We're Fishing for Your Comments

On the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed Draft Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan

2004 Archived News

Your input is necessary to ensure we leave future generations the legacy of clean water and healthy salmon.

Why should you be interested in a salmon plan?

Our relationship to salmon extends far beyond fishing, barbecues, and festivals. In truth, everyone who lives within our watershed somehow influences salmon and their survival, because many of our daily activities affect fish and our local waters. For example:

• Do you use water?
• Do you drive or ride in a car?
• Do you live in a house?
• Do you have a yard?
• Do you live on the water?
• Do you wash your car?

We all play a role and conversely, what is good for salmon is generally also good for people, pets, and the planet. That's why 25 cities and two counties in our shared watershed have joined with citizens, scientists, and representatives from community and business groups and agencies to develop a scientifically based plan that focuses on what we all can do to improve habitat for our native Chinook (king salmon). The plan will explore how we develop our communities and will recommend on-the-ground projects, landuse actions, and outreach strategies that protect and restore shorelines, forests, and water quality. We need your ideas to make this plan work.

Would you like to leave a legacy of wild salmon for future generations or just pictures and stories about how it used to be? Are you concerned about water quality? Your involvement can make a difference.

The public review period is now under way and ends December17, 2004. The draft plan can be accessed online with opportunity to comment electronically at http://www.dnr.metrokc.gov/wrias/8. Hard copies will be available at city halls and libraries. Three open house meetings remain during the review period to learn more about the plan, talk with experts involved in its development, and to provide your comments. All open houses run from 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Dec 1, Bothell, Northshore Senior Center, 10201 E. Riverside Dr.

Dec 8, Redmond, Redmond Jr. High Commons (Lunchroom), 10055 - 166th Ave NE

Dec 9, Seattle, REI Flagship Store, 222 Yale Ave N

We look forward to your participation in this collaborative planning process. For further information about how to protect salmon and local water quality, contact:

Debbie Natelson
Outreach & Stewardship Coordinator
Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish WRIA 8 Watershed
(206)296-8249; deb.natelson@kingcounty.gov
Web site: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wrias/8/