KCD Helps Communities
Become Firewise
King Conservation District’s Jarret Griesemer has been working with the Alpental Community in Snoqualmie Pass to become better prepared for wildfire. This summer Alpental was officially recognized by the National Fire Protection Association as a Firewise Community. Becoming a Firewise Community helps to qualify for local, state, and federal funding assistance to improve wildfire safety, and provides recognition of residents working together to be ready for wildfire.
See our website to learn more about KCD Wildfire Preparedness & Prevention Services. |
Evil Weeds Invade
Pacific Northwest
Invasive weeds can certainly be scary! Bellevue Parks & Recreation created four colorful posters with information about some of our region's most tenacious invasive plants. See their website for links to details on how to control each of the Evil Weeds.
The posters were produced as part of a $60,000 King Conservation District grant to support the City of Bellevue's fight against invasive weeds. |
Kristen Reichardt
Seeks Presenters for
King ECO Net Summit
KCD staff member Kristen Reichardt was recently elected Coordinator for King ECO Net, a partnership of organizations, agencies and individuals working to protect Puget Sound. She is currently preparing for the 2017 ECO Net Summit, December 6th at Brightwater Education Center near Woodinville.
This year’s Summit will explore the intersection of environmental and social justice. Focus areas will include communicating about climate change, organizational structure, recreation, access to nature, food systems, and community resilience to climate change. People interested in making a presentation or participating in a panel discussion on these topics are encouraged to submit an abstract by Friday, October 20th. For details contact Kristen at 425-282-1927; or email: kristen.reichardt@kingcd.org. |
Salmon are Spawning
Across Puget Sound Region
The annual salmon migration is under way, and Puget Sound area residents have an opportunity to observe one of the Earth's natural wonders.
King County's Salmon SEEson program identifies more than a dozen viewing sites, including Ballard Locks, Longfellow Creek, Duwamish River, Piper’s Creek, Cedar River, Sammamish River, Issaquah Creek, North Creek, Soos Creek, Bear Creek, Ebright Creek, and Lewis Creek.
Visit the Salmon SEEson webpage to learn where to spot spawners across King County, and click on the Calendar of Special Events to learn about daily tours and other activities. |
Free Urban Shorelines Workshops Set for
October 10th, Newcastle
October 21st, Burien
Learn how to protect and beautify properties along streams, lakes and wetlands. Topics will include minimizing pollution runoff, controlling invasive weeds, utilizing native plants, and environmental regulations impacting your property. For details on each of the workshops click on the links below:
October 10, 6:30-8:30 PM, Newcastle City Hall
October 21, 9:30 AM-1:30 PM, Burien Community Center |
Land & Water Stewardship Series Comes to Issaquah
The King Conservation District's Land & Water Stewardship Series includes four free workshops for livestock owners at the Issaquah Library. All classes will be held Thursday evenings from 6:15 to 8:45 PM.
The workshop series kicks off with Living with Livestock Near Water, October 19, followed by Mud Management, October 26, Manure Management, November 2, and Pasture Management, November 9.
Register online for the free Land & Water Stewardship Workshop Series.
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Duwamish Alive!
Longfellow Creek, Seattle
October 21st
Duwamish Alive! is part of Green Seattle Partnership’s program to restore Seattle’s forested parks. On October 21st assist with KCD's long-term project to restore important forest habitat along Longfellow Creek, which is Seattle's second largest salmon-bearing stream. Click HERE for details and online registration.
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 Calendar of Events
October is Salmon SEEson
See spawning salmon throughout the month on King County rivers.
October 7: Washington Native Plant Society Fall Sale, Seattle
Select from more than 200 species for fall planting.
October 7: Green Snoqualmie Day, Snoqualmie
Kick off the fall planting season in Snoqualmie.
October 7: Kelsey Creek Farm Fair, Bellevue
Annual harvest celebration for the whole family.
October 10: Beautify & Care for Your Streamside Property, Newcastle
Learn about managing stream, lake and wetland properties.
October 9: SnoValley Tilth Potluck, Carnation
The topic for this month's SnoValley Tilth meeting is agricultural resilience planning.
October 14: KCD Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Event, Renton
Get hands-on experience working with native plants.
October 14: Green Tukwila Day, Tukwila
Join in the first-ever Green Tukwila Day at Tukwila Park.
October 14: Greenline Planting Party, Seattle
Increase pollinator habitat and community green space under power lines.
October 14: Streamside Planting & Maintenance, Carnation
Habitat restoration at Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center.
October 14: Sustainable Renton Harvest Mayhem, Renton
Annual fundraising event at Sustainable Renton Community Farm.
October 14: Food Lust, Seattle
Dinner and auction fundraiser for Tilth Alliance.
October 19: Living with Livestock Near Water, Issaquah
First in a series of free workshops for livestock owners.
October 20: KCD Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Event, Renton
Get hands-on experience with native plants for stream and wetland restoration.
October 21: Duwamish Alive!, Seattle
Assist with KCD's long-term restoration of Longfellow Creek.
October 21: Beautify & Care for Your Streamside Property, Burien
Learn from restoration experts about managing stream, lake and wetland properties.
October 21: Neighborhood Stewards Work Party, Redmond
Help restore Redmond’s urban forests by removing invasive weeds in the Monticello Estates natural area.
October 26: Mud Management Workshop, Issaquah
Protect horses and livestock from mud from winter rainstorms.
October 28: Green Kent Day, Kent
Beautify the forest along Puget Power Trail.
October 28: Green Redmond Day, Redmond
Plant trees in three Redmond parks.
October 28: Streamside Planting at Full Circle Farm, Carnation
Habitat restoration with Stewardship Partners.
