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Sunday, January 30, 2011

Shoreline Historical Museum New Digs


Shoreline Historical Museum - a new labor of love.  And it's going to take a lot a love for this new site!

So the GOOD NEWS for the Shoreline Historical Museum is they've got a new home.

Museum Director Vicki Stiles in front room of 18511
Linden Ave N.  She's smiling, but looking at the task ahead,
her sweatshirt indicates she might rather be in Maui
(and who could blame her!)
The BAD NEWS is it's like being forced to move into a flop house when you were used to a decent place to live. 
Basement of former James Alan Salon
New Home of Shoreline Historical Museum
To be fair the shot above is the basement of one buliding, which is the worst site. The old little house next door is somewhat better. But it is pretty shabby too.
Front Room of 18511 Linden Ave N
Planned to be the meeting room of new temporary Museum.



The Shoreline Historical Museum was forced to move after being evicted by the Shoreline School District from their 35 year home at the Ronald School. They used some settlement dollars and
bought the property available at 185th and Linden Ave N, which includes about a half acre overgrown lot and two buildings, the former James Alan Salon and small house (40's era) next door. 

Well it is better than being homeless, but it is going to be a huge task to make these buildings habitable. 
The 18511 Linden house is relatively easier to fix up to be of use. According to Director Vicki Stiles, they expect to have an office set up there next week sometime. 

Volunteers have to wear masks to deal with the nasty dust
But the James Alan site is another story. After the business moved out, a pipe broke and water ran into the building for three days before anyone knew about it. All the ceiling tiles are rotten and have to be hauled out. Their is some mold and huge amounts of dust and crud everywhere. 
Museum Boardmembers and volunteers have been working for
many weeks already to clear out the mess, but it is
going to take a lot of "sweat equity" to get this place
ready for any kind of museum
Vicki Stiles is very grateful to the incredible work of so many Museum Boardmembers and volunteers. Lorne Day has been there nearly every day clearing the brush and overgrowth that was even growing through the roof of the little house!
Loren Day, Hal Schlegel, and Kevin Sill confer about the tasks at hand
Volunteer Extraordinaire Loren Day gets grateful hug
from Director Vicki Stiles
A WHOLE lot a love is what it's gonna take. But the Museum supporters seem to 
have a lot to give!



Thornton Creek Park 6 Wildlife

Mallards AND Wooducks behind
Hooded Megansers and Mallards
Thornton Creek Park #6 near Northgate is always a great wildlife show. 

The beavers have created an incredible wetland habitat for many creatures. It is a natural area park, located along the South Branch of Thornton Creek on either side of 8th NE between NE 106th and 103rd Sts.

Today three kinds of ducks were sighted, including the Wooducks, Hooded Megansers and as usual lots of mallards. Also, yesterday spotted the Great Blue Heron again. 

Also today TCA (Thornton Creek Alliance)  hosted a small workparty to remove invasives like ivy and blackberry. Ruth Williams has been the wildlife steward for Park #6 for over the last decade. Work Parties are held on weekends throughout the year for volunteers to help control invasive weeds and replant with native plants.
Ruth Williams, TCA Vice-President and longtime
steward of Thornton Creek Park #6
Other interesting features at the park these days are things like this interesting fungus growing on one of the fallen logs. (Many trees have been felled by the beavers, and have transformed the habitat into a totally different place from what we'd come to expect 10 yrs ago.)
Turkey Tail fungus 

Trametes versicolor

Also, the park stewards have installed wooduck houses, to provide possible nesting places for these beautiful native ducks.
Wooduck Nesting Box

Thornton Creek Park Six is a peaceful place that needs 
a better name. 




Saturday, January 29, 2011

Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery Response

Salmon in the Classroom Issue Elicits Response

Gestin Suttle representing Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery group has requested an opportunity to reply to our article last week on Salmon in the Classroom program being discontinued. They are a non-profit that supports the work of the salmon hatchery as an economic development factor in their community.
http://www.issaquahfish.org/hatchery/index.html

Her reply as follows:

I would like to clarify that the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery has provided eggs to Seattle School District. Seattle Schools retrieved 6,000 eggs on 1/18/11. The participating schools are Bagley, Beacon Hill, Bryant, Cooper, Dearborn Park, Dunlap, Graham Hill, Laurelhurst, Lowell, McGilvra, Montlake, Olympic Hills, Olympic View, Roxhill, Stevens, Summit Alt., Tops/Seward, Van Asselt, & View Ridge.
Thornton Creek is listed as one of the viable release sites (other creeks within the Lake Washington watershed are also listed as acceptable release sites).

