2011 News
Beat the Drum for Homecoming Salmon
October 19, 2011
"It's amazing — I can't think of any other big urban area that has this annual migration right through its downtown area," said Charlotte Spang, program coordinator. "By visiting the different sites, people have the opportunity to join the Cedar River salmon on their migration upriver. And it sounds corny, but there's something about seeing a salmon that's a magical experience. It makes you excited and thankful and grateful that we live in this amazing place with this incredible animal."
A Green Makeover Inside and Out
October 18, 2011
To make a house environmentally sound, one needs to go green inside and out. Failing to do so is like buying your shade-grown beans and happy-cow latte in a styrofoam cup, or filling your organic hemp grocery bag with hot dogs and Cheetos. So Kevin Ward and David Hymel have teamed up to provide Western Washington homeowners with the complete eco package.
Head To Riverbank To Watch Salmon Spawn
October 10, 2011
It’s October, and that means salmon have returned to the Cedar River to spawn, and nature lovers are looking for the best vantage points to watch the annual migration. There are five public locations in Renton and nearby King County that provide excellent viewing of the salmon.
River Restoration Teaches Youth
September 8, 2011
Roots and Shoots, the youth education non-profit founded by Jane Goodall, held a training retreat recently in the Seattle area. Young students gathered to learn about restoration of the Cedar River, which is one of the largest rivers in the urban area. It provides about 100 million gallons of water a day to 1.4 million residents, and feeds Lake Washington, the largest freshwater lake near Seattle. The river is also habitat for a declining population of chinook and sockeye salmon and other wildlife.
Service Project at the 2011 National Youth Leadership Retreat
August 2011
The Fountainhead: Ralph Naess Explains Why Seattle’s Tap Water Is So Good
August 2011
West Seattleite Ralph Naess, 48, drinks water straight from the faucet. As manager of the public and cultural programs at the Cedar River Watershed—the more than 90,000 acres of natural habitat and protected water near North Bend that is the source of Seattle’s tap water—Naess has been quenching the public’s thirst for knowledge about local water for more than 18 years... Here, he reveals exactly why Seattle’s water is so wonderful.
Schools conservation programs go greener
July 1, 2011
Schools focus on recycling, waste reduction and hazardous materials management to reach level one certification. Level two schools are required to also take up energy conservation practices, and level three schools are required to take up water conservation practices, according to Green School’s website. Liberty opted to complete level three requirements before completing those for level two. To reach the level three status, the school partnered with Friends of the Cedar River Watershed to bring a storm water system curriculum to the school, according to the school’s success story from Green Schools.
Sheriff Re-opens Cedar River
June 24, 2011
Sheriff Rahr re-opened a section of the Cedar River, a part of which has been closed since March due a log jam. Extensive flooding in January 2011 formed a mass of logs across the river and changed the river channel at the Ricardi Reach, also known as Cedar Rapids. That made recreational use of that section of the river extremely dangerous.
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Why public education isn’t enough to save lives in rivers this summer
June 16, 2011
Any first responder on the scene of a drowning tragedy can tell you they will never forget the horrifying heartbreak of families and friends standing next to the river while rescuers try to locate their loved ones. In many cases, these incidents are easily preventable.
Friends of Cedar River habitat clean-up and fly-fishing workshop this Saturday
June 9, 2011
The Friends of the Cedar River Watershed are holding their second annual Restoration and Fly Fishing Event 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11 at the Cavanaugh Pond Natural Area on the Cedar River. The activities include some habitat restoration work in the morning, followed by a catered lunch, and fly fishing related activities in the afternoon.
Sockeye should get boost when hatchery is done
June 4, 2011
While all eyes will be on the Ballard Locks when fish counts for sockeye salmon begin June 12, others are keeping their sights on the final construction phases of the permanent Cedar River Hatchery east of Maple Valley. Work on the $30.5 million hatchery broke ground last summer, and all seems to be going smoothly by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and their contractor, McClure & Sons Inc. from Mill Creek.
King County set to require life-jackets on rivers
June 4, 2011
As rivers swell following heavy snow run off, King County officials want to require life-jackets for people swimming in the county's rivers. The Seattle Times reports that June usually brings a spike in drownings around the state as people take dips in the water during the sunny days... King County Executive Dow Constantine wants to an $86 fine for swimmers, boaters and floaters without life vests on King County portions of the Snoqualmie, Tolt, Cedar, Green, White, Raging and Skykomish rivers.
Spring 2011 brings extra risks for people playing in dangerously fast, cold rivers
May 25, 2011
Rivers are inherently dangerous places to play--especially in the springtime when flows are high, swift and cold--but King County public safety officials and emergency responders are on extra alert for spring and summer of 2011. That's because an unusually heavy amount of mountain snow is melting into King County rivers this year and a tumultuous winter flood season changed river channels and reoriented logs. And that's a recipe for river recreation tragedy.
Gregoire, greens and a cast of thousands
May 12, 2011
With 1,800 people looking on at the Seattle Convention Center — and a share of them crowding the stage — Gov. Chris Gregoire on Thursday signed legislation designed to discourage suburban and urban sprawl. Friends of the Cedar River Watershed, a project that includes a bevy of high school students, received the John Stanford Educational Achievement Award — named for Seattle’s last popular school superintendent.
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Comcast Newsmakers Interview Sue Rooney
April 26, 2011
IvyOUT program, Working with Friends of Cedar River
February 2011
The Partnership which the Stewardship Foundation has established with Friends of Cedar River Watershed (FCRW) has proved to be beneficial to both parties. Our goals are parallel, in that we are both dedicated to conservation, preservation and protection of the watershed through education and stewardship.
Group plans upstream Issaquah Creek habitat restoration
February 1, 2011
Salmon and other creatures in the Issaquah Creek basin receive a boost soon from citizens and the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed. The nonprofit organization has planned creek habitat enhancement projects for February 5. Friends of the Cedar River Watershed needs Issaquah-area residents to participate in the effort.
FCRW’s Watershed Report Manager Awarded 2010 Environmental Education Association of Washington “Award of Excellence”
January 13, 2011
Friends of the Cedar River Watershed Program Manager, Peter Donaldson, received recognition by the Environmental EduAcation Association of Washington with their “2010 Award of Excellence.” This award recognizes Mr. Donaldson as the “Outstanding Non-formal Environmental Educator.” Peter is recognized for his work with the Watershed Report as an example of creative teaching and presentation methods that provide a pathway to empower students and teachers to educate citizens about current trends that are the cornerstone of local efforts to develop sustainable communities.
Could mushrooms clean up Puget Sound?
January 11, 2011
Each winter, heavy rains send a torrent of human and animal waste into Puget Sound. It comes in from farm fields, storm sewers and front yards. The bacteria threatens environmental and human safety, forcing closures for shellfish operations and other uses. Biologists now think they may have found a secret weapon to combat the problem and it's as close as your favorite pizza. The fungus that produces mushrooms is a known bacteria eater.
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