Earth Share of Washington

2008 Priorities for a Healthy Washington

- By Kerry McHugh of Earth Share organization Washington Environmental Council

Each year Washington's environmental community comes together to select four legislative Priorities for a Healthy Washington. By joining together, the groups that make up the Priorities collaborative are better able to advance ambitious goals in the legislature and make a difference for Washington’s land, air, and water.

This year’s Priorities encompass legislation to get our state on track to meet its goals for reducing global warming pollution, to make our communities denser and more climate-friendly, to protect and restore our urban forests, and to invigorate local farms while providing healthier food for kids.

The community is already hard at work - helping create coalitions, educate legislators, and engage environmental advocates to build support for the Priorities in the lead up to the 2008 legislative session which begins on January 14th.

Below is a look at the four Priorities for a Healthy Washington. If you’re interested in more in-depth coverage of a particular Priority go to http://www.environmentalpriorities.org to learn more.

Washington Climate Action
Earlier this year our state set goals to reduce global warming pollution. This Priority will create a structure and timeline for making these goals real. Taking action in 2008 is crucial to make progress on this important issue. Foot-dragging at the federal level is a problem, and we can take action at the state level to lead the nation toward solving this global challenge. Responsible limits on climate pollution will establish Washington as a strong leader in the clean energy economy, increase energy independence, create good new jobs, and deliver a better future for our children.

Local Solutions to Global Warming
About half of our state’s global warming pollution comes from transportation. We need to address this factor if we are to make significant headway. This Priority will help local governments make responsible plans about where we live, how we get around, and consider how those choices can reduce global warming pollution. With the dramatic population growth expected in our state, we must make responsible decisions - now - so we can reduce driving and promote efficient, livable communities.

Evergreen Cities
Since 1971, we have lost almost half of the urban forest land surrounding Puget Sound, which increases air pollution and stormwater flow, and costs the tax payers billions of dollars. Proper forest planning, management, and stewardship are necessary to reverse this trend. Keeping existing trees and planting new ones enhances quality of life for people, increases property values, gives us cleaner water and habitat for birds and wildlife, and will make Washington's cities evergreen.

Local Farms - Healthy Kids
This effort addresses two major challenges facing our state: concerns about the diet and health of our children and the well-being of our small and mid-sized farms. By connecting local kids with local food we get great Washington produce to schools and can improve children’s health. By creating vibrant demand for local food, we help stimulate local agriculture, which helps to keep working lands working.

Get Involved
There are many avenues if you are interested in helping pass these four Priorities -- two great opportunities are our annual Legislative Workshop (January 12th in Seattle) and then 2008 Lobby Day (January 23rd) where people from around the state come to Olympia to make their voices heard in the Capitol. For more information and to register, please go to Priorities for a Healthy Washington web site -- www.environmentalpriorities.org.

Washington's Winter Habitat Supports Birds of Many Feathers

- By Hilary Hilscher of Earth Share organization Audubon Washington

So what does January offer Washingtonians keen for some nature-oriented, outdoor excitement?

Just about the best winter birding in the country.

Whether you’re west or east of the mountains, whether you know an owl from an oystercatcher, whether you have a few hours or a few days, the Great Washington State Birding Trail can guide you to places where our feathered neighbors thrive outdoors in January.

Not only are many avian species all decked out in their most spectacular plumage of the year, many are also gathered in huge flocks – in some cases thousands, even tens of thousands, of individual birds all in one place.

What, exactly, is a “birding trail”?

Birding trails, now found in more than 20 states, are usually self-guided driving trips, though some include biking, walking, canoeing and kayaking segments.

The Great Washington State Birding Trail, produced by Audubon Washington together with many private partners and public agencies, was one of the first in the country and features the state’s 365 resident and migratory species. The initial route, the Cascade Loop, was published in 2002, followed by the Coulee Corridor, and the Southwest and Olympic Loops. Three more maps will complete the statewide trail by 2010.

With nearly 50 million people in America describing themselves as interested in bird watching, birding trails have become big business nationwide. Birding trails and their birds attract visitors to primarily rural locations, which spurs economic development and gives local residents increased incentive to safeguard the natural areas around their communities and region.

What hardy avian critters would you find along Washington’s trail in January?

Sun Lakes State Park along the Coulee Corridor, near Coulee City, features dense concentrations of waterfowl: American Coots, Ruddy and Ring-necked Ducks, wigeons, mergansers and scaups. As the lakes freeze from the edges inward, the birds crowd together in the remaining open water – which makes for spectacular viewing.

