November 11, 1999

Streamside property owners have a role in saving salmon

By JON SAVELLE
Journal Environmental editor

In this era of threatened salmon, property owners along salmon-bearing streams are a key part of the recovery puzzle. How they care for the streambanks, how they landscape and what kinds of chemicals they use in their yards all have impacts on the fish.

This month, Seattle Public Utilities is holding a series of neighborhood workshops to educate streamside property owners about salmon streams and to help them carry out their responsibilities as stewards.

Jim Freeman, a senior planner with SPU, is leading the workshops. He said the goal is to restore the city's creeks' natural habitat and wildlife, improve and protect water quality, control flooding and build a stewardship ethic.

"It's aimed at private property owners," Freeman said. "We want to provide very basic information. If they are interested in making improvements to their property, we tell them how to approach fisheries, drainage and water quality as well."

Two workshops have been held already, for Pipers Creek in northwest Seattle, and for Taylor Creek in southeast Seattle. Two more -- for Longfellow Creek in West Seattle, and for Thornton Creek in the northeast -- are coming up this Saturday and next.

At the workshops, experts provide information on three main concerns: erosion control and streambank stabilization; landscaping; and water quality and drainage. In addition, the discussion covers the role of SPU, the responsibilities of landowners, and when permits are required.

Freeman added that the workshops also will advise homeowners as to when they will need professional assistance, such as engineering or landscape design.

Seattle's Department of Design, Construction and Land Use will have site development reviewers and inspectors on hand to discuss the requirements for working in streamside corridors.

"Any type of work along stream corridors is very site-specific," Freeman said. "It's difficult to give blanket instructions. It's very possible that work near streams could require a Critical Areas Permit from the city; in-stream work may require hydraulic-permit approval [from] the state Fish and Wildlife Department."

For property owners who blanch at this process, Freeman suggests starting with one of the workshops, or contacting the city's Department of Design, Construction and Land Use.

Seattle Public Utilities also has information packets available. They cover a wide range of topics, from natural lawn care to erosion control, drainage systems and lists of information sources.

So far, these resources are geared toward individual property owners. Freeman said there is no governmental mechanism in place to guide and help groups of property owners who may wish to restore an extended reach of creek. He hopes such a program can be launched sometime next year.

The upcoming meetings will be Nov. 13, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Camp Long, in West Seattle; and Nov. 20 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Meadowbrook Community Center in northeast Seattle.

For more information, contact Jim Freeman at (206) 233-1524.