormwater runoff needs to be free of contaminants. Groundwater needs to be protected from pollution. Rivers and tributaries need trees shading the water, and upland forests shading the ground, to keep water cool. Invasive plants need to be controlled. Onsite septic sewage systems need to work properly, and not leak sewage. Yards and gardens need to be chemically "low maintainence". Cars need to be well maintained, and as efficient as possible. We need to drive less.... these are all ways to make responsible choices to reduce stormwater pollution. If we are not careful, clean water will be the next "gold".
The recent history of the "Stuck" and "White" Rivers
In 1894-95, the White River flowed into the Green River, through the town of Auburn, near East C Street/ Auburn Way at Main. The Stuck River flowing south was a secondary channel. Farmers to the north and south wanted the floodwaters to go the other direction. Somehow around 1906 a landslide of questionable origin (some Puyallup farmers rumored that Auburn farmers' dynamite was the cause) diverted the River into the South channel. Puyallup farmers sued. Lawsuits resulted in an Inter-County River Improvement agreement, which was signed between King and Pierce Counties. The River was stuck in the south channel. Under the agreement, between 1915-19, the river was straightened, diked, and permenently redirected to the Puyallup The diversion can be found in Game Farm Park, Auburn. . The Inter-County agreement ended years of farmers' arguments and lawsuits over the White River. It also destroyed important habitat for salmon, steelhead and many other species.
The Results:
Diminished salmon runs were the results of over 100 years of "management". The Bolt Decision and the Endangered Species Act forced the state and federal govermnment to take action to restore salmon runs.Now watershed Tribes, federal, state, and local governments, and citizens groups are addressing the consequences of rivers managed only to control flooding. King and Pierce County and the Muckleshoot and Puyallup Nations are working actively to restore salmon runs. But environmental degradation, polluted water, poor habitat in the river channel, and land conversion are making it a hard job.
Sustainable fish populations in the White River WOULD indicate the White River System is healthy. It would also mean people are no longer using the White River as a sewer or as a garbage dump. We have a long way to go to restore the White River to a viable, healthy river. It will never be exactly how it was before Euro-American fur trappers, government expeditions, and “manifest destiny” motivated settlers “found” it.
Looking even farther back:
Before the early 1800s, the White-Stuck River was thick with spawning salmon and steelhead runs which supported the First Nations peoples for thousands of years. By 1854, Washington Territorial Governor Issac Stevens was coercing South Sound area Puyallup, Nisqually, Steilacoom, Squawkskin, and Northern Sound Duwamish and Muckleshoots, and other tribes’ and bands’ “leaders”, whom he had appointed, to give up their lands by signing the Medicine Creek and Point Roberts Treatys. The Medicine Creek Treaty guaranteed the Tribes fishing and hunting in all usual and accustomed places. Stevens promised the treaty would be good “as long as the grass shall grow and the sun shall rise.” These treaties basically legalized stealing Indian lands so settlers would have "clear title" to the land on which they squatted. Since the treaty negotiations were conducted in the trade jargon of about 300 words, it is doubtfull the Tribal signers even knew what they were givnig up (Source: Skid Row, by Murray Morgan).
Stevens probably didn't think whatever he told the Indians would matter. He expected them to fade into ovblivion, or to become "civilized" farmers. And he surely didn't have a clue about "ecosystems" and their functions, his job was to get title to the land. And he did. In little over 200 years, the Anglo-American "improvements" "pioneers", their desendants, (and we more recent immigrants) have made to these First Nations lands, have turned the rivers into sewers, decimated the forests so they no longer function to provide clean cold water to streams and rivers year round, poisoned Puget Sound so it is becoming a watery desert, and basically screwed-up the lowland ecosystems to the point of un-sustainability. Of the thousands and thousands of square miles in the Puget Sound basin, only the National Parks and the most remote unlogged national and private forests provide the same ecosystem services they did in 1800. (See ,www.eartheconomics.org "A New View of the Puget Sound Economy")
Ask yourself what today’s Muckleshoot and Puyallup Tribal elders would say about their treaty rights to salmon “as long as the sun shall rise”. What would they say we should change? Ask your self, “What can I do to help make the river and ecosystem healthy and sustainable again?”
FLWR invites you to help us walk the talk to a healthy White River.
Contact FLWR at PacificNaturalist@clearwire.net or 253-924-0211!
FLWR’s motto is “Water for Life”. Our “mascot” is the River Otter
"Otto Otter", seen on the masthead above,
was drawn by Federal Way, WA artist Anita Lynn Landree.
Our Mission is to protect the biodiversity and health of the Lower White River Basin and it’s communities through Education, Supporting scientific research, Fostering citizen participation in government, and Buying and holding in trust, for the Public Good, critical areas, aquatic & riparian wildlife habitat, and other lands of ecological significance”.
Our Motto is "Water for Life
Be Part of the Pollution Prevention Solution!!!
Connect to the Puget Sound Starts Here website.
Look for coupons for discounts on "Your Rewards" for yard care, car care and pet care products or services that reduce pollution going into our lakes, streams and Puget Sound!
http://www.pugetsoundstartshere.org/
Follow "Puget Sound Starts Here" on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PSStartsHere
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Puget-Sound-Starts-Here/135802909534
On MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/psstartshere
Your FLWR e-News Editor is twittering for the Watershed!
Get Information and Updates in smaller doses with your cell phone's twitter application
You can get FLWReditor posts at http://www.twitter.com/FLWReditor
Low Impact developement research continues at WSU-Puyallup Extension Campus.
Scientists are researching how to improve the quality of Storomwater runoff!
Pervious paving, vegatated bioswales(rain gardens) and other low impact development techinques are being studied at the Puyallup Campus. Saving Puget Sound hinges on how well we can keep pollutants out of our Urban waters (drainage systems, stormwater pipes, lakes and streams). Work at the campus Pervious pavvement research site may be seen online via a webcam.
http://cahnrsnews.wsu.edu/reportertools/news/2009/lid-puyallup-2009-08.htmll
Rain Garden Installations
The Puyallup River Watershed had several Rain Garden Installations this summer.
