Puget Sound Starts Here
Puget Sound Starts Here – and “here” is
where each of us live.  It’s our backyard.  It’s our driveway.  It’s our neighborhood.  It’s our home.  But what we do here is having a serious impact on our local waterways and ultimately on Puget Sound. 

Our actions pollute local waterways with yard chemicals, oil, grease, soap and bacteria from pet waste and septic systems. When rainfall not absorbed by the ground flows over roads, sidewalks, driveways and yards, it picks up these pollutants.  This contaminated stormwater goes down stormdrains and into ditches, emptying directly into streams, rivers and lakes and ends up in Puget Sound – where it stays. Approximately 75% of all pollution in Puget Sound comes from stormwater runoff that starts in our neighborhoods. 

We can fix the problem.  There is hope.  The solution starts here, as well… where each of us live and play.  You are the solution to the problem.  By changing a few of the things you do in your yard, with your car, around your dog and in your home, you will become part of the solution.  Together, we can fix it.  You can help save Puget Sound at its source.

Here are a few things each of us can do to help restore and protect our local waterways:

In Your Yard:  Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly or just use compost.
With Your Car:  Take your car to a commercial car wash or try using waterless car washing product available in most auto supply stores. Have oil leaks fixed.
Around Your Dog:  Pick up dog poop, bag it and place it in the trash (not in the yard waste bin).
At Home and More:  From cleaning products to septic maintenance, be aware of how you care for your home.

For more ideas and action tips, visit www.pugetsoundstartshere.org

 

Sammamish ReLeaf
Come out with the City of Redmond at this annual volunteer tree planting event.  It makes our community a bit more beautiful.  It helps urban wildlife.  It gets you outside.

October 17, 2009
Time:  9am to 12pm
Location:  The Sammamish River Trail near Leary Way Bridge

Tools, training, gloves, bathrooms, water, light refreshments and lots of gratitude will be provided.

• We work rain or shine, so dress for the weather. 
• All participants are required to sign a volunteer agreement before working. 
• Those under 18 must have the signature of their parent or guardian. 
• Those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Waivers are available on the City’s website:

The restoration site is about ¼ mile walk from Redmond Town Center parking lot.  From the lot, cross 164th Ave NE and continue on NE 74th until you reach Bear Creek Parkway.  Cross Bear Creek and continue on the path beneath the large grove of Douglas Fir trees veering left toward the Leary Way Bridge – there will be signs to help guide your way.  Cross the Leary Way Bridge to the west side of the river, to the Sammamish River Trail.  We will be planting just upstream from the bridge.

For more information: Contact Peter Holte at 425-556-2822, pholte@redmond.gov

 

New Resource to
Protect Groundwater
The City’s Wellhead Protection (WHP) Program staff has developed a database to provide a central repository for groundwater-related data.  The database, created using EQuIS Professional software, was developed as part of the City’s efforts to expand water quality and quantity analysis as well as water resource protection. It contains information from the City’s 6.5 square-mile Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA), which is centered in the downtown area.

Staff gathered data including: sampling location, ground and surface water elevation, chemical analysis, temperature and pH from both public and privately-owned sites.  These sites include the City’s groundwater monitoring network, municipal supply wells and privately-owned monitoring sites.  In the future, the database may house data on well construction, soil type, spill response incidents and stormwater monitoring.

The database is used to fulfill public records requests, a crucial component of the WHP Program.  Staff can reply to the many requests they receive, providing maps of the monitoring points in each project area as well as Excel files containing water-related information. The data can be used to determine the best time of year to conduct underground work (during the dry season), whether temporary dewatering is necessary or if plans for development need to be adjusted due to consistent high water levels.

Consultants and developers can also obtain information necessary to fulfill requirements of critical areas reporting using the public records request process. Critical Areas Reports are required for all proposed development activities located in the CARA.

For more information about the database or to request groundwater-related data, contact Redmond’s WHP Program staff at 425-556-2757.