I cannot address the situation with the University of Washington, however, it is unfortunately true that the Washington State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) has cut the Salmon in the Classroom program statewide – this affects not only Seattle Schools but all schools that participated in the program. While I do not speak for WDFW, I can say that the department is exploring ways to maintain the program in the future – options might include using private funding to maintain the program at WDFW, or finding one or more non-profits that would be interested in assuming responsibility for administration of the program in certain communities or statewide.

Meanwhile, any school that had already obtained its permit to raise eggs this year (and which turned in the necessary documentation – as required – in order to do so) that is within the Lake Washington Watershed has been able to pick up eggs from the Issaquah Hatchery. (I cannot address the situation outside the Lake Washington system).

This is an extremely valuable education program and we fully support its continuation.
-          Gestin Suttle, executive director, Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery

Friday, January 28, 2011

Point Wells Developers Roll Out their Plan

As Butch Cassidy said to Sundance "These guys are good"!  And then Butch and Sundance jumped off the cliff into the river.

A rendering of the proposed waterfront development at Point Wells, featuring the pier as a park.
View of "Pier Park" including art, green plantings and beach in backround
drawing provide by BRSE Point Wells
Well the Point Wells Developers, Blue Square (BSRD) showed their plans for a seeming "paradise on the Sound" to a crowd of at least 200 people last night at Shoreline Center Auditorium and it was a slick presentation for sure. Every possible "environmentally friendly" bell and whistle was thrown in to the plan and presentation.
Developers panel of experts answers questions
submitted by audience.
In a presentation that went on past 9pm, the developers presented a plan that shows the Point Wells site being transformed from a Petroleum Tank Farm into an Environmental Eden on a 3.2 million sq ft site.
Extensive Boardwalks and Bike Paths are planned
drawing provide by BRSE Point Wells

The first stage of bringing the vision to life has begun. Developer BSRE Point Wells, LP is working with the internationally recognized architecture firm of Perkins+Will to prepare initial community design elements for sharing and discussion with the community. And development management and representatives continue to meet with elected officials, staff and local residents to discuss how the development will be integrated into surrounding communities.
Perkins, Will is the architecture firm doing the design led by Canadian Peter Busby.
Point Wells viewed from N-photo credit BRSE
An array of features was detailed by a panel of six, including attorneys, architects, engineers, landscape designers and pitch men. Some of the features planned for this site described by the experts include:
• LEED Platinum Goal for the project building standards with features such as rainwater catpure, cisterns, green rooves, vegetable/flower gardens, Community Center, 
• Daylighted Creek with "aquaduct" to deliver the now piped stream over the railroad and associated wetland
• 20 acres of public open space 
• 3 "Villages" to be built in phases 
•  Biomass Energy Plant 
• Sound Transit Station
• Forested site leading to restored beaches with boardwalks and bike trails
• Green Park Pier with possible Water Taxi station and small marina for kayaks and small craft
• 3,000 housing units with varying heights. Some would be 180' in height, but would be out of view of Woodway and somewhat visible from RB.

 Overall, it is vision for a virtual Disneyland of the North with all the features proposed. You can see the drawings and video proposal at the website http://www.pointwells.com/gallery/.


One major outstanding question we have is how will the developer accomplish the restoration of the polluted site? Apparently the plan is to retain all of the contaminated soils on site and "clean them up"
there. When asked "How would this be done", the reply was a somewhat simplified answer that it would be something like when an old gas station is removed and a spill is cleaned. In those cases, it often takes several years of "venting" and "burning off" the petroleum products. But nothing was said about other types of contamination such as from metals or asbestos which surely would be a factor. To be sure this would be a very complex clean-up project before any building would take place.

The other BIG question that the Richmond Beach Community members have is "how is this going to affect traffic in RB?" And perhaps "how can they get away with doing this?"