In the Lower White River basin, the City of Buckley installed a Rain Garden at the Youth Center at 251 S. River Ave, next to the Skate Park. Check it out next time you drive through Buckley on Hyway 410.
In Orting, in the Puyallup River Basin, a Rain Garden was installed at the Orting Depot (farmers market building) along the Rails-to-Trails Trail, at 110 Train St SE.
7 Rain Gardens were also installed in Puyallup on 8th NW, in the 1000 block. on the weekends of Aug 15 & 22nd. Cisco Morris broadcast his KIRO-FM 97.3 "Garening with Cisco" call-in show live from the Rain Garden street on August 22nd. Cisco interviewed new Rain Gardeners, City and County stormwater and health department employees, RG Volunteers, Watershed Council folks and local folks concerned with water quality,
This street is being retrofitted with bioswales and pervious pavement to handle stormwater. The residents are participating in meetings to design the look of their new stormwater retrofit. Tim Parham, City of Puyallup Associate Planner is coordinating this Low Impact Devlopment project with Stormwater Engineer Mark Palmer.
Go to the Stewardship Partners photo share site http://picasaweb.google.com/SPraingardens
for pictures from these and other installation.
Updated July 21, 2009
Emergency Training turns "Live".
Scouts help save a woman's life in Cascade Mountains after mountain-biking acci
See the Sunday July 19th King-5 video at
http://www.king5.com/video/index.html?nvid=381653
Reported by Dr, Jim Brass, Scoutmaster Troop 835
Pacific Community Church Pastor, and founder of HelpNorthwest
Emailed July 18, 2009 to FLWR Editor pacificnaturalist@clearwire.net
Writes Jim:
This week (Thursday July 16th) we took 3 Boy Scout troops out to train them for emergency preparedness
You would have been so proud of the boys. While we were teaching them to respond to emergencies, a man runs into our camp and yells "Help, Help she has a head wound" turns and runs back towards the woods. The boys all grabbed various equipment and followed him about half a mile away and up a trail where they found his girlfriend who had come down the trail on a bike and hit a stump, flipped and landed on rocks. She had a Subdermal Hematoma, Fractured Ribs, Punctured Lung, Fractured Chin, Cut on her Head and was in Shock. We went right to work on her and called 911.
When the first EMT arrived the boys met him and guided him in, when the next one arrived the boys assembled the stretcher and carried it in. They also meet the paramedics and brought them in with more equipment. After a half hour of trying to get her stable we took her out to meet the air lift. She was taken to Harborview (Seattle) and is in ICU. The boyfriend sent us a message today and said that we had saved her life. It was good to be there at just the right time to make a difference. The boys from all thee troops worked together as one and did a great job. Between them they had all the right things needed as first responders to have possibly saved her life.
It was amazing to watch as the boys also comforted her boyfriend and all of them remained calm and professional. You can be proud of the Boy Scouts you love and support, you were there right beside us.
Jim
(Scoutmaster, Pacific Algona Troop 835
Dr. Jim Brass
253-735-5977 Church Office
253-939-9976 Apt Office
253-887-8600 Fax
206-227-5977 Cell
drbrass@msn.com
www.helpnorthwest.com
Editor's Note: These boys need a Parade through Pacific and Algona to celebrate them saving a life!
How about it, Mayor Hildreth and Mayor Hill?
Updated June 30, 2009, .....
City of Pacific & FLWR
Pacific Meadows Wetlands and Buffer Restoration Planting on June 27th
was a BIG rousting SUCESS!
To All you wonderful volunteers!
THANK YOU!
As soon as i receive Jay's pictures of the planting,
they will be posted online at http://picasaweb.google.com/rainier.photos
Volunteer groups represented..........
Scout Troop 540: The 8 members of Scout Troop 540 and the Schunke Family deserve special recognition! They came first, and stayed late to water plants!!
White River Valley Lions Club, Pacific Partnerships, Pacific Meadows Homeowners Assoc/Residents, Pacific Mayor and Council, "outta-towners", Pacific Board of Park Directors, and FLWR
Because of the tireless work of these community spirited volunteers, all the plants were in by noon, and watered by 1:30 PM!
OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS!..........
James Schunke (Scout troop 540),
Trent Sommers, (ST540)
Chris Perry, (ST540)
Nicole Schunke,(ST540)
Valerie Schunke,(ST540)
Billy Shunke, (ST540)
Annette Perry, (ST540)
Jim Shunke (Troop 540 Scoutmaster) ---
Linda Dabson (Bonney Lake),
Maggie Dabson,
Dan Decker (Bonney Lake),
Barbara Lordes(Pacific Council),
Vashaela Naranjo ,
Arlene Hatten (Pacific Partnerships (PP),
J.Frank Hatten (PP),
Leanne Guier (PP, Pacific Council, WRVLion, AND Pacific Centennial Committee Chairperson extrodinairre),
Clint Steiger(Pacific Council),
Mark Delight,
JoAnne Futch (White River Valley Lions Club, PP),
Karandeep Singh (Pacific Meadows Resident) ,
Victoria Masterjohn (WRVLion),
Rico Masterjohn (WRVLion),
Athena Masterjohn,
Thomas M. McCulley,
Caren Barnes (WRVLion),
Sukhwinder Singh (Pacific Meadows Resident),
Max Apata (WRVLion),
Tracey Apata,(White River Valley Lion Club President),
Josh Apata,
Michael Apata,
Ben Apata,
Alexis Rosario (WRVLion)
Antheny Rosario,
Lailah Rosario,
Sabrina Valladares (Pacific Meadows Homeowners Assc.Pres.)
Julian Valladares,
Yasmine Valladares,
Malik Valladares,
Jermiah Valladares,
Raj Cheema (Pacific Meadows Resident)
Kathryn (Kate) Hull, (Pacific Board of Park Directors Chair)
Corey Hull, (Our wonderful Bar-B-Que Grill Master)
Jay Bennett (WRVLion)
Paula Wiech (FLWR, City of Pacific Planner, Pacific Resident)
Tom Dee (Wetlands Scientist, PMWetlands and Buffer Restoration designer, JSJones and Associates)
Michael Apata,
Ben Apata,
Alexis Rosario (WRVLion)
Antheny Rosario,
Lailah Rosario,
Sabrina Valladares (Pacific Meadows Homeowners Assc.Pres.)
