Duwamish Alive!  Celebrating Earth Month in the Duwamish

            Saturday,  April 19th   THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS!

Hundreds of volunteers joined us in celebrating Seattle’s only RIVER, the Duwamish, working at multiple sites: on the river removing debris, caring for salmon habitat and our upland forests in an effort to improve native habitat health and water quality not only for our salmon and orca but all wildlife and communities within the Duwamish Watershed.

Our forested areas such as the West Duwamish Greenbelt, one of the largest in the lower section of the river, provides important air and water filtration of pollution, especially storm runoff one of the major sources polluting our waters. Tree canopy cover also reduces our summer heat domes, unequally affecting low income, communities of color to a greater degree. Duwamish Alive Coalition continues to nurture and expand tree canopy within our local communities which suffer the effects of pollution and heat domes.

The Duwamish River ecosystem supports 5 salmon species including the threatened Chinook salmon which is a critical food source for our Southern Resident Orcas; along with wildlife that includes river otters, beavers, bald eagles, and blue herons. Each of our habitat sites supports this web of life while providing important environmental benefits to our communities.

We are honored to help steward these lands and waters that are the ancestral home of the Duwamish Peoples.

The sites that we cared for and continue to throughout the year.  Please check out further volunteer opportunities:

Point Rediscovery at Hamm Creek, Seattle    DIRT Corps    

Hamm Creek is only one of the two salmon spawning creeks of the Duwamish River and also were John Beal, the first person who started the effort in restoring the river.  John was a veteran of the Vietnam War, who came back with many health challenges and the prognosis of only having 6 months to live. With those 6 months he decided to clean up Hamm Creek, the place of his home.  As the health of the creek improved, so did John’s and his advocacy efforts for the river.  The river we have today is from his initial efforts and all those who have followed in his foot steps.  Point Rediscovery is John’s memorial to his military friends from the war and also to the creek he loved.  Join DIRT Corps in restoring this special place.  Volunteers will be removing invasive plants and debris and providing information on the site itself, how it’s being used to capture and filter storm water, and what needs to happen to make this a salmon bearing creek again.

Duwamish Hill Preserve, Tukwila    Green Tukwila Partnership

Duwamish Hill is a sacred site of the Duwamish Tribe, we are honored to help in stewarding this special area by planting native plants in the forest and creation of a new pollinator meadow.  Efforts also include removing invasive plants, soil improvement and mulching.  Also included are special speakers and the launch of the Geocache Adventure Tukwila Legacy Trail.

Cecil Moses Park,  Tukwila    King County Parks

Cecil Moses Park is located along the west bank of North Wind’s Weir. in the critical transition zone for young salmon moving downstream to Puget Sound with an extensive tidal mixing of fresh and salt waters which allows the young salmon to adapt from the fresh water of the Green-Duwamish River to the salt water of Puget Sound.. Work continues to improve the habitat quality of this important area by removing invasive plants, replacing them with native plants and mulching.

Northwind’s Weir, Tukwila Seattle City Light

Located along the river, at the north end of Cecil Moses Park, this site helps connect the efforts of restoring an important section of the salmon transition zone, and also developing a pollinator corridor.  For information and volunteer registration contact info@duwamishalive.org

We are honored to help in stewarding this sacred place of the Duwamish Tribe, which is referred to in their Epic of the Winds story.

Salmon Cove Park & Turning Basin 3,  Puget Soundkeeper Alliance & Port of Seattle

Join Puget Soundkeeper Alliance in caring for this area which provides  valued rest, shelter and food resources for juvenile salmon that are coming down the river from their spawning grounds in the upper Green section of the river.  This is one of the few places in the Duwamish for these juveniles to adjust to salt water from the fresh water they were born in called the “Transition Zone”.  Volunteers will be removing trash and old tires that have accumulated along the shoreline.  If you love getting in the mud, this is your site!

Green Line, 10617 53rd Ave South Seattle   Seattle City Light

Join Seattle City Light in their efforts to create pollinator pathway habitat, which connects with other restoration sites to the river.   Volunteers will be helping to replace invasive plants with native ones and prepare the site for winter while learning about pollinators and their plants.  For registration email: info@duwamishalive.org

t̓uʔəlaltxʷ Village Park and Shoreline Habitat, Seattle Port of Seattle  

This is the original location of the Herrings House Longhouse of the Duwamish Peoples and now is one of the few salmon habitats in the lower portion of the river, providing food and shelter for juvenile salmon as they enter Elliot Bay. Volunteers have steward this area creating habitat which supports these young fish on their journey to Puget Sound.  Volunteers will be removing invasive plants and replacing them with native plants.  This lovely small park is tucked away amongst the river’s maritime industries along the river.

Duwamish Greenbelt at Pigeon Pt , Seattle   Delridge Neighborhood Development  Association   

Upland forests are important part of the river’s ecosystem, providing many benefits to the watershed and communities.  This part of the Greenbelt is also used as an outdoor classroom for local schools.  Volunteers will be planting native plants, removing invasive plants and mulching.

həʔapus Village Park and Shoreline Habitat, Seattle    Port of Seattle & DIRT Corps 

This is a sacred site of the Duwamish Tribe, being an ancestral location of one of the tribe’s Longhouses and located across the street from the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center. We are honored to help in stewarding this special area by planting native plants, removing invasive plants to create a healthy habitat along the river. Also included are special speakers and tabling offering information about the river, its wildlife and efforts to improve its health.

Duwamish River Kayak Cleanup, Seattle      Puget Soundkeeper Alliance & Heron’s Nest Outdoor Education Center’s  River  Access Program   

Experience the river in kayaks while removing debris from the river before it enters Puget Sound.   This is a great time to be on the river with the salmon returning. This is a very popular event activity which fills fast!  Kayaks, equipment and instruction provided.  Must be 12 years and older.  Also included are special speakers and tabling offering information about the river, its wildlife and efforts to improve its health.

Herrings House Park, Seattle     Green Seattle Partnership/Seattle Parks  

Herrings House Park adjoins həʔapus Village Park along the river and provides one of  the largest salmon habitats in the lower part of the river.  This critical area for the juvenile salmon provides them a safe place to rest and forage for food before they enter Puget Sound.  Volunteers will be planting native plants, mulching and removing invasive plants. Also included are special speakers and tabling offering information about the river, its wildlife and efforts to improve its health.

Please check back for additional event information and registration.