Water and Salmon Committee

WATER AND SALMON COMMITTEE

Next Meeting: Monday, July 21, 2008, Sierra Club, 180 Nickerson Street, Ste. 202, 7 - 9 p.m. All Club members welcome. A special note: Steve Ruden a water quality specialist will be giving a presentation on algal bloom problems in Puget Sound and the need to control the sources of pollution which cause the blooms as well as lead to global warming. If you plan to attend please let Amanda know (amanda.mintz@gmail.com) as we have a small conference room.

WATER AND SALMON MISSION STATEMENT: We promote stewardship and responsible management of water in order to ensure its availability to sustain the natural balance between people and the environment.

Please join us, assisting with one of the programs outlined below. Following are presentations of currently active programs and proposed programs deemed important by the Committee each of which needs a leader. Please get involved. If you would like to become a member of our Committee please contact Amanda Mintz (amanda.mintz@gmail.com). You must be a Club member to be on the committee. Ask Amanda for a copy of our new member package. However, if you are hesitant to join the committee, but would like us to just keep you informed of our activities and new campaigns when they occur, let Amanda know and she will put you on our "keep me informed" list. You don't have to be a Club member for this but let Amanda know if you are a Club member. Thanks

Would you like to know which river basin you live within? Go to www.inforain.org/watershed.

“BUSINESSES-TO-SCHOOLS" Rain Garden Campaign (Contact: Rebecca Phelps, rebeccaphelps@comcast.net)

Program goal: retrofit Rain Gardens in grade schools. The Water and Salmon Committee is developing a relationship with the Seattle School District and its teachers to retrofit Rain Gardens at schools. Rain Gardens are landscaped areas specially desiged to infiltrate rain runoff from our roofs, driveways, and lawns. The Rain Gardens will serve as a means to educate children as to the significance of stormwater, the pollutants it carries, and methods to reduce the impact of urban runoff on our urban streams and salmon habitat. We are joining businesses with schools as a means of funding the construction of the Rain Gardens. Dr. Gary Minton, a Club member and national expert on stormwater treatment is providing engineering expertise. Nan Woodman, also a Club member, is developing a website curriculum for use by teachers and students. We seek additional expertise from a landscape architect and soil scientist. If you reside in the Bellingham area please contact Llyn Doremus (llynadele@yahoo.com) who is coordinating a similar effort with the Mount Baker Group.

CREEK GUARDIANSHIP (Contact: Gary Minton, mintonrpa@cs.com)

Program goal: Get Club members involved in their neighborhood creek, lake, or wetland. The Committee believes that Club members will become involved if provided with a bit of expertise on urban stormwater runoff and its effects on our small water bodies. The central cause of damage to our urban water bodies is stormwater: too much of it coming off our roofs, driveways, and streets, loaded with metals, bacteria, pesticides, oils and fertilizers. With too much stormwater in the winter, we also have reduced flows during the summer as well as high water temperatures, all leading to a decline the beauty of our streams, lakes and wetlands. Gary Minton is leading this program and can provide you with ideas, guidance, resource contacts, etc to get you on your way, protecting your nearby water body. He is developing a handbook of resources and technical information.

POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE (Contact: Pat Sumpton, patsump@juno.com)

Program goal: Affect legislation of concern the Club related to the Committee's mission. If you are the type who likes to be involved in legislative matters with the Washington State Legislature and the Governor. Contact Pat to see how your talents can be put to use.

PROGRAMS REQUIRING LEADERSHIP (Contact: Elaine Packard, espackard@msn.com)

Stormwater NDPES Permits: About 90 cities, counties, and ports have permits from the Department of Ecology requiring the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce non-point pollution and to improve the water quality of streams, lakes, and wetlands. The Committee seeks a Club member willing to monitor the progress of local governments in implementing the requirements of these permits.

Puget Sound salmon recovery: Need someone to pay attention to progress, and to make recommendations to the Committee on Club actions.

Seattle's Creeks and Lakes: A public process will begin soon to define the direction of City government over the next several decades in the use of public funds to improve salmon habitat and water quality. Needed is input from the Club members who are City residents. Need a Club member who resides in Seattle to take the lead in presenting the Club's views. Gary Minton can assist the lead person as desired. Two reports of direct import just recently completed are the Status of Waters Report and the Scientific Framework for Seattle's Creeks.

CURRENT CAMPAIGNS

(1) Dams proposed for eastern Washington. Eastern Washington already includes some of the most heavily dammed rivers on earth: the Columbia and Lower Snake. Crab Creek is at the top of the list (drowning the 19,000 acres of dedicated wildlife habitat, including the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge), followed by Hawk Creek ($8 billion and taller than Hoover Dam) and Sand Hollow Creek flooding out irrigated agriculture. See the March/April 2008 issue of the Crest for details. Learn more at http://www.waterplanet.ws/crabcreek/ccrhome/Home.htm. Lead is Pat Sumption, patsump@juno.com or at 206-525-1708.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR WHICH WE NEED VOLUNTEERS

Nothing right now. Thanks!!!

COMMITTEE OFFICERS: Treasurer-Stan Moffett; Secretary-Elaine Packard; Members-at-Large, Amanda Mintz and Gary Minton.