Julian Valladares,
Yasmine Valladares,
Malik Valladares,
Jermiah Valladares,
Raj Cheema (Pacific Meadows Resident)
Kathryn (Kate) Hull, (Pacific Board of Park Directors Chair)
Corey Hull, (Our wonderful Bar-B-Que Grill Master)
Jay Bennett (WRVLion)
Paula Wiech (FLWR, City of Pacific Planner, Pacific Resident)
Tom Dee (Wetlands Scientist, PMWetlands and Buffer Restoration designer, JSJones and Associates)
Allen Zulauf (Puyallup River Watershed Council, PRWFoundation, and Citizens for a Healthy Bay Boardmember)
Carol Aguliar (WRVLion)
Carol Aguliar (WRVLion)
Aggie Aguliar (WRVLion)
Rich Hildreth (Pacific Mayor, WRVLion, PP)
Debbie Thorsos
SUMMARY:
2 acres of the almost 10 acres Pacific Meadows Wetlands and Buffer has been replanted with Native trees and shrubs! Last October 25, 2008 we re-planted section B. Saturday's (June 27, 2009) planting was the second, and more ambitious, as it covered a long narrow swath of the wetlands buffer, and planters had many invasive Himalayan Blackberry roots to contend with. The Pacific Meadows restoration plan covers 10 sectors, over 10 years.... I think we are one section ahead of schedule! Rich Hildreth (Pacific Mayor, WRVLion, PP)
Debbie Thorsos
SUMMARY:
WATERING:
The plants will be watered the equivelent of 1 inch or rain per week over the summer. That amounts to 1-3 gallons of water per plant.
JOBS:
The City of Pacific has requested "stimulus package" park maintainence laborer "interns" from King and Pierce Counties to work at the Pacific Meadows Wetlands, to follow up on weeding and watering. These jobs would help Youth learn park mainatenence skills for natural areas and recreational areas....through a paid 150-hour "internship" in July and August. Local "at risk, disadvantaged youth" ages 18 to 24 are encouraged to contact King County. For more information about the program or the information sessions, contact Grace Kong, YouthSource Program Manager at 206-205-6765 grace.kong@kingcounty.gov or go to http://www.kingcounty.gov/socialservices/WorkTraining.aspx.
Read more about the King County program at http://www.kingcounty.gov/socialservices/WorkTraining/SYEP.aspx
TRASH
There was also a truck frame and discarded tires to haul out. Rich Hildreth hauled those out with a fork-lift, and Public Recycling Center (117 Frontage Rd N.) sent a flatbed for the metal. Rich donated $58 from the recyclers to FLWR. FLWR will present the money to the Park Board at the next meeting, and the Board can decide how to use it for Parks in Pacific.
To see the work completed at Pacific Meadows, go to the basketball court at Yakima Ave SW and Rhubarb SW, and walk the trail easterly to the Pocket Park ( with climbing wall) at 5th and Milwaukee Blvd S.
You can help, too!
Volunteer to "Adopt a Park". Contact the Pacific Community Development/Public Works Office at 253-929-1110 and leave a message for the Park Board and/or Planner Paula Wiech, or email me at pacificnaturalist@clearwire.net and i'll pass it on.
Or attend a Park Board Meeting, usually the First Tuesday of the month, 5:30PM, City Hall Conference Room, 100 3rd Ave SE. Pacific WA 98047
Updated July 10th, 2009
White River Valley Lions Club Website is UP! www.wrvlionsclub.com
New from Lions Club President Tracey Apata,
WRVLions Club next meeting: July 22, at the new Pizza and coffee Bar, Algona, 5:30 PM
"I wanted to share that our club received recognition at the June 23 District Banner passing. We were given a certificate for being runner up in Most Inspirational Club in the entire Multiple District Convention. We also received a banner patch for our zone for making a difference on the environment! We were then pick out of all the zones and received an award for environmental work! Make sure everyone tells Jeanne Fancher a big congrads! It is great to see Jeanne's leadership is being recognized! Thank you Jeanne for all you do and for leading us in doing our part to help the environment!"
FYI: the White River Valley Lions Club welcomes membership inquiries from businesses and folks of "good standing" in the community who are interested in community service in the White River Valley. Contact WRVLions President Tracey Apata at traceyapata@hotmail.com
GOOD WORKS:
WRVLions sponsors the 3rd Friday Late Night for Teens at the Pacific Gym, and any Auburn School District teen with an ASB/student id card can attend. Time: 7PM to 10PM.
Next Late Nite 7/17/09 will be a Family Movie Night in Volunteer/Centennial Park next to the Senior Center on 3rd SE.
For any of the Late Nights, teens and parents are reminded that once a teen signs out, they may not re-enter the gym/activity area, even if it is before closing. Please make arrangments accordingly.
FYI: During re-modeling of the Pacific gym, Summer Youth programs will continue, check with Jo Futch at Youth programs, Community Center: 253-929-1155.
FLWR editor (and Lions club member) is providing space for White River VAlley Lions Club announcements untill their website is fully functional
Other Community Groups In the Lower Watershed, Algona, and Pacific:
PacificPartnerships, Glenda White, Chair. (Glenda manages Pacific Post Office) collectdetect@comcast.net
Pacific Board of Park Directors, Kathryn Hull, Chair, kathrynhull@comcast.net
Scout Troop 835, Disaster response team, Jim Brass, Scoutmaster, drbrass@msn.com
Scout Troop 540, Jim Schunke, Scoutmaster, jvshunke@comcast.net
HelpNW, Teen counseling and assistance www.helpnorthwest.com , drbrass@msn.com
Pacific Centennial Committee, Leanne Guier, Chair, fitterqueen@msn.com
(New Centennial T-Shirts are in! Get 'em at the Pacific Post Office!!)
Email me and I will List your group's name and contact information
We celebrated Earth Day on April 18th this year!
