April 13, 2004

Environmental Watch: County begins noxious weed survey

SEATTLE -- To catch invasive weeds early before they spread, a King County weed control program is surveying areas for noxious weeds.

King County helps landowners identify noxious weeds and suggests control options. Since the county began tracking weeds in 1996, more than 80 percent have been eradicated. Last year, the program surveyed 6,000 infestations and controlled weeds on 82 percent of sites found.

Serious weeds that show up early in the season are: giant hogweed, garlic mustard, milk thistle, gorse, dalmation toadflax, tansy ragwort and Brazilean elodea. King County officials say efforts over five years to eradicate a single infestation of hydrilla verticillata, an aquatic weed, have cost $450,000. For more information, contact (206) 296-0290, noxious.weeds@metrokc.gov or visit dnr.metrokc.gov/weeds.

Lunch landscape seminars for free

SEATTLE -- Lifestyle Landscapes, a Seattle-based landscaping firm, will give free on-site "Lunch and Learn" seminars at businesses over lunch hour. Topics include landscaping mistakes, art in the garden and master planning for large and small spaces.

Seminars will be available to companies in the greater Seattle and Eastside areas. Lifestyle Landscapes will provide a catered lunch. For information, contact Cate Vanasse of Lifestyle Landscapes at (206) 621-2626 or cate.vanasse@lifestyle-landscapes.com.

County parks' annual report online

SEATTLE -- The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks' 2003 annual report, "Environmental Stewardship in King County," is available online. The report covers the department's four divisions: Parks and Recreation, Solid Waste, Wastewater Treatment and Water and Land Resources.

The report is posted at: dnr.metrokc.gov/. For more information contact (206) 296-6500.

30,000 pounds of waste food "recycled"

BELLINGHAM -- Sanitary Service Co. and the Haggen supermarket chain have diverted nearly 40 percent of the chain's compostable waste stream, 30,000 pounds, as part of its Whatcom County food scrap recycling program.

SSC collects and delivers compostables to Green Earth Technologies in Lynden. Green Earth then processes material into saleable compost.

Ecology launches hazmat Web site

BELLEVUE -- Washington state Department of Ecology has set up a Web site on how to manage used oil and hazardous wastes. The Web site provides information about types and location of disposal facilities, and the kinds of wastes they accept.

For more information, visit www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr.

Meeting April 22 on septic fee hike

SEATTLE -- Public Health Seattle and King County's Eastgate office will hold a public meeting on Public Health's proposal to increase home septic sewage and water source fees.

Homeowners pay these fees when applying for septic system permits.

The meeting will be held at Eastgate Public Health Center at 14350 S.E. Eastgate Way on April 22 at 6 p.m. For information, call (206) 296-4600 or visit www.metrokc.gov/health/wastewater.

Tacoma's Tagro wins research award

TACOMA -- Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies recognized the city of Tacoma with a research and technology award.

The city's Tagro mulch and Tagro potting soil earned the award, which is granted to innovations in wastewater treatment or biosolids use. Tagro mulch and potting soil is made with a blend of local biosolids, sawdust and bark mixtures.

The city said Tagro potting soil outperformed traditional potting mixes at Washington State University's Cooperative Extension greenhouse trials in Puyallup.

Goodwill takes furniture at Tacoma Landfill

TACOMA -- Tacoma and Pierce County residents can now donate furniture at a landfill instead of dumping it. The Goodwill donation station at Tacoma Landfill now accepts furniture along with clothing, toys and household items.

Susan Martensen, Goodwill's director of marketing and communications, said once at the landfill, people were hesitant to drive elsewhere to donate furniture. "Unfortunately, some very useable items were disposed as garbage," she said.

For information, call Elaine Brabham, Goodwill donations manager, at (253) 573-1333.

Hanford Reach juvenile chinook agreement

EPHRATA, Grant County -- An agreement between dam operators, fish agencies and tribes aims to protect fall chinook during periods when juvenile fish prepare to migrate to the ocean.

The Hanford Reach fall chinook protection program is based on the 1988 Vernita Bar agreement. The new agreement also accounts for new data on flow fluctuation limits.

Grant PUD, Bonneville Power Administration, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries, Chelan County PUD, Douglas County PUD, and the Colville Confederated Tribes developed the agreement together.

Joe Lukas, senior fisheries scientist for Grant County Public Utility District, said the agreement provides greater guarantees on timing of water delivery and weekend protection flows, and limits flow fluctuations for juvenile fall chinook.

Last year, nearly 100,000 fall chinook salmon returned to the Hanford Reach to spawn. The area has recently seen some of the highest returns in 40 years.

Corps studies hydro spill response

PORTLAND -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accepting outside help to conduct reviews of its maintenance of hydroelectric powerhouses.

Following a January mineral oil spill at Dalles Dam, the Army Corps promised to look at causes so it could provide a better response in the future.

Equipment failure allowed 1,300 gallons of mineral oil to leak into the Columbia River. An independent panel of experts in operations, maintenance and environmental compliance recommended improvements at Dalles Dam. A stakeholders meeting is planned in May.

The Bonneville Power Administration and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will review spill response resources, and operations and maintenance.

Eco-artist lecture at UW Bothell

BOTHELL -- The University of Washington, Bothell will hold a free talk by artist Aviva Rahmani called "The City of If, Bothell" on April 30 at UW Bothell's North Creek Cafe.

Rahmani builds teams of scientists, policy makers and others to create artwork that reflects environmental and social concerns.

Panelists include Senator Rosemary McAuliffe, Suzi Wong Swint of Snohomish County Surface Water Management and Mike Reid of the Brightwater Education Task Force. Each will discuss community, art and the environment. Rahmani's work is inspired by classical music, dance, theatre, art and contemporary city planning.

For further information or reservations, contact Dr. Kochhar-Lindgren at KKochhar@uwb.edu.