Students, salmon and art come together on Snoqualmie Valley Trail

2004 Archived News

Walk along the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, which follows the meanders of the Snoqualmie River, and you'll see some of the best salmon habitat in all of King County. Now this 36-mile stretch from North Bend to Duvall will also have spectacular salmon artwork thanks to a unique partnership between local artists, schoolchildren, and community and government leaders.

The Snoqualmie Watershed Forum, representing King County and the cities of Duvall, Carnation, North Bend, and Snoqualmie, teamed up with local schools and professional artists to produce public messages about salmon recovery and the exceptional attributes of the Snoqualmie Watershed. The schoolchildren participating in the project created a variety of outdoor artwork that will be displayed permanently in tandem with educational signs along the trail.

"I love that this project not only enhances the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, but also really helps kids connect with the salmon in their backyard," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "I'm very impressed with the fantastic artwork they created."

Students from Cherry Valley Elementary in Duvall, Tolt Middle School in Carnation, and Two Rivers School in North Bend created the artwork, while learning about the importance of this watershed, water quality issues, and ways to help salmon.

"I've been doing the Salmon in the Classroom program for four years, but this project really took students' learning to a new level -- they learned about salmon in the real world, and how everything impacts the salmon. It's also given them a lot larger scope of the impact they can have on their community," remarked Mandy Balsiger, teacher at Cherry Valley Elementary. "It was a wonderful experience for the kids, and they gained more than I imagined about how to conserve and protect the environment."

The first two installations along the trail will be unveiled at public ceremonies slated for June 10, at 5 p.m. on the trail behind the Tolt Middle School, in Carnation, and June 16, at 6 p.m. at McCormick Park, Duvall. The events will include a dedication followed by guided tours given by the students. For more information on the project, contact Elizabeth Loudon at 206-263-6014 or elizabeth.loudon@kingcounty.gov.

In addition to providing access to the Snoqualmie River and its tributaries, the trail passes through actively farmed agricultural land and preserved open space. Its scenic beauty makes it a favorite with walkers, runners, bikers, and horseback riders alike.