The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge just north of Olympia is highlighted on both the Southwest and Olympic Loop maps because of its wealth of year-round birding. But winter offers some of the best: Watch Peregrine falcons, merlins and bald eagles as they for meals among the 6,000+ waterfowl gathered in ponds and fields.

Two other sites along the Southwest Loop provide excellent winter birding plus adventuring: Cape Disappointment State Park with its breaker-washed, craggy coast; lighthouse; and Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center; and Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to as many as 15,000 cackling Canada geese, plus Sandhill cranes, and trumpeter and tundra swans.

Speaking of swans, three of the Cascade Loop’s sites in the Skagit Valley offer reliable and accessible swan watching, plus giant flocks of snow geese and occasional snowy owls. This area also boasts the largest winter aggregations of bald eagles outside of Alaska.

Looking for loons? At the Elwha River Estuary outside of Sequim on the Olympic Loop, you can find wintering common, Pacific and red-throated loons, plus seven species of gulls and red-necked, eared and Western grebes. Goldeneyes sport stunning tuxedo plumage while Harlequin ducks present a breath-catching crazy-quilt design.

The full-color maps of the Great Washington State Birding Trail feature original artwork of birds along the routes, plus descriptions of habitat, species, access, and best seasons for birding. Go to http://wa.audubon.org/birds_GreatWABirdingTrail.html to see the maps online and to order.

Can We Have Rails and Trails?

- By Shefali Ranganathan of Earth Share organization Transportation Choices Coalition

The complex three-party agreement to acquire the eastside Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail corridor running from Renton to Snohomish has been an on-again off-again affair that can leave even accomplished policy wonks scratching their heads. The rail corridor in question is the 47- mile BNSF Rail’s Eastside Rail Corridor, which runs from the north end of Renton to the City of Snohomish, plus a spur line running between the cities of Woodinville and Redmond. The rail corridor passes through the King County cities of Renton, Bellevue, Newcastle, Kirkland and Woodinville.

In 2003, BNSF announced its desire to sell the corridor which prompted an innovative effort by King County and the Port of Seattle to keep the valuable rail corridor in public ownership. The long and complex negotiation process that followed resulted in a decision in December 2007 by the Port of Seattle to buy the corridor for $107 million. The agreement transfers King County's right to purchase the corridor to the port, in exchange for which the port will determine its future use through a public process and give King County the right of first refusal if the port agrees to sell all or part of the right of way. If the county chooses not to purchase whatever is offered for sale, the port may sell it to any other public agency authorized to provide transit, rail services or trails. King County currently plans to purchase two segments of the corridor: a six-mile section from Renton northward to the Wilburton tunnel, and a seven-mile spur between Redmond and Woodinville south of Northeast 145th Street by June 30, 2008 in order to convert it to a recreational trail.

Yet the road to acquisition has been fraught with uncertainty throughout the process. The original plan involved converting the entire 42-mile corridor into a trail yet recent developments (including the failure of Proposition 1) have caused a handful of regional decision makers to question the effectiveness of tearing up the tracks and replacing them with a trail. Transportation Choices has maintained its stance for several years now that they want to see the corridor in public ownership as soon as possible. They support a rail and trail solution and several months ago signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the County, Port of Seattle, Cascade Land Conservancy, and Cascade Bicycle Club to make this vision a reality.

Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities - January 2008

• January – all month long – Washington Trails Association – Trail Work Calendar - Washington Trails Association (WTA) is the most active hiking trail restoration and advocacy organization in Washington State. In 2007, volunteers contributed more than 81,000 hours of volunteer service restoring hiking trails. Join that effort and be a part of protecting and maintaining trails around Washington State. This month, WTA hosts more than 20 trail work parties. To find a work party in your neck of the woods, please visit the Washington Trails Association website at www.wta.org and signup today!
• January 10 - Faith, Energy, and the Environment: An Evening with U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee - 7:00pm - Free - St. John United Lutheran Church, 5515 Phinney Avenue N., Seattle

