OUR STORY
THORNTON CREEK
WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECT
We are city dwellers who enjoy taking walks along Thornton Creek. We love having this natural beauty right here in the City of Seattle free for all to enjoy!
When we noticed a nearby channel of water that looked neglected, we wondered if we could create a project to improve it? Other people had created bioswales to filter pollutants out of stormwater, so we wondered if we could too?
One thing led to another, and we applied for a King County WaterWorks grant. We were thrilled when it got funded!!! Now we want to include everyone in our project!
Project site
Cars erode banks
Car 14
Project site
ABOUT OUR CAUSE
Since April 25, 2021, we have documented 14 cars that have fallen into this creeklet. Illegally parked cars compact the soil, erode and damage the creek banks and pollute the water with toxins from their oils and other automotive fluids.
Renee walks by this site, between Jane Addams Middle School and Nathan Hale High School, nearly every day. She says it looks like a neglected "ditch" or puddle of water!
But it's actually a tributary to Thornton Creek with water running through it year round!
Our King County WaterWorks grant will prevent illegal parking, restore the landscaping around the creek and restore the ability of the soil to filter contaminants out of water entering the creek.
VOLUNTEER!
All are Welcome!
Our Oct, 2023, planting event has been POSTPONED!
One of our partners, SDOT, discovered at the last minute that they needed to perform road repaid before installing curb stops to protect our landscaping. In the long run, this will improve the project, but we need to postpone our Volunteer Planting Day for now.
Please stay tuned - join the mailing list so we can notify you of our new planting date.
Thank you for your continued interest in protecting the Thornton Creek Watershed!
Please join us for our Volunteer Planting Day!
NE 110th and 31st Ave NE
(between Jane Adams Middle School and Nathan Hale High School)
All are invited to volunteer!
This will be a family-friendly event suitable for persons of all ages and abilities who are willing to help!
We will meet rain or shine! (we will be closing the street for volunteer safety, and this requires setting a date in advance)
Volunteers planning to drive should allow extra time to find on-street parking and be prepared to walk 2-3 blocks from their cars to the site
King County Metro Bus Routes 372 and 65 can get you there:
· Route 372 stops at Lake City Way & NE 110th (walk down the hill)
· Route 65 stops at 35th Ave NE & NE 110th (walk west towards schools)
What to Bring:
· Please come dressed for the weather in clothes that can get dirty or muddy and in shoes that will support you in walking on uneven ground
· We recommend that you bring a water bottle and snack or lunch
· If you want to wear gardening gloves, please bring your own
You can volunteer for an hour, for part of the day, or all of the day - to receive further details, please join our mailing list
All tools, like shovels and wheelbarrows, will be provided
Some tasks will involve digging in the dirt, bending, kneeling, carrying plants and tools and spreading woodchips. You do not have to be able to do these tasks to participate - there will be tasks for folks of all ages and abilities
Everyone is welcome!
AND THANKS TO OUR ADDITIONAL SPONSORS
Upcoming Volunteer Events