In partnership with the City of Pacific Board of Park Directors, Pacific Partnerships, Scout Troop 835, Pacific Meadows Homeowners Association, and the White River Valley Lions, FLWR coordinated the 2nd Annual Pacific Parks Pick-up, Trash-toss, Weed-wack, and Ivy-pull. Besides general trash pick-up in City Parks and along the Interurban Trail, we did pickdp 400 lbs plus of Trash at Pacific Meadows Wetlands,. This year we added the first of many "ivy pulls" in the West Hill Passive Park with Scout Troop 835 (at the undeveloped hill top access point).
Last year for Earth Day, seven volunteers from Pacific Partnerships and FLWR collected over 700 lbs of garbage, in about 2 hours, from City property, saving the City over 15 hours in Public Works Crew time...
At Pacific Meadows Wetlands in October, over 40 volunteers from the WRVLions, Pacific Meadows Homeowners Assoc, Auburn Riverside High School SkillsUSA Chapter members (career club), Pacific Partnerships and FLWR saved the city over 90 hours of Crew time planting native trees and shrubs in the Meadows. Conservatively, at $40 per hour, that's $4,200 saved!
For more information, email Jeanne at PacificNaturalist@clearwire.net
We're "social networking" for FLWR!
Follow Friends of the Lower White River on Twitter with your computer or with your cell phone. Check-out our editor's short text messages at http://twitter.com/FLWReditor . Twitter posts will include news about FLWR Projects, the White River Valley Lions Club, Earthday events around town, Rain Garden Classes, Gardening for Global Warming presentations, and "breaking news".
You can also watch for watershed videos from Jeanne at YouTube.
Here's one from the Pacific Community meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aTq8sSJ0Ds, City Blding Inspector Roger Smith gives advice on hiring contractors...
The editor also posts photos at Picasa, http://picasaweb.google.com/rainier.photos
Pacific Resident and talented photographer Josh Putnam
has a very extensive photo-sharing site on Flickr!
He has photos of the work on 3rd Ave, connecting the Interurban Train with City Park, with new Bike Lanes, pictures from his commute across the I-90 floating bridge by Bike, and very cool pseudo-infared Mt Rainier photos from near Mt View cemetery in Auburn! Go to Josh's home page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jputnam/
_____-----------------------------------__________________--------------------------------____________________
Updated Jan 26, 2009
January 2009 Pacific Flood Information: flood@cityofpacific.com www.cityofpacific.com
1. The Flood information phone line at the Pacific EOC has been "closed for this event". (was 253-929-1132). The Emergency Operations Center has been closed (253-929-1157), For emergency information call the Pacific Police Department at 253-939-1130,
2. To receive emailed Flood information, send your email address to the EOC Flood@cityofpacific.com
Check the newly updated City website www.cityofpacific.com
for more announcements and Information.
3. Many resources are available by checking in at the Community Center, 100 3rd Ave. SE. You can also request resources by calling 253-929-1154 during business hours. If you need any type of assistance such as volunteers to help move items, food, shelter, or anything else, please call. An effort will be made to provide whatever you need.
4. A Flood Relief fund has been set-up at the Pacific Community Center.
If you need help, please see or call Jo Anne Barkley. 253-929-1154
Tax-deductible donations can be sent to the Community Center 501(c)3 non-profit:
Pacific Community Center,
100 3rd AVE SE, Pacific WA 98047.
1. The Flood information phone line at the Pacific EOC has been "closed for this event". (was 253-929-1132). The Emergency Operations Center has been closed (253-929-1157), For emergency information call the Pacific Police Department at 253-939-1130,
2. To receive emailed Flood information, send your email address to the EOC Flood@cityofpacific.com
Check the newly updated City website www.cityofpacific.com
for more announcements and Information.
3. Many resources are available by checking in at the Community Center, 100 3rd Ave. SE. You can also request resources by calling 253-929-1154 during business hours. If you need any type of assistance such as volunteers to help move items, food, shelter, or anything else, please call. An effort will be made to provide whatever you need.
4. A Flood Relief fund has been set-up at the Pacific Community Center.
If you need help, please see or call Jo Anne Barkley. 253-929-1154
Tax-deductible donations can be sent to the Community Center 501(c)3 non-profit:
Pacific Community Center,
100 3rd AVE SE, Pacific WA 98047.
Smith home looks out on Lower White River, Jan 10, 2009, Pacific WA
January 10, 2009 Postings. Where to get information in case of a "weather event"
BASIC Technology: Radio
1) NOAA Weather Radio
Listen to NOAA Radio for wind and rainfall predictions and reports, current river heights and flows, and predicted "crests".
NOAA Weather Radio KHB60, broadcasting on frequency 162.55 mH (mega Hertz)
Advanced Technology: Internet
2) Puyallup, Carbon, White and Nisqually Rivers, Pierce County, WA-USA
NOAA Weather Radio KHB60, broadcasting on frequency 162.55 mH (mega Hertz)
Advanced Technology: Internet
2) Puyallup, Carbon, White and Nisqually Rivers, Pierce County, WA-USA
Flood Warnings are available at : http://matterhorn9.co.pierce.wa.us/floodMonitor/floodforecast.jsp
Hoover your pointer over a section of a river to see the current warning.
http://www.piercecountywa.org/pc/services/home/environ/water/general/flood_alert_info.htm
http://www.piercecountywa.org/pc/services/home/environ/water/general/flood_alert_info.htm
3) White River at Mud Mountain Dam, Army Corps of Engineeers.
4) Green River at Howard Hanson Dam, Army Corps of Engineers. same source as above
5) King County Rivers flow data and warnings are availble at
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding/warning-system.aspx
http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding/warning-system.aspx
6) US Army Corps of Engineers,
For more information on the Corps, and up-to-date river forecasts, go to www.nws.usace.army.mil and click on Rivers and Reservoirs.
Lake and river information is available at: http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nws/hh/basins/
" Private citizens seeking sandbags should contact their local government offices."
