Keynote:
Building Watershed Narratives: Reimagining and Broadening the Scope of Successful Stream Restoration
Ken Yocom, University of Washington, Associate Professor and the Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture. He also has an adjunct appointment in the Department of Urban Design and Planning and is core faculty for the PhD in the Built Environments Program and the Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Urban Design and Planning within the College of Built Environments.
As our watersheds are becoming more complex with urbanization, Ken will explore the convergence of urban infrastructure and ecological systems through adaptive design emerging strategies and technologies for sustainable and resilient development. More specifically, how water –in all its forms- shapes the past to future functions and patterns of our built environments, development of a holistic and integrated approaches that embraces the complexity of communities and their ecosystems both on private and public lands.
Speaker Panel:
The Chinook Use of Small Non-Natal Streams and Their Value
Chris Gregersen, Fisheries Biologist, King County Water and Land Resources Division Department of Natural Resources and Parks
Small tributaries to the lower Green River have often been overlooked in terms of both salmon habitat and their role in salmon recovery. Recent research has found that these small streams and ditches provide a rare and valuable habitat type for juvenile Chinook salmon in WRIA 9 and play an important role in juvenile Chinook rearing . Armed with these findings, salmon recovery efforts are underway to help restore these rare and previously overlooked habitats in the basin.
Green River Drainage Districts: Explained, Explored and Why They are Important
Michael Reynolds, Manager of Green River Drainage Districts
King County Drainage Districts manage a significant part of the watershed's tributaries, however little is known about these districts. Michael will de-mystify the purpose of these districts, how they are managed, their impact on water quality and ecosystem health, including challenges and opportunities to improve the ecological health of our tributaries.
Updates on 6PPD Tire Dust and Other Stream Water Quality Issues
Sean Dixon, Executive Director Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Historically, coho that have been returning to urban streams experience prespawn mortality at significantly high rates up to 90% sometimes. New stormwater research on what has been killing coho and trout species from tire dust, what is being done to reduce and eliminate this pollution will be discuss. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance has been at the forefront in our region concerning this problem, initiating a study in Longfellow Creek of coho prespawn mortality in 2016, raising awareness and legislative action concerning it.
Sean will also provide updates on recent legal issues concerning the Supreme Court's Sackett vs EPA ruling about wetlands, streams and other waters, and the ISGP and MS4 reissuances.
Private Landowners: Fostering Stream Stewardship and Its Barriers
Ashley Allen, Program Coordinator Urban Riparian Habitat Stewardship, King Conservation District
Though out our county, everywhere, there are creeks, streams and ditches running through our neighborhoods, under our streets, and behind our schools and shops. These are important links in local ecosystems which not only provide ecoservices to communities but also connect communities to each other. Many of these tributaries are found on private land, both rural and urban. To make a significant impact in improving their ecological health and their communities, fostering stream stewardship with landowners is critical. Ashley Allen has been working with landowners, in turning what was viewed as a liability into an asset through a holistic approach of education, collaboration and restoration, including the challenges of working in underserved communities of need.
Creating Educational Experiences with Youth
Hannah Park, Unleash the Brilliance Youth Organization with Anna Bachmann, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Hannah will share a her group's youth experience with community engagement and stewardship working on Puget Soundkeeper Alliance's Springbrook Creek project including using the popular Geocaching Adventure App for exploration of the project in a fun, inclusive activity while also providing environmental learning.