The BSRE answers are shown partially in this map. The public was invited to view the website
to review the images shown last night. http://www.pointwells.com/about-2/transportation/
Transportation Map supplied by BRSE website
As shown above, many transportation options are speculated in the plan, including rail, bus, ferry, bike, zip car and pedestrian modes. The BSRE team emphasized that residents would be provided with retail shops and other services so they would not often need to travel out of the site. School children who live on site would need to be bussed off site to Edmonds schools. It isn't clear how many school age children would live here. There would also be a Fire and Police station built on site! Wow! That sure takes care of Shoreline's argument! 

But, one wonders how these residents would earn a living enough to afford to live here? Presumably, they would have to leave the site in cars to commute to jobs in Seattle or other surrounding job hubs?

The estimated number of extra average daily "trips" generated up Richmond Beach Road would be about 1000 by 2020 and up to 10,000 by 2035.

But, not to worry BSRE seems to say. This won't even be completely built out until 2035! And all of us will be old or moved away by then!

So what is the next step?


The timeline shown by BSRE Point Wells is as follows.
• 2010-13 - Conceptual Design, EIS, and public outreach
• 2012-14 - Design Permitting
• 2012-19 - Phased Demo and Clean-up
• 2016-20 - Phased Construction and Community Infrastructure Development

Meanwhile Shoreline has passed a Subarea plan for Point Wells, filed an appeal in conjunction with Woodway and Save Richmond Beach, and is looking at possible options for annexation!

And Bills have been introduced in the legislature to encourage cooperation and the Shoreline Planning Commission has recently passed a plan to limit traffic on Richmond Beach Drive.
Shoreline Area News has the story on Bill proposed.
http://www.shorelineareanews.com/2011/01/evan-smith-ryu-expresses-support-for.html

This is just the beginning of a very long and fascinating process.
Fasten your seatbelts! Phew!

Janet


Timberrrrr.... Ingraham HS Chainsaw Massacre

A Sad Day for the Tree Stewards who've been advocating for the grove of 70 year old trees at Ingraham High.


At least 27 native trees that have stood watch over generations of students at Ingraham HS are being felled today. Save the Trees - Seattle has stood up for this significant grove of trees for a number of years since the Seattle School District planned to remove them as a part of their High School addition project. The group won several rounds in superior court but the final round went to the Seattle School District cutters.  


Steve Zemke of Save the Trees Seattle is interviewed
this morning by at least 3 TV networks and Seattle PI
The Ingraham Grove had stood for 70 years providing shade, habitat and fresh air for the neighborhood.
Flicker nest in one of the cedars at Ingraham Grove
photo credit - Michael Oxman
The neighbors and Save the Trees - Seattle group had garnered enormous support from many elected officials and community groups. A letter of support had been sent to the School Board in 2008 signed by 8 members of the Seattle City Council and other leaders. Save the Trees - Seattle celebrated many victories in this fight and showed the leadership in the City that there was a good basis for protecting "groves of trees".  In 2009 the City Council passed and Interim Tree Ordinance with a "Groves of Trees" element. 

View of the grove looking SE on Ashworth. 
Many of the trees will be preserved along Ashworth Ave N. But a significant impact will be felt by the loss of at least 27 large trees. It is tragically clear that Seattle School District has a lot to learn about trees and our environment. It's a very sad lesson for Seattle public school students.
Poetry from Memorial Vigil held this month
A School District spokesperson, Tom Redman stated that the trees cut would now become the property of the tree contractors, who would presumably take the logs to be milled. But he really did not know what would become of the logs.


The trees are "screaming" as we speak this morning. And at least the press and neighborhood are listening.  Check KOMO 4 TV NewsFox Q13 News, and KIRO 7TV News, and Seattle PI for more coverage today. Seattle PI covered an earlier chapter in the story by Lisa Stifler in '08. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/356974_ingraham29.html
Loggers working high in these tallest trees.
This tree was over 70 years old and 30" in diameter.


Steve Zemke of Save the Trees - Seattle and Save Our Urban Forest Infrastructure (SOUFI) and blogs at  Majority Rules and has issued a statement there in an article entitled - 

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

"Save the Sound, Build a Raingarden" Workshops Coming Up

Two Upcoming Workshops will teach LID Techniques. LID means Low Impact Development.
Green Roofs, Raingardens, Natural Drainage Strategies such as "Bioswales" and water catchment systems can be attractively integrated in to yards and landscaping to improve surface water impacts, reduce flooding, improve water quality and wildlife habitat.