7) National Weather Service,
NWS Flood watches and warnings:
Western Washington web page: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew/
Regional web page http://www.weather.gov/view/states.php?state=wa&map=on
See other "weather" links at the ACE webpage:
http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nws/hh/warnings/warnings.htm
8) Webpages for Lower White River * Basin and Lower Puyallup River Watershed Cities
City of Sumner * http://www.ci.sumner.wa.us/ For more information on the Corps, and up-to-date river forecasts, go to www.nws.usace.army.mil and click on Rivers and Reservoirs.
Lake and river information is available at: http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nws/hh/basins/
" Private citizens seeking sandbags should contact their local government offices."
7) National Weather Service,
NWS Flood watches and warnings:
Western Washington web page: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew/
Regional web page http://www.weather.gov/view/states.php?state=wa&map=on
See other "weather" links at the ACE webpage:
http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nws/hh/warnings/warnings.htm
8) Webpages for Lower White River * Basin and Lower Puyallup River Watershed Cities
City of Puyallup Evacuation Zone Map., City webpages: http://www.cityofpuyallup.org/
City of Edgewood* h ttp://www.ci.edgewood.wa.us/
City of Auburn * portal http://www.auburnwa.gov/Home.asp (in Puyallup and Green River Watersheds)
City of Buckley * webpages http://www.cityofbuckley.com/
City of Milton http://www.cityofmilton.net/
City of Pacific* http://www.cityofpacific.com/
City of Orting http://www.cityoforting.org/main/home.html
BASIC Technology:Telephone
9) City of Pacific Flood Information
Citizens Advisory, updated Jan-10-2009 1:30 PM,
Faxed from City, authored by Jay Bennett, Public Works Director
" Starting Monday, January 13th, 2009 King County residents of Pacific can report
their damages by internet at www.ldngcounty.gov/prepare or by phone" after 12:00 noon" at 1-800-523-5044."
"For Pierce County residents of Pacific, the Pierce County Damage Assessment Center is open and available to report damages from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. today, Saturday 1-10-2009 The telephone number is 1-866-798-6323."
"The City of Pacific Community Center islocated at 100 3rd Ave. SE.
253-929-1154."
""Continuous updates will be available on the City of Pacific Flood Information Line at 253-929-1132 "
(Now closed regarding the the January 8, 2009 Flood....see website: www.cityofpacific.com )
10) ROADS: (BASIC and Advanced Technology)
For up to the minute information, tune in to radio station 1580 AM, watch
local television stations such as KIRO or go to the Washington State Department of Transportation websiter for updates and information. WASH-DOT has webcams all over Washington Hyways.
City of Buckley * webpages http://www.cityofbuckley.com/
City of Milton http://www.cityofmilton.net/
City of Pacific* http://www.cityofpacific.com/
City of Orting http://www.cityoforting.org/main/home.html
BASIC Technology:Telephone
9) City of Pacific Flood Information
Citizens Advisory, updated Jan-10-2009 1:30 PM,
Faxed from City, authored by Jay Bennett, Public Works Director
" Starting Monday, January 13th, 2009 King County residents of Pacific can report
their damages by internet at www.ldngcounty.gov/prepare or by phone" after 12:00 noon" at 1-800-523-5044."
"For Pierce County residents of Pacific, the Pierce County Damage Assessment Center is open and available to report damages from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. today, Saturday 1-10-2009 The telephone number is 1-866-798-6323."
"The City of Pacific Community Center islocated at 100 3rd Ave. SE.
253-929-1154."
""Continuous updates will be available on the City of Pacific Flood Information Line at 253-929-1132 "
(Now closed regarding the the January 8, 2009 Flood....see website: www.cityofpacific.com )
10) ROADS: (BASIC and Advanced Technology)
For up to the minute information, tune in to radio station 1580 AM, watch
local television stations such as KIRO or go to the Washington State Department of Transportation websiter for updates and information. WASH-DOT has webcams all over Washington Hyways.
The WASH-DOT road information phone number is 511
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++the end+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Please contact Jeanne at Pacificnaturalis@clearwire.net or call me at 253- 924-0211 if you are interested in writing for this website.
STORMWATER: Charity Carwashes need to use a Car Wash "washwater pumping" Kit!
The City of Pacific introduced its new "Fish-Friendly" Car Wash Kit at Pacific Days, 2008!
The Kit is used to pump soapy water, from Charity car washes, out of the stormwater catch basins and into the sanitary sewer where it belongs. Soapy water from car washing goes into the strorm drains and into the Government Canal (also wrongly called the "Boeing Ditch" according to Boeing Company representatives) and Milwaukee Ditches, then into Jovita Creek and the White River.
This polluted car-washwater water can kill trout and summer-migrating salmon fingerlings and smolts in small tributaries like Jovita Creek/Milwaukee Ditch. Plus it carries oil, grease and "road grime" into the waterways and into Puget Sound. The equivelent of 1/2 of the Exxon Valdez oil spill gioes into Puget Sound every year, little drips and drops at a time.
Stormwater also carries other toxic pollutants into Puget sound. No wonder the Orcas in Puget Sound are so polluted that dead Orcas are considered toxic, and EPA requires they have to be disposed of at a Hazarous waste dump....And we eat the same kinds of fish the Orcas eat!
BORROW the CARWASH KIT!
RESERVE IT FOR YOUR CHARITY OR HOME CARWASH
Call Wanda in Public Works before 4PM : 253-929-1110
The City of Pacific Public Works Department has the respnsibility of keeping the city's stornmwater clean, according to the Clean Water Act. You can help your City government keep stormwater expenses down by practicing fish friendly and water wise uses of water.
Ten Fish-Friendly Ways You Can Improve the Quality of Stormwater Runoff
1. Cover piles of soil, sand or mulch to stop them from being transported in stormwater. Plant grass or native plants where soil is exposed.
2. Sweep your sidewalks and driveways rather than hosing them down.
3. Put leaves and grass clippings in the compost, on the garden as mulch, or use mulching mower to recycle nutrients back into the lawn. Use fertilizers sparingly.
4. Direct roof water away from paved surfaces; consider a rain garden design or other approved system where it can be captured.