November 1: Focus on Farming, Monroe
Wealth of information for everyone in agriculture.
November 2: Manure Management Workshop, Issaquah
Strategies for making the most of manure.
November 3: Save Money, Save Time, Save Puget Sound, Woodinville
Get easy tips on ways to reduce plastics in your household.
November 4: Get Ready for a Mud-Free Winter, Redmond
Tour a small farm with five horses that has eliminated mud from paddocks and outdoor dressage area.
November 4: Green Seattle Day, Seattle
Help restore parks across Seattle.
November 9: Pasture Management Workshop, Issaquah
Learn how to provide the healthiest pastures for your animals. |
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Emily Webster New
KCD Farm Services Manager
Having grown up in Duvall, Emily Webster traveled the world before returning to join KCD in the new position of Farm Services Program Manager.
Earlier this year Emily earned dual MSc degrees in International Agricultural Development and Horticulture & Agronomy at UC Davis. She worked previously in natural resource conservation and project management, including four years as a Peace Corps Volunteer working with smallholder farmers and ranchers in Central America, focusing primarily on agroforestry systems and soil restoration.
As KCD Farm Services Manager, Emily will focus on supporting the farm services team and leading our farm planning and technical assistance programs. |
Emily Carlson Returns
to KCD as Operations
Project Coordinator
Emily Carlson first joined the District in 2015 as a Washington Conservation Corps Individual Placement. Last year she was an educator with Shadow Lake Nature Preserve, and in October she re-joined KCD in a new position as Operations Project Coordinator. In her new position Emily will assist both the Operations and Implementation Teams, supporting the KCD Board of Supervisors annual elections, records retention, and educational programming.
Emily graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Gonzaga University and served two terms with the Washington Conservation Corps before working with KCD. She brings on-the-ground restoration experience, a passion for communicating about science, and data management skills to her position. |
Crispin Peters to Coordinate Restoration Projects
King Conservation District welcomes Crispin Peters as our Volunteer & Restoration Projects Coordinator for the coming year through Washington Service Corps.
Crispin graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Wildlife Biology. He has field experience from his time serving with the Montana Conservation Corps and as a wildland firefighter. Watch for upcoming events on the KCD Volunteer Opportunities page. |
Stevie Knapp New Education Program Coordinator
In October Stevie Knapp started her one-year Washington Conservation Corps Individual Placement as KCD Education Program Coordinator.
Stevie graduated from The Evergreen State College with a degree in Environmental Studies & Marine Science. She comes to KCD with a background working in aquariums and teaching science to youth. Her priorities for the coming year are coordinating the KCD Land & Water Stewardship workshop series, Envirothon Competition, farm tours, special topic conservation classes, marine shorelines workshops, and Water on Wheels classroom lessons.
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Washington Conservation
Corps Crews Begin
Year of Service
KCD sponsors two crews of Washington Conservation Corps volunteers who serve on the front lines of habitat restoration across King County. Modeled on the Civilian Conservation Corps, WCC provides young adults ages 18-25 with practical, hands-on experience with natural resource preservation and enhancement. Please welcome WCC crew members when you see them working in your neighborhood. |
Agricultural Drainage
Program Coordinator
In 2015 we initiated the KCD Agricultural Drainage Program in collaboration with King County Water & Land Resources. Over the past three seasons the program has assisted over two dozen farmers with clearing more than seven miles of blocked drainage channels in the Snoqualmie Valley, Sammamish Valley, and Enumclaw Plateau. KCD recently received funding from the King County Flood Control District to provide expanded drainage services to farmers next year.
We are seeking a professional with farm-based field drainage maintenance experience as well as experience with construction management. See the Agricultural Drainage Program Coordinator announcement on our Employment Opportunities page for the full job description and application information. |
Shoreline & Riparian
Habitat Improvement
Program Assistant
The King Conservation District is seeking qualified candidates for a full-time Shoreline & Riparian Habitat Improvement Program Assistant.
The position requires a BA or BS in environmental science or a closely related natural resources field, a minimum of one year of job related professional experience implementing habitat enhancement projects, and experience coordinating work crews. See the KCD Employment Opportunities page for the full job description and application instructions. |
Fall is an Excellent
Time to Test Your Soil
King Conservation District provides up to five free soil tests for all residents in our service area. This is a good time of year to get a "report card" on your fertilization practices. See our Soil Testing Program page for details on how to submit a soil sample and links for additional information. |
Volunteer with the
King Conservation District
This month KCD hosts the following volunteer events:
Native Plant Nursery: Oct 14 & 20
Longfellow Creek, October 21
See our website for details on KCD volunteer opportunities: www.kingcd.org/volunteer |
Join us at 14th Annual
Focus on Farming
November 1st, Monroe
King Conservation District is helping sponsor this year's Focus on Farming Conference, which is an outstanding opportunity for learning, networking, and enjoying farm fresh foods. Local and national farmers, researchers and experts will share ways innovative farmers are shaping the future of agriculture. This year's keynote speakers will include John Ikerd on "The Status and Future of Local Foods."
See the Focus on Farming webpage for the full program and online registration. |
SnoValley Tilth Update on
Snohomish County
Agriculture Resilience Plan
October 9th, Carnation
Josh Monaghan, KCD Director of Food and Farm Programs, and Cindy Dittbrenner, Snohomish Conservation District Natural Resources Program Manager, will give a presentation on the Snohomish County Agriculture Resilience Plan at SnoValley Tilth's monthly potluck, from 6:30-8:30 PM on Monday, October 9th. Click HERE for details. |
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See our Facebook page for the latest news about King Conservation District programs and projects. |
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