Environmental Science Center is offering two useful 
workshops for remodelers and gardeners.


Native Plantings and pervious pavement installed
on Shoreline's Green Street project at 17th Ave NE

Title: Low Impact Development for Remodlers: Transforming Existing
Lots through Zero Storm Runoff and Improved Sustainability.

Date & Time: 
February 24, 2011, 12:00p - 1:30p
Where: Best Western Executive Inn - Vashon Room  - 
200 Taylor Ave
Seattle, WA 98109


In this workshop, cutting edge green remodeling contractor, Jon
Alexander, will discuss improving sustainability and decreasing storm
runoff in existing lots by reducing imperious surfaces, using 
rain
gardens
 and bioswales, rain water collection, green roofs, soil
improvements and pin foundations.
Advanced registration required, RSVP to: 
programs@envsciencecenter.org
or call 
206-248-4266



----------------------------------------------------------
Swales and Restored Wetlands at Cromwell Park in Shoreline

Title: Save the Sound: Build a Rain Garden
Date & Time: 
March 15, 2011, 6:00p - 8:00p
Where: 
Burien Community Center - Shorewood Room - 14700 6th Ave. SW,
Burien WA 98166


At this workshop you will learn how 
rain gardens help soak up
rainwater from downspouts, driveways, and sidewalks while protecting
our local waterways. You will also learn your soil type during the
class and receive a 
FREE rain garden manual and other helpful
materials.  There will be opportunities to gain further hands-on
experience by helping create a rain garden later in the spring and
fall.

Advanced registration required RSVP to: 
programs@envsciencecenter.org
or call 
206-248-4266

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Salmon in the Classroom Program - A Victim of Budget Cuts?

The Salmon in the Classroom programs have been a fixture of our elementary school curriculum for a couple generations now in the Puget Sound region. Educators sought to instill the natural interest, curiosity of kids and environmental values by providing experiential learning opportunities.
Scientists and students at UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Science monitor salmon

The "Salmon in the Classroom" projects have been a yearly event that created excitement and anticipation of fullfilling a worthwhile goal for students. Kids participated actively, by feeding, checking water temperature and doing the final salmon fry releases into local creeks.

In Seattle, the largest watershed is Thornton Creek. It is salmonid habitat, with at least five species of salmon - coho, chinook, sockeye, cutthroat and even steelhead. Salmon fry releases by students have been a fixture in Thornton Creek and several of the other largest watersheds in the City.

But now sadly, the programs may be coming to a halt due to budget worries and water quality concerns. Typically, the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences hatchery has supplied teachers and classes, grades 1-6 with the eggs in carefully controlled programs.
"Eyed" salmon eggs from Issaquah Hatchery

Every year 40,000 schoolchildren in WA State have been introduced and participated in the lives of salmon. But now, WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) which manages the resource and which is facing the same drastic cuts every State Department faces, has had to eliminate the program as a result of the last special session of the Legislature. According to an article in Seattle Times WDFW Program Manager Christy Vassar says, 
"We are sorry to lose the program. Tens of thousands of young people learned about the natural world for the last 20 years, but these are extremely tough economic times, and all state agencies are required to cut back." 
Spawning salmon being "crowded" into pens to be sorted at hatchery
The funds had originally come from the federal government, but now the funds will have to be used elsewhere. The amount seems relatively small for a statewide program (my editorial judgement). Cutting the program will save $110,000 for this school year. It costs the schools nothing. Many of the schools have existing equipment which could still be used if it still functions if they were able to get the salmon eggs. But there is also another problem for the schools in the Thornton Creek Watershed such as Olympic Hills Elementary (in the Hamlin Creek Basin on Thornton Creek's North Branch).

According to those familiar with that local program, the Issaquah Hatchery has prohibited the classrooms in Seattle from releasing salmon (nor are they to receive the eggs for such a release) into Thornton Creek!

