Orca Recovery Day
October 15, 2022

Orca Recovery Day began in 2018 in response to
a reaction to Southern Resident Killer Whale Tahlequah’s display of grief as she tragically swam her dead calf around the Sound for 17 days. Puget Sound conservation districts and a handful of partners hosted restoration events that would help make a better habitat for orcas and their main food source, Chinook salmon.

Over the last four years, Orca Recovery Day has grown to over 160 groups and 6,000 participants drawing volunteers to plant over 27,700 trees and shrubs and remove over 59,000 pounds of litter from reaching or re-entering the Salish Sea.

Organizations can sign up to host an Orca Recovery Day event by filling out this online form before the September 16 deadline. 

Individuals can sign up to volunteer at Orca Recovery Day events as they're posted online. This year, KCD will be hosting a planting event at Remlinger Farms. You can sign up now to help us! 

KCD Advisory Committee Seeks Strong Voices

KCD is looking to fill open Advisory Committee seats. We have two seats that are designated for rural residents and one seat designated for an environmental nonprofit leaders. We are looking for diverse voices and experiences to help ensure that we are being guided by a body that represents the communities we serve. Our Advisory Committee provides feedback and recommendations to KCD’s Board of Supervisors. The Committee is made up of delegates from local government, nonprofits, and community members.

Cover Crop Distributed to 40 Community Gardens

KCD gave away 1,300 pounds of crimson clover and field pea cover crop seeds to 40 community gardens across King County last week. Cover cropping helps soil retain nutrients, prevent weeds, and provide habitat for native pollinators!

What does community agriculture mean to you?

We asked festival-goers at the King County CHOMP! event on August 20, 2022 and this is what they thought!

KCD Board of Supervisors

Are you interested in becoming a KCD Board Supervisor? KCD Board Supervisors help steer KCD and the conservation work we do. It is important to us that our board reflects the diversity of King County and its conservation needs. If you think that your voice can help KCD build clean water, healthy forests, and strong local food systems, consider applying to run in the 2023 Board Election. KCD will hold an election in early 2023 for position #3 on the Board of Supervisors. This is an elected position selected through a district-wide election. Candidate filing will happen in late 2022. Full details will be set by a board resolution in the next few months. KCD will also have position #5 up for appointment by the Washington State Conservation Commission. This is an appointed position selected by the Washington State Conservation Commission. Applications for the appointed seat will be accepted by the commission January through March of 2023.

WCC Member Recruitment

WCC member recruitment is underway for the 2022-2023 program year. They are recruiting for over 280 members who will serve across Washington State.

WCC AmeriCorps Member Position Description (PDF)
WCC brochures in English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF)

WCC recruiting for Crew Supervisors

Know someone committed to conservation and creating future leaders? WCC is currently recruiting WCC Crew Supervisors across Washington State. Interested individuals should apply to regional candidate pools on Washington State’s job board. Applications expire every 90 days.

Equipment Share Program

Reservations are being accepted for KCD Farm Equipment. Visit each page to find out more and to get signed up now for the 2022 season.

• H&N 50 Manure Spreader: (only from 4/1 through 9/30) The manure spreader is not currently available due to equipment issues.
• Rhino Limer Drop Spreader: for seed, fertilizer lime application
• Kasco Eco-Drill No-Till Seeder: for reseeding pasture and seeding cover crops
• Featherman Poultry Processing Equipment: for harvesting and processing poultry

And these tools are available for use for free:

• Weed Wrenches: for removing invasive weeds such as Scotch Broom
• Soil Sampling Probes: for sampling your soil to submit to KCD’s Soil Nutrient Testing Program

Visit Equipment Share Program to check availability and rent or borrow any of the equipment.

KCD’s office is now open to the public and procedures are being updated for cooperators to come pick up equipment at the office.