5. Keep pesticides, weed killers, oil, leaves and other pollutants off streets and out of storm drains.
6. Keep cars tuned up and repair leaks - better yet, walk, bike or utilize public transportation.
7. Wash your vehicle at a car wash, on grass or over gravel. Use as little detergent as you can and pour any left over soapy water on the lawn. Use Pacific’s “Fish Friendly” Car Wash Kit if washing cars on pavement. Charity Car Wash Event Sponsors or Individuals may reserve a Car Wash Kit from Public Works, 253-929-1110. 100% refundable deposit required.
8. Dispose of household hazardous waste according to the label directions.
Reuse turpentine once the paint has settled. For more info call the King Co. Health Dept. Hazards Line, 206-296-4692, or go to http://www.govlink.org/hazwaste/index.cfm
9. Clean up pet waste - bag it and dispose in garbage or flush it down the toilet.
10. Have your on-site septic system inspected by a professional every 3 to 5 years and have your septic tank pumped as necessary (usually every 3 to 5 years).
Boy Scout Troop 835,
"Stewards" of the West Passive Nature Hill Park, Pacific,WA
Help the scouts clear invasive Himalayan blackberries and English Ivy in preparation for spring planting. Scoutmaster Jim Brass says "Everyone is welcome to any workday. Water and snacks provided. Please bring your own gloves and boots and a big smile." It is a good idea to call Dr Brass the day before to make sure there are no changes:
Call Dr Jim Brass at 253-735-5977(office) or at 206-227-5977(cell).
who am I ? (answer somewhere below)
Interested in improving your own "bit of nature"?
Discriptions of the NFW Community Backyard Habitats program can be found in the HOW section of this page, on the NWF webpages at http://www.nwf.org/community/, or in the Nov 2007 E-news on the FLWR Archive Page.
Backyard Habitats Links:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Backyard Habitats Crossing Paths Newsletter and
WDFW Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary information.
National Wildlife Federation's 1-2-3-4 steps to gardening for wildlife http://www.nwf.org/backyard/
Check out backyards around the County http://www.enature.com/backyardwildlife/nwf_bwh_gallery.asp
Download free wildlife gardening tipsheets http://www.nwf.org/backyard/tipsheets.cfm
Check the NWF Community Habitats page http://www.nwf.org/community/
Learn how native species are tracked by professional and citizen scientists, go to UW Nature Mapping , http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/
and how to Create a "Hapening Habitat" at your school http://happeninhabitats.pwnet.org/
FLWR Projects Overview:
Pacific Community Wildlife Habitat: Pacific is the newest of several National Wildlife Federation Puget Sound region Wildlife Habitat Communities. For more information, see "How" below, and checkout the NFW CH Newsletters attached to the Community Wildlife Habitats Page. or go to http://www.nwf.org/community/
FLWR held a Pacific brainstorming session November 2nd. The goal of the meeting was to determine how to reach out to the Pacific community. FLWR is committed to improve our backyards, businesses, government facilities, city parks, and school properties as wildlife habitats. We will work with NWF staff from their Western Regional Office in Seattle.. Please call FLWR member Jeanne Fancher at 253-924-0211, or at PacificNaturalist@clearwire.net if you want more information.
FLWR E-Newsletter: A monthly posting of news and programs of interest to watershed residents. Includes links from EPA, DOE, and other sources. Naturalist notes, and reader contributions.
E-mail Editor at PacificNaturalist@clearwire.nett to submit articles or links, to subscribe to the FLWR E-News... or you can watch the FLWR E-News Archive Page for the new monthly "E-News" Attachments!
FLWR Web-pages: a work in progress. You are invited to contribute stories, pictures, Art work, edit a page, create a page for your backyard habitat, your street, neighborhood, city or stretch of the River. Be a reporter on environmental happenings in your city or county. Help make this website a community asset! Contact the editor.
West Hill Park Stewardship and Pacific Algona Boy Scout Troop 385:
Pacific-Algona Scout Troup 385 has voted to remove invasive plants from the West Hill Passive Nature Park in Pacific. The scouts also have a lot of opportunity to Measure water quality, Learn about forestry and wildlife, Planting native plants and tending the forest. Goal is improved habitat, restored upland coniferous forest, and hence improved water quality downstream in Milwaukee Creek (Ditch) and Jovita Creek. See further discussion of the project under the "How" heading below. Contact scout master Jim Brass to help, drbrass@msn.com
Lower White River Biodiversity Management Plan. "Biodiversity" equals the diversity of life!
The Lower White River Biodiversity Management Plan Draft is almost ready! The Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance will be contacting local jurisdictions, like Auburn , Buckley, Pacific and Sumner, to discuss conservation strategies for their areas of the Biodiversity Management Planning Area. The LWR-BMA Stewardship Plan is a voluntary plan to preserve the rich plant, animal and riparian habitat of the Lower White River Corridor, from Buckley to Sumner. The goal of preserving habitat and protecting biodiversity is to “keep common animals common”. Landowners will be encouraged to improve their river-side properties as better habitat for wildlife. In exchange, LWRBMP Area property owners can get lowered tax rates from Pierce County.
Any community resident can participate in the upcoming public review and comment for the Draft LWR Biodiversity Management Plan. Contacts: John Garner, Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance, johng@tacomaparks.com and Michele Tirhi, WDFW, mtirhi@DFW.wa.gov . More information on the Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance can be found on our Biodiveristy page. FLWR will post notices when the Draft Plan is ready for review!
"Who Am I ?" answer: Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, one of 6 Hummers native to the Western coastal states, and the only one which does not migrate south in the winter.
MORE DETAILS:
FLWR advocates for Low Impact Development building practices, Habitat Restoration along all tributaries of the river, Community /Backyard wildlife habitats, and Education about conservation of dwindling water resources, as increased populations and climate change collide to make water even more precious a resource. Water for Life!
WHY:
Healthy communities need clean water.