Thornton Creek and other urbanized watersheds have experience problems for spawning coho. There is a "pre-spawn mortality" problem which has been documented. This is likely due to stormwater runoff in these streams. The runoff is said to contain a toxic mix of sediments, petroleum based products and metals such as copper. The copper comes from brakepads from motor vehicles. The copper IS going to be phased out over the next few years, because a bill was passed last session to ban it within several years.

So, according to sources who know, the Issaquah Hatchery has been able to now put the kiebash on salmon releases in Thornton Creek. It appears that there is actual discrimination going on against our urban streams and our urban classrooms in effect!

In our opinion (Of Paramount Importance), this is a very bad policy for so many reasons.

First of all it's clear that urban school children are now going to be denied the experiential learning that past generations received and a first hand knowledge about salmon streams. This is very wrong educationally and culturally.

Second of all, the $110,000 seems like a large amount of money, but spread across the entire state it was actual an incredible bargain to provide this educational benefit that instilled the value of salmon and their habitat in 40,000 school children. This is a colossal budget misjudgement. What other statewide program offers so much tangible and hands-on scientific understanding to so many children for so little?

Third, why does the Issaquah Hatchery have jurisdiction over Seattle School Children and their families and over Seattle's largest watershed? This is where the taxpayers are in this state who provide the bulk of the tax dollars for Issaquah's watersheds. Seattle and Shoreline have been faithful participants in the WRIA8 (Water Resource Inventory Assessment for the Cedar/Lake WA Watershed).  And they have unselfishly provided funding to restore watersheds all throughout the basin, with little tangible benefit to our cities' watersheds, except for small programs like "Salmon in the Classroom".

What can be done? Tell your legislators. Tell your City and County Councilmembers.  Tell WDFW.

We have a voice and if we really still care about our salmon, and having a legacy for our kids and grandkids to remember what it was like to have salmon in our local streams, we can use our voices to make a difference!


Sure there are so many worthy programs being cut and this is just one more. But, it seems disproportionate to cut one of the few experiential programs that kids really get excited about, and one which actually costs so little.


Let's invest in our future. Invest in knowledge about the environment and our iconic salmon culture. How will kids really learn  about salmon if they are only seen in  history books? 


Oh wait! They're also cutting back on history too. If it's not on the WASL........ forget it! 


Just my 2 cents for salmon! 


Janet

Saturday, January 22, 2011

"King Tides" Initiative from Dept of Ecology

This weekend is scheduled to yield the highest tides of the year. Now is your chance to
submit images to Department of Ecology and participate in "citizen science".

Here is the DOE Flickr site - http://www.flickr.com/groups/1611274@N22/

Take a walk on the beach at your favorite Puget Sound site and sharpen your eyes and lenses.
Then send in your photos. (Also Of Paramount Importance would welcome some good shots to show off!) DOE would like to record your impressions to better study the impacts of these highest tides.


photo
photo submitted to DOE site
by Cracklin Tulip

Ala Spit, Whidbey Island, Jan 8, 2011 8:30 am. High Tide 11.28


About Washington King Tide Photo Initiative

The Washington Department of Ecology invites you to participate in the January-February 2011 King Tide photo initiative. This is the second year for the initiative. Its objectives are to:

1) Identify and catalogue coastal areas currently vulnerable to tidal flooding (inundation); and
2) Gather compelling pictures, to engage the public and build awareness of the specific potential impacts of sea level rise and storm surge on the Washington coast.




King Tides are extreme high tide events that occur once or twice a year when the sun and moon’s gravitation forces reinforce one another at times of the year when the moon is closest to the earth. King Tide events offer a chance to visualize what future sea levels may look like. 

Coastal communities can monitor high tide and storm surge events to reduce potential damages and costs associated with these events in the future.Understanding the frequency and severity of high tide events, storm surges, and flooding is crucial in adapting to climate change. 

Sea level is predicted to rise up to 50 inches in Puget Sound over the next century. Significant parts of Washington’s coast are already vulnerable to impacts caused by high water levels and storm surges due to their close proximity to the shoreline or low elevation.

For more information on king tides and climate change, visit Ecology’s King Tide Website. Sea level rise projections for Washington State are published in the report, Sea Level Rise in the Coastal Waters of Washington State (Mote, Petersen, Reeder, Shipman, & Whitely Binder; 2008).

