2011-01-11 - Training - Care of Wetlands and Streams on Feb 23

Browse Search

1 ILAh, l s i City of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor o v Department of Community Development Jack Pace, Director 190 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Brandon J. Miles Senior Planner City of Tukwila, Department of Community Development (206) 431 -3684, bmiles @ci.tukwila.wa.us City of Tukwila Offers FREE Training on the Care of Wetlands and Streams Tukwila, WA- January 11, 2011 -The City of Tukwila is proud to announce that it will offer a free class for Tukwila residents on the care and maintenance of wetlands, streams and their associated buffers. The training will be held Wednesday, February 23 from 6:00 PM 9:OOPM in the Council Chambers at Tukwila City Hall. Participants in the training will have the opportunity to apply what they learn in class to an ongoing stream restoration effort at Cottage Creek on the grounds of City Hall. Located adjacent to the Green and Duwamish Rivers, the City of Tukwila contains over 120 acres of wetlands and more than 50,000 linear feet of streams. Wetlands, steams, and their associated buffers are important elements of the natural environment providing habitat, reducing pollution, and helping to reduce urban flooding. Most of our urban streams provide habitat for salmon. The water in these wetlands and streams eventually finds its way to the Puget Sound. "Salmon restoration and cleaning up Puget Sound starts at home notes Mayor Jim Haggerton. "This class will provide homeowners and residents the basic understanding of how to be good stewards for and improve the wetland and stream environments on their property," he added. James Rasmussen, Coalition Coordinator with the Duwamish Clean Up Coalition has lauded the City of Tukwila for the proposed program. "Congratulations to Mayor Haggerton and the City of Tukwila for being proactive on wetland care. If we all do our part we can change the world (or at least our part of it) The class is aimed specifically at the weekend gardener. Attendees of the class will learn simple tips and tricks they can utilize on their property and homes to improve the conditions of wetland and streams. Some questions that will be answered by the training include: 1. Why are streams and wetlands important? 2. How can invasive vegetation be controlled without the use of chemicals? 3. What are some native plants would be good to establish near the wetlands and streams? 4. Where do I get native plants and where can I get assistance with my project? BM Page 1 of 2 01/13/2011 W: \Stream Team \Wedand.Water Garden Trainine \Press Release, 2011.01.13.doc 6300 Southcenter Boulevard, Suite #100 Tukwila, Washington 98188 Phone 206- 431 -3670 Fax: 206 -431 -3665