"Potable", clean "drinking water" comes from the watershed's "storage vaults": Mount Rainier glaciers, Cascade Mountain snowfields, rivers fed by mountain and lowland rainfall, or wells drilled into deep aquifers or into the subsurface "watertable". All can be compromised by "non-point pollution" in "stormwater run-off". Most of the pollution is from vehicles (exhaust, leaking fluids, tire and brake dust), which is washed into streams and Puget Sound by rainfall. Add Point-source pollution from sewage treatment plants or other "permitted" outfalls which discharge into the rivers, or Puget Sound. The DOE establishes total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) of pollutants for our rivers and stream. But the pollution ads up. Well water from aquifers provide lots of people fairly clean water. Others get their water from protected watersheds (Tacoma and Seattle control the Green and Cedar River watersheds, respectively). Pacific taps an aquifer supplied by the White River Alluvial Fan, about 50 feet below the surface. What happens when an aquifer becomes polluted? How do people cook food, wash dishes and clothes, run a business or school, or even hava cuppa java? And what happens to the "biota"( the fish, frogs,salamanders, aquatic plants and organisms in the food chain) which are more sensitive to water pollution than are humans?
Pollutants from vehichles (cars, trucks, ships, trains) are the most common threat to water quality. How do we know our watersheds are healthy, that the water is clean? the DOE test the water, but they can't test all the streams everyday. There just is not enough staff, or money.
What are the biological indicators of clean water? Healthy salmon and steelhead runs indicate a healthy watershed, a healthy Puget Sound, and a healthy Earth. White River salmon, steelhead and char runs are far below historical levels. In Auburn and Pacific, the river is polluted with "class 5 pollutants" : fecal coliform, high temperature, and pH imbalance are listed impairments on the DOE 2004 “303 (d) polluted waters lists. Chemicals like car wash detergents, fertilizers from lawns and farms, and all the other convienience chemicals we use in daily life also contribute to making streams unhealthy for salmon and for people.
Example: the above tested-for Class 5 pollutants were found in 4 White River water quality test sites in Sumner (Temp, pH), and in Trout and Five Mile Lakes (Fecal Coliform). Leaking or inadequete on-site septic systems, and unshaded ground ( no forests) add up to warm, polluted lakes and rivers.
FWLR advocates that safe drinking water, clean, cold water for Salmon, and high quality wildlife habitats are inseparable, and that we must act locally to have clean water. Each of us can do a little bit, and it adds up to a healthy watershed.
HOW:
FLWR is helping to restore habitats and to work for clean water in several ways
West Hill Passiver Nature Park Stewardship:We have partnered with HelpNW.com for a 2007 King County Small Change grant to improve wildlife habitat in the Pacific West Hill Nature Park. The grant will help Pacific Algona Scout Troup 385 “adopt” the Nature Park as a stewardship project . The grant will buy tools, supplies, plants, water testing kits, and field guides, and to hire a licensed herbicide applicator. The scouts are will first control invasive plants: Himalayan Blackberries along the stream and on the hill, English ivy vines climbing up the 100 year old Douglas Firs, stream-side canary reed grass. Then they will replant the areas with native trees and shrubs to improve wildlife habitat. The grant will also pay for professional herbicide application to a small but highly invasive patch of Knotweed along the 3rd Ave stream (aka "Itsa Creek"). The goal is to improve habitat and to protect water quality down stream ( Milwaukee Ditch and Jovita Creek). West Hill Nature Park stewardship is a long term project. Scout Troop 385 voted to spend 2 to 3 years as stewards of the park. If you want to help the scouts, or become a steward yourself, contact Scoutmaster Jim Brass,@ drbrass@msn.com, cell 206-334-5977.
In preparation for work in the park, Troup 385 plans to volunteer at a future planting , sponsored by the PCCD Stream Team, If you would like to volunteer for a Steam Team project, contact Melissa Buckingham, melissab@piercecountycd.org.
The NWF Pacific Community Wildlife Habitat Project is another way to improve wildlife habitat. The National Wildlife Federation is working to create Community Habitats throughout the Puget Sound region. Pacific is their newest project city. FLWR signed on to help get Pacific certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat Community.
The Backyard Wildlife Habitat Group.
The BWHG had a meeting November 3, 2007 at the Algona-Pacific Library to brainstorm about how to develope the Community Habitats Project in Pacific. We discussed many topics, and had a good time sharing ideas, information and even a feww native plants. Many of you have already registered your yards with the NFW or WDFW as Backyard Habitats. We need your help and experience. The FLWR BWHGroup would like to register several city parks and schools, as well as many, many Backyards with the NWF and WDFW. Get on the FLWR E-News list to receive more information. or contact Jeanne at 253-924-0211, or by email at PacificNaturalist@clearwire.net.
Connecting Teens with Restoration Projects:
In August FLWR helped the Auburn Valley YMCA find a community service project for the eXtreme Teen Program. 13 teens and their counselors planted native trees and shrubs along Mill Creek at the intersection of West Valley Highway and Peasley Canyon Rd.
The very successful event was coordinated by Auburn Planning and Community Development Department Environmental Intern Cindy Plass Spiry and YMCA eXtreme Teen Program Manager Genell Howell. Genell and Cindy are going back to university, but Tristin Oeljenstreet, YMCA Youth Development Director is looking for more projects! Do you have a project in mind where you live?? Contact FLWR, or Tristin at toeljenstreet@seattleymca.org.
Grants for your Students' Project:
And If you have an “after-school” environmental project in mind, it may be funded by a Natural Resources Stewardship Grant, available from King County, http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/pi/grant-exchange/NRSN.htm. Contact Linda Vane, by voice at (206) 296-8042, TTY 711, or by email at linda.vane@metrokc.gov. for more information.
For information about future planting events sponsored by Auburn Planning and Community Development, contact Aaron Nix, anix@auburnwa.gov . More Pictures on the YMCA Page
VISION:
FLWR’s vision is to have many restoration projects upstream and down from our Pacific (city) beginnings.
From Mud Mountain Dam to the mouth of the River in Sumner, and on all the tributaries, there are lots of opportunities for riverside and upland habitat restoration and/or protection.