The Washington King Tide Photo Initiative is part of a West Coast partnership with the Ecology’s King Tide Website and other partners in California and Oregon. 

PARTICIPATE!
We invite you to submit photographs of coastal areas such as beaches, roads, parks and estuaries, known to be subject to flooding and erosion or areas where the high water levels can be gauged against familiar land marks, such as sea walls, jetties, bridges, dikes, buildings or other coastal structures. “Before and after” pictures showing average water levels and the extreme high water levels for the same location will also be useful.

1) Join this Flickr Group to view photos submitted from individuals around the state!
2) Take your own photos of king tides and add them to the flickr group!




King tide prediction information is available for certain communities in this table. If your community isn’t listed in the table, visit NOAA’s Tide Predictions website to find the dates, times and heights of tides in your area!

MORE QUESTIONS? 
Feel free to email us your King Tide Questions.

Contact Ecology

Friday, January 21, 2011

Online King Conservation District Election Coming Up

KCD or King Conservation District has decided to change the way their Board of Supervisors elections are conducted.


King Conservation District provides many services for landowners and those who care about the environment. They help farmers,  property owners and cities cope with water quality, habitat and soils problems and solutions. They also hold a very popular "Bareroot Plant Sale", which will be underway soon. KCD is funded by a small tax assessment and provides expertise to cities and communities on ways to reduce pollution, prevent flooding, improve habitat and protect soil resources.

For many years they have held special elections in limited polling locations. Now KCD is opening up these elections to a much greater group of voters by conducting an ONLINE ballot process.

There is also a way to vote in person at the KCD office in Renton.
KCD provides native plants for projects to improve wetlands


 Promoting sustainable uses of natural resources through responsible stewardship
King Conservation District
2011 Board of Supervisors Election - New, convenient, secure online voting
30-day voting period February 15 - March 15

STEP 1 - Confirm Voter Eligibility
Print, sign and submit signed affidavit (available at www.kingcd.org after Feb 14) 
via email, fax or US mail. 

STEP 2 - Vote Online
Once voter eligibility is confirmed a personal identification number (PIN) will be emailed to you along with voting instructions.
If you have not received your PIN by 5 pm on March 14, you will need to vote in person at the King Conservation District office on March 15 between 9 am and 9 pm.

PLEASE NOTE 
For more information and detailed instructions, visit www.kingcd.org or call 425-282-1900
KCD Election PCard 2011 v2-2.indd 1 

2011 Board of Supervisors Election Information

The King Conservation District (King CD) is inviting prospective candidates to submit applications for the Board of Supervisor position #2 in advance of a month-long, district-wide public election period beginning February 15, 2011 and ending at 9 pm March 15. This election will feature new, convenient and secure on-line voting. Click here for more information.
Registered voters who reside within the district’s boundaries are eligible to submit an application. Candidates must complete a nomination petition form and gather at least 25 signatures of registered voters who reside within the district. The petition must be delivered to the King CD office (1107 SW Grady Way, Suite 130, Renton) by February 1. Click here for application and petition forms.
Contact Susan Wermus in the King CD office at 425-282-1900 or susan.wermus@kingcd.org for more information. Individuals interested in running for the position (serving a three-year term on voluntary basis) are encouraged to contact the King CD for more information on the board’s duties and responsibilities.
The all-volunteer, five-member board includes three elected members and two who are appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission. All supervisors serve three-year terms and should anticipate a minimum 10 hour per month time commitment. As public officials, their responsibility is to ensure that the King CD meets its legal and public trust obligations. The board of supervisors conducts regular public meetings to oversee the district’s budget and provide policy guidance and oversight to district staff.
Supervisors are expected to help identify critical resource conservation needs in their district, communicate with the public and seek feedback about conservation programs from district residents. King Conservation District elections occur annually during the first quarter of each year. Elections for the King Conservation District and the other 46 conservation districts in Washington State are conducted pursuant to guidelines established byRCW 89.08 with oversight from the Washington State Conservation Commission, an agency created to assist and guide conservation district activities in Washington State.
Please click here for information on past elections, including election results.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting Susan Wermus by phone


at (425) 282-1900 or email at Susan Wermus

KCD helps install wetland plants
in a restoration project