March 15, 2005

Environmental Watch: Free workshop on low streamflows March 21

SEATTLE — Scientists with the Pacific Northwest Climate Impacts Group are offering a free workshop March 21 on ways water managers, and business and government leaders can cope with the low streamflows expected this year.

The Washington Water Outlook workshop will be held in Seattle at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration campus, Building 9, 7500, Sandpoint Way N.E.

Scientists that have developed techniques to predict streamflows six months in advance include those at the University of Washington, the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service and the National Weather Service.

The workshop will take a look at this year's expected flows and climate conditions that influenced them.

For more information and to register, see http://cses.washington.edu/cig/outreach/washwateroutlook.shtml. Also, call Philip Mote at (206) 616-5346 or e-mail philip@atmos.washington.edu.

Clean energy index now trading on AMEX

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — PowerShares Capital Management has introduced a new exchange traded fund based on the WilderHill Clean Energy Index, which is comprised of companies that focus on renewable and clean energy within the energy sector.

The "PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Portfolio" (AMEX: PBW) began trading on the American Stock Exchange this month.

The index uses modified equal dollar weighting and is composed of companies focusing in: cleaner utilities, energy conversion, cleaner fuels, energy storage, renewable energy harvesting, and power delivery and conservation.

Robert Wilder created the index as a benchmark for the clean and renewable energy sector. Wilder says the total clean energy market for wind, solar and fuel cells will grow to $92 billion in 2013, roughly seven times its present size. The cost of wind and solar technology has declined by 80 percent over the past two decades. For more information, see www.WilderShares.com or call (303) 665-4200.

Green/Duwamish group puts out fish plan

SEATTLE — The Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed group is calling for public comment on its draft plan for salmon habitat.

The draft lists high-value habitat to protect, programs to address stormwater, land use and public involvement, and specific restoration projects. The watershed includes the Green/Duwamish River basin and the smaller streams from Seattle to Federal Way.

Evening open houses will be held:

• March 22 at Renton City Hall, 1055 S. Grady Way in Renton

• March 23 at Auburn City Hall, 25 W. Main in Auburn

A public comment period runs through April 25. Comments can be sent through the Web site, http://dnr.metrokc.gov/Wrias/9/HabitatPlan.htm. A copy of the draft is posted here and copies are also at city halls and libraries.

A final version will become part of the wider Puget Sound Shared Strategy approach to salmon recovery. For more information, contact Dennis Clark at (206) 296-1909 or dennis.clark@metrokc.gov.

Seattle green home lecture series starts

SEATTLE — Seattle Public Utilities and the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild are sponsoring a free lecture series on how people can make their homes greener. Lectures will be held at the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave. and start March 22. Others are set for March 29, April 12, April 20, May 2 and May 10.

Design professionals, contractors, and homeowners who have used green strategies on remodels and landscapes will cover topics such as green roofs, architectural salvage, water efficient landscaping and solar energy systems.

The city's guides to green home remodels are posted at www.seattle.gov/sustainablebuilding/greenhome.htm.

$87K for monitoring South Prairie Creek

OLYMPIA — The Pierce Conservation District received a grant for nearly $87,000 from the Department of Ecology for monitoring and recovery efforts of South Prairie Creek in Pierce County. Money will be used to train volunteers.

South Prairie Creek has unacceptably high levels of fecal coliform contaminants and other problems, but it is a productive salmon spawning area in the Puyallup River system. Failing septic systems and waste from livestock operations leeching into the creek, removal of trees and other things have caused an increase in the water's temperature, threatening salmon eggs.

The 22-mile creek begins east of Burnett and empties into the Carbon River a few miles east of Orting.

Free workshop on waste prevention March 31

SEATTLE — A free half-day workshop on waste prevention and recycling will be held in Seattle on March 31 at 201 S. Jackson St. Topics include electronics recycling, green building and the Starbucks internal recycling program.

There will be representatives from Kitsap County's WasteWise Program, Wilder Environmental Consulting, King County's green building program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. To sign up, contact Tom Watson at tom.watson@metrokc.gov or (206) 296-4481.

King County offers fluorescent lamp recycling

SEATTLE — King County is offering free fluorescent lamp recycling services for small businesses this month.

Businesses can recycle up to 25 fluorescent or high intensity discharge lamps for free at locations in King County. Recycling costs are usually about eight to 10 cents per foot.

Call to confirm schedules and locations at these participating businesses: Ecolights in Seattle (206) 343-1247, PSC in Georgetown and Kent (800) 228-7872, Keep It Clean Recycling (425) 868-3535, Safety-Kleen in Lynnwood and Auburn (425) 775-7030 or (253) 939-2022. For more information see www.govlink.org/hazwaste/business/fluor or call (206) 296-3976.

Port sets aside $10.1M for environment work

SEATTLE — Port of Seattle commissioners have appropriated $10.1 million for environmental investigations and outside professional service agreements.

Commissioners also appropriated $2 million for a series of outside professional service agreements to provide lab services. The port will use open-order agreements, meaning the port will select several companies to do the work. Selected firms will be placed on the port's rosters.