In August of 2007 Pierce County Executive John Ladenberg and King County Executive Ron Sims co-signed a proclamation in support of biodiversity for the Lower White River. ( quoted in the FLWR E-News August, see the News archive page). The LWR Biodiversity Management Plan now being drafted by the Pierce County Biodiversity Alliance, (a coalition of local environmental educators, and of WDFW and UW scientists), will be a guide. Coincidentally, King and Pierce Counties are leading the way with several Inter-County floodplain restoration projects along the river, and across from the Pacific Park. Floodplain restoration will increase habitat for salmon, and improve riparian functions, though the project is primarily to provide more channel “volume” for floodwater storage.
A bigger "Vision"
How about expanding this concept to create a Big Nature Park /Wetlands Mitigation Bank/ Outdoor Recreation Area along the Left Bank (east side) of the River, and west of the thousands of homes of Lakeland, Auburn? FLWR envisions a 200 to 300+ acre “working” Park which encompasses the Sumner Meadows golf course and land to the north and south for floodplain restoration, storm water planning, habitat restoration, and tourist and residential recreation. The Big Nature Park would be a model for other progressive communities with river “resources” in Washington’s Urban Growth Areas. The Big Nature Park would become a valuable economic resource to our communities, just as the Puyallup-Carbon River valley “Rails to Trails” trail has helped Orting’s post-logging/diary farm economy. (see Big Nature Park attachments below)
More about Water:
Water sustains us. Clean water is needed for our families, our jobs, growing local food, and a healthy, sustainable environment. Clean water is taken for granted… it comes out of the tap at a turn of the handle. But clean water is not guaranteed unless we work to keep contaminants out of surface and ground water. Rivers and streams, like people, need care. Stormwater runoff needs to be free of contaminants. Groundwater needs to be protected from pollution. Rivers and tributaries need trees shading the water, and upland forests shading the ground, to keep water cool. Invasive plants need to be controlled. Onsite septic sewage systems need to work properly, and not leak sewage. Yards and gardens need to be chemically "low maintainence". Cars need to be well maintained, and as efficient as possible. We need to drive less.... these are all ways to make responsible choices to reduce stormwater pollution. If we are not careful, clean water will be the next "gold".
The recent history of the "Stuck" and "White" Rivers
In 1894-95, the White River flowed into the Green River, through the town of Auburn, near East C Street/ Auburn Way at Main. The Stuck River flowing south was a secondary channel. Farmers to the north and south wanted the floodwaters to go the other direction. Somehow around 1906 a landslide of questionable origin (some Puyallup farmers rumored that Auburn farmers' dynamite was the cause) diverted the River into the South channel. Puyallup farmers sued. Lawsuits resulted in an Inter-County River Improvement agreement, which was signed between King and Pierce Counties. The River was stuck in the south channel. Under the agreement, between 1915-19, the river was straightened, diked, and permenently redirected to the Puyallup The diversion can be found in Game Farm Park, Auburn. . The Inter-County agreement ended years of farmers' arguments and lawsuits over the White River. It also destroyed important habitat for salmon, steelhead and many other species.
The Results:
Diminished salmon runs were the results of over 100 years of "management". The Bolt Decision and the Endangered Species Act forced the state and federal govermnment to take action to restore salmon runs.Now watershed Tribes, federal, state, and local governments, and citizens groups are addressing the consequences of rivers managed only to control flooding. King and Pierce County and the Muckleshoot and Puyallup Nations are working actively to restore salmon runs. But environmental degradation, polluted water, poor habitat in the river channel, and land conversion are making it a hard job.
Sustainable fish populations in the White River WOULD indicate the White River System is healthy. It would also mean people are no longer using the White River as a sewer or as a garbage dump. We have a long way to go to restore the White River to a viable, healthy river. It will never be exactly how it was before Euro-American fur trappers, government expeditions, and “manifest destiny” motivated settlers “found” it.
Looking even farther back:
Before the early 1800s, the White-Stuck River was thick with spawning salmon and steelhead runs which supported the First Nations peoples for thousands of years. By 1854, Washington Territorial Governor Issac Stevens was coercing South Sound area Puyallup, Nisqually, Steilacoom, Squawkskin, and Northern Sound Duwamish and Muckleshoots, and other tribes’ and bands’ “leaders”, whom he had appointed, to give up their lands by signing the Medicine Creek and Point Roberts Treatys. The Medicine Creek Treaty guaranteed the Tribes fishing and hunting in all usual and accustomed places. Stevens promised the treaty would be good “as long as the grass shall grow and the sun shall rise.” These treaties basically legalized stealing Indian lands so settlers would have "clear title" to the land on which they squatted. Since the treaty negotiations were conducted in the trade jargon of about 300 words, it is doubtfull the Tribal signers even knew what they were givnig up (Source: Skid Row, by Murray Morgan).
Stevens probably didn't think whatever he told the Indians would matter. He expected them to fade into ovblivion, or to become "civilized" farmers. And he surely didn't have a clue about "ecosystems" and their functions, his job was to get title to the land. And he did. In little over 200 years, the Anglo-American "improvements" "pioneers", their desendants, (and we more recent immigrants) have made to these First Nations lands, have turned the rivers into sewers, decimated the forests so they no longer function to provide clean cold water to streams and rivers year round, poisoned Puget Sound so it is becoming a watery desert, and basically screwed-up the lowland ecosystems to the point of un-sustainability. Of the thousands and thousands of square miles in the Puget Sound basin, only the National Parks and the most remote unlogged national and private forests provide the same ecosystem services they did in 1800. (See ,www.eartheconomics.org "A New View of the Puget Sound Economy")
Ask yourself what today’s Muckleshoot and Puyallup Tribal elders would say about their treaty rights to salmon “as long as the sun shall rise”. What would they say we should change? Ask your self, “What can I do to help make the river and ecosystem healthy and sustainable again?”
FLWR invites you to help us walk the talk to a healthy White River.
Contact FLWR at PacificNaturalist@clearwire.net or 253-924-0211!
FLWR’s motto is “Water for Life”. Our “mascot” is the River Otter
"Otto Otter", seen on the masthead above,
was drawn by Federal Way, WA artist Anita Lynn Landree.
Jeanne,NewsEditor |
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