Reply #5: Ask Seattle City Council and the Mayor to protect Duwamish tributary!

[eridani]

The City of Seattle is preparing to drain water from a South Park creek that flows to the Duwamish River. The "Lost Fork" - commonly known as a branch of Hamm Creek, but actually part of another historic creek that flowed through South Park to the river - has been restored and cared for for 30 years by South Park resident John Beal with the help of hundreds of school children and volunteers. The creek runs through Marra Farm, a vibrant working farm and Seattle City Park in South Park that serves as an outdoor education center for children from nearby Concord Elementary School.

Background:
1. The City was cited for illegally filling wetlands at the headwaters of the "Lost Fork" to construct a new training facility in 2005.
2. The City agreed to build some new wetlands to settle the federal government's environmental claims in 2006.
3. The City now plans to divert water from the "Lost Fork" in order to provide water to its new wetlands, reducing or eliminating flows to the creek downstream.

On Monday, October 1, City Council is preparing to act to right the damage done to the wetlands and prevent the diversion of water from the creek downstream. The Council needs your support, and we need to send a strong message to the Mayor that the South End cares about the Duwamish River and its creeks. Please attend and testify in favor of saving the "Lost Fork". Monday, October 1, 2 pm: Council Chambers, City Hall: 600 4th Avenue, 2nd Floor (to comment sign in BEFORE 2 pm)

Please also send letters to the Mayor and City Council before the vote supporting the recommendations we have made to repair the creek and prevent further damage. (We will brief Council on the harm the City's plan will cause and our recommendations to fix it at 9:30 am Oct. 1 in Council Chambers; briefing is open to the public).

Mayor Greg Nickels: http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/
> citizen_response.htm, or 684-4000
City Councilman Richard Conlin: richard.conlin {at} seattle.gov, 684-8805
City Councilwoman Sally Clark: sally.clark {at} seattle.gov, 684-8802
City Councilwoman Jean Godden: jean.godden {at} seattle.gov 684-8807
City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck: peter.steinbrueck {at} seattle.gov, 684-8804
City Councilman Nick Licata: nick.licata {at} seattle.gov, 684-8803
City Councilman Tom Rasmussen: tom.rasmussen {at} seattle.gov, 684-8808
City Councilman David Della: david.della {at} seattle.gov, 684-8806City Councilwoman Jan Drago: jean.drago {at} seattle.gov, 684-8801City Councilman Richard McIver: richard.mciver {at} seattle.gov, 684-8800

Recent news clips:
City committee allocates $400,000 to fix city's fix: http://
blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/environment/archives/122161.asp

More background news at: http://www.duwamishcleanup.org/index.php?
page=news (see: "Hamm Creek")


____________________________
BJ Cummings
Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition
5410 First Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98105
206.954.0218
info {at} duwamishcleanup.org