 - Earth Ministry is partnering with the American Jewish Committee to host an evening of faith and energy with U.S. Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA). Rep. Inslee will read selections from his new book, Apollo’s Fire, which focuses on building a clean energy economy as a solution to oil dependence and climate change. Rep. Inslee will be available to sign copies of his book at a reception afterwards. Learn more about green jobs, economic development, and clean energy technologies in a faith context. Climate Solutions, National Wildlife Federation, and Northwest Interfaith Community Outreach (NICO) are also co-sponsors of this event. For more information or to signup, please contact LeeAnne Beres at (206) 632-2426 or email LeeAnne@earthministry.org
• January 20 – MLK Weekend of Service – White Center Heights Park - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Join EarthCorps and King County Parks and Recreation for a day of service at White Center Heights Park. MLK Day of Service participants should expect to learn a brief history of White Center Heights Park and an overview of urban forest restoration. EarthCorps staff will discuss Dr King's legacy, forest structure, native vs. non-native plant species, environmental restoration and safety. They will spend the day working to restore this urban forest to a healthier state. Volunteers will plant native trees, shrubs and ground-cover species as part of the park's first phase of restoration. For more information, contact Chris LaPointe, Volunteer Program Manager at (206) 322-9296, ext. 217 or email chris@earthcorps.org.
• January 21 – MLK Weekend of Service at Cheasty Greenspace - 9:30 am - 2:00 pm - 
Join EarthCorps, the Green Seattle partnership, Service for Peace, University of Washington, Seattle University and Seattle Parks Dept as they continue to restore this 43 acre south end greenspace. Volunteers will be creating "survival rings" around trees that have ivy growing up them. Other work may include planting native trees and shrubs, and restoration maintenance such as weeding, woodchip application and sheet mulching. Following the event volunteers are invited to attend an indoor service appreciation reception. Lunch will be served. For more information, contact Chris LaPointe, Volunteer Program Manager at (206) 322-9296, ext. 217 or email chris@earthcorps.org
• January 23, 2008 - Priorities for a Healthy Washington Lobby Day - United Churches, 110 East 11th Ave., Olympia, WA - Join hundreds of citizen lobbyists from around the state meeting face-to-face with legislators on important environmental issues. This all-day event includes lobbying training, issue briefings on legislative priorities, keynote speakers and a reception in the evening. Like last year, they are offering bus transportation from north and central Puget Sound areas to Lobby Day. This year the Washington Bus Project is excited to co-sponsor Lobby Day by providing a biodiesel fueled bus from Seattle to Olympia. A donation of $10 for the bus riders is requested.
  
  Bus Schedule: Bellingham: 5:45 a.m. (estimated times) Seattle: 7:45 a.m. Mt. Vernon: 6:30 a.m.
 Everett: 7:15 a.m. 

Return Trip: Leave Olympia around 5:30 p.m.
  
  For more information, contact Kerri Cechovic, Washington Environmental Council, kerri@wecprotects.org or 206-622-8103, x212. Registration Fee: $15 pre-pay required.
• January 26 - Restoration Work Party at Duwamish Riverbend Hill - 10:00 am to 1:00 pm - 
In 2001, Cascade Land Conservancy, the City of Tukwila, and a local citizen group formed a partnership to work for the preservation of an undeveloped parcel of land on the Duwamish River. The Duwamish Riverbend Hill property was successfully acquired in March 2004 by the Cascade Land Conservancy and the City of Tukwila. The property will be managed as a public open space preserve devoted to the interpretation of the site’s Native American cultural significance and other aspects of Duwamish River Valley natural and cultural history. The work party will meet at 10:00 am in the pull-off along the north side of the Duwamish River near the intersection of E Marginal Way S and S 115th St. Please bring boots, work clothes, gloves, appropriate layers for the weather, and a water bottle. Snacks, drinks, and tools provided. For more information or to sign up, contact Stacy Cachules at stacyc@cascadeland.org or (206) 905-6931.
• January 26 - Upper Skagit Bald Eagle Festival - You're invited to the 21st Upper Skagit Bald Eagle Festival on January 26-27th. Come visit with over 30 environmental and educational groups at Concrete High School. There will be booths, walks, talks, gift opportunities and live wild bird demonstrations. See flocks of eagles feasting on salmon near the Rockport area. For more info and directions, please visit www.skagiteagle.org
• February 2 - Snowshoeing at Mount Rainier National Park - An annual event with the National Parks Conservation Association, this is always a fun and popular way to enjoy one of our favorite parks. Park superintendent Dave Uberuaga will be leading the walk. The park provides free snowshoes or you may bring your own. For those wanting a little more of an outing, participants can join a short independent snowshoe walk in the park following lunch. You WILL need to provide your own snowshoes for this walk. Plan on a full day. For more information or to signup, please contact Shane Farnor at the National Parks Conservation Association -- 206.903.1444 ×24 or email sfarnor@npca.org -- space is limited to 25 people.