Cedar River Watershed

Sue Rooney, Executive Director of the Friends of the Cedar River Watershed (FCRW), described the non-profit organization as one dedicated to the protection and restoration of the watershed, a source of drinking water for more than 1,000,000 greater Seattle-area residents. The FCRW strives to: (1) ensure the long-term stewardship of the watershed; (2) provide and promote environmental education; and (3) educate the public about the importance of the watershed to public health and safety.

The greater Seattle area is one of the largest municipalities in the country that owns and protects, through a long-term Habitat Conservation Plan, its own watershed to supply clean, fresh water for its citizens. The Watershed comprises nearly 100,000 acres of forestland just east of North Bend. The lower Cedar River Watershed is habitat for steelhead trout and Chinook, coho, and sockeye salmon. The Cedar empties into Lake Washington and eventually, through the Ballard Locks, into Puget Sound.

The Watershed provides a biological preserve by protecting nearly 14,000 acres of old growth forest, supplying water for the largest run of sockeye salmon in the lower 48 states, and providing shelter for elk, loons, owls, cougar, bear, and osprey. Approximately 1,000 volunteers each year help provide habitat restoration to ensure clean water, good fish runs, and flood prevention. In addition, up to 600 miles of old logging roads are being decommissioned in the Watershed to minimize landslides that adversely affect water turbidity and quality—all to protect people and property. For more information, click here.

Disaster Preparedness

Kathryn Howard, Program Manager in the King County Office of Emergency Management, provided timely information on disaster management. Ms. Howard described Washington’s Citizens Corps, which coordinates volunteer activities through education, training, and service to make communities safer and better prepared to respond to emergencies.

Ms. Howard described the five components of Citizens Corps: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Fire Corps, Medical Reserve Corps, Neighborhood Watch, and Volunteers in Police Service.

Janine Johnson, a certified CERT instructor, provided details on disaster-preparedness training of volunteers. Twice a year, starting in February and September, an 8-week course is offered at the Fire District #43 Station 81 at 22225 231^st St in Maple Valley. CERT training includes disaster preparedness, fire suppression, basic medical operations, and light search & rescue procedures. Following completion of the course CERT trainees can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community. To sign up for training please contact CERT.

Our Next Meeting

Your Area Council meets on the first Monday of each month (except on legal holidays) at the Sheriff’s Precinct #3 Headquarters located at 231^st St & SR-169 (across from Fire Station). Each meeting begins with a Public Comment period to provide local citizens with the opportunity to voice issues of concern to Area Council members and King County or State of Washington officials in attendance.

Our nextRegular Monthly Meeting will be held on Monday, June 1, 2009, at 7:00 PM. Planned topics include: Major Dave Germani of the Maple Valley Sheriff’s Precinct Quarterly Community Forum,and King County Department of Transportation’s Issaquah-Hobart Road Study.