The Cedar River Council

The Cedar River Council (CRC) is made up of a group of stakeholders who voice their opinions and concerns and participate in discussions about issues regarding the health of the river at monthly meetings. CRC membership cultivates collaboration among a variety of citizens including basin residents and representatives of community groups, businesses, and local, state, federal, and tribal governments. All members of the public are welcome at CRC meetings. The CRC is co-chaired by two King County Councilmembers: Larry Phillips and Reagan Dunn.

Key Mission Areas

The CRC advocates in four key areas - Water Quality, Wildlife Habitat, Recreation Access, and Flood Management. Previous efforts have led to a number of accomplishments that improve Cedar River basin health. CRC regularly reviews and comments on projects affecting Cedar River basin communities. To download a copy of our brochure, please click here.

Get Involved

If you are interested in the decisions that affect life in the Cedar River Basin, the CRC welcomes your involvement! 

• Email us to receive electronic notices of monthly meetings
• Look at maps of the Cedar River basin
• Link to websites of partner organizations
• Contact our staff

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Accomplishments

CRC advocacy has led to many accomplishments including:

• Over the last 12 years, the King County Cedar River Legacy Program has spent or leveraged more than $19,250,000 to acquire more than 54 parcels of priority habitat totaling more 1,053 acres. The primary purpose of the Cedar River Legacy Program is to reverse declines in the salmon runs dependent on the Cedar River.
• To address lead in drinking water and septic system failures at a Cedar Grove trailer park, CRC coordinated efforts of government bodies including the King County Health Department, City of Seattle, and State Department of Health.
• CRC partner Friends of the Cedar River Watershed coordinates lower basin restoration projects to plant trees and removel invasive plant species: 11 events in 2007.
• In 2004, the CRC Recreational Access Committee inspected access points along the Cedar River Watershed and assessed them for safety and usability.  They then designed a map that shows access points that met the committee's criteria. 
• CRC advocacy continues to support the Cedar River Salmon Journey, through which naturalists educate and engage visitors about annual salmon migration up the river, and about how human behaviors affect water quality.
• The CRC advocated for changes in flood control regimes and protocols for Seattle's Masonry Dam, which lead to effective changes that have kept lower Cedar River residents dry during severe weather events.
• CRC advocacy and support led the King County Council to adopt the Cedar River Basin Plan in 1997.
• The CRC has co-sponsored seven community workshops with the Wetlands Network to provide Cedar River basin property owners with information on forest retention and available tax incentives.
• CRC supported formulation of King County Forestry Policy and formation of the King County Rural Forest Commission.  The 13-member Commission advises the County on policies and programs affecting rural forestry.
• Each year the CRC sponsors a variety of free seminars, field trips, and open meetings featuring experts from universities, government agencies, and consulting firms who speak about topics including fish managemetn, forest hydrology, wetland ecology, lakes ecology, geology, river geomorphology, native plants, and wildlife.

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Review and Comment on Key Projects

The CRC has reviewed and provided comment on the following projects:

• City of Seattle's Habitat Conservation Plan and Muckleshoot Indian Settlement Agreement
• Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife's Wild Salmonid Policy and catch and release trout fishery on the Cedar River
• SR-18 expansion project and its environmental mitigation
• Bonneville Power transmission line alignment
• King County's Critical Areas Ordinance
• King County Flood Hazard Management Plan
• WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Plan
• Dredging of the lower mile of the Cedar River and Masonry Dam Study
• City of Renton's Integrated Pest Managment Plan
• City of Kent's Habitat Conservation Plan for Clarks Spring Watershed
• Washington State Department of Ecology clean-up action plan for the Landsburg Mine toxic waste
• Rock Creek Conservation Plan
• Various Cedar River acquisition and restoration projects including Cedar River Legacy acquisitions, Cedar River Spawning Channel Replacement Project, Taylor Creek Restoration Project, Lion's Club Restoration.

Maps

1. Public boating and fishing access map. Find recreational access points along the Cedar River.
2.  Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed map with a Salmon Journey focus. View the full watershed that focuses on the sites that the Cedar River Salmon Journey naturalists work on each fall. For a Salmon Journey description and dates, click here.

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Meetings

 The Cedar River Council meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month from 7 pm to 9 pm  Most meetings are held at  Maplewood Golf Course, 4050 SE Maple Valley Highway, Renton/ 425-430-6800  

 There is time reserved for public comment at the beginning and end of every meeting.  All interested members of the public are welcome.   

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Current Membership

Co-chairs

King County council members Larry Phillips and Reagan Dunn

Members

Richard Bonewits, Maple Valley Unincoporated Area Council Representative

Joan Burlingame, Rock Creek Representive

Dan Clausen, Renton City Council

Judith Fillips, Alternate Mainstem 2 Representative

Suzanne Flagor, Seattle Public Utilities, Manager Cedar River Watershed

Jan Fluter, Mainstem 2 Representative

Bob Johnson

David Hanson, Taylor Creek Representative

Barbara Heavey, King County Development and Environmental Services

Kirk Lakey, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Jay Mirro, King Conservation District

Don Nettleton, Plum Creek Timber

Jeff Neuner, Mainstem 2 Representative

Pete Newing, Lions Club Representative

Martha Parker, Peterson Creek Representive

Max Prinsen, Environmental Protection Interest

Randy Rogers, Mainstem 3 Representative

Sue Rooney, Friends of the Cedar River Watershed

Craig Sears, Developer Representative

Frank Urabeck, Trout Unlimited

Homer Verishnick, Lions Club Representative

Liaisons

Washington Department of Transportation

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Mike Mactutis, City of Kent

Vacant

- City of Maple Valley Representative

- Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

- Small Forestry and Natural Resource Property Owners

- Boeing Representative

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Important Links

Cedar River Salmon Journey

Friends of the Cedar River Watershed

Horses for Clean Water

King Conservation District

Renton Fire Departments

SHADOW - Save Habitat and Diversity of Wetlands

WRIA 8 Salmon Habitat Planning

Contact CRC Staff

Contact the Cedar River Council River Council staff with your questions and comments or to receive electronic notifications of CRC meetings.