KGI Meeting: Lu Winsor Grant Reports, Tues, Dec 20th, 4-6 pm

Don't miss this fun gathering tomorrow evening at the Peninsula Light Company office, 13315 Goodnough Drive N. W., Purdy, WA. Hearing about the great projects accomplished, thanks to funding provided by the Lu Winsor Small Grants Program, is always uplifting.
See you there!

Come One, Come All December 20th

Key Peninsula, Gig Harbor and Islands Watershed Council (KGI) has a wonderful tradition. Each year our December meeting is dedicated to project presentations by recipients of our Lu Winsor Grants.

KGI's Lu Winsor Small Grants Program, named in memory of a committed environmental land steward and founding KGI member, provides competitive grants of up to $2,000.00 for projects making an environmental difference in the watershed. Worm bins to stream restorations, Seastars to enviro-camps and so much more; these grants have provided a way for those with interest, focus and creativity to get things done.

If spending a couple of hours hearing about some completed projects that will make you feel good about successes in the watershed sounds appealing, do come and join us. Questions of the presenters are always welcome.

We are proud of the Lu Winsor Small Grant Program and the successes that have resulted because of it. Come enjoy holiday refreshments and learn a bit about what can and is being done to make the KGI Watershed and its people healthy, informed and ready to be the next generation of environmental stewards. Lu would love that.

Join Us

December 20th, 4:00-6:00 PM

at the Peninsula Light Company Office

Purdy, WA

Storm Drain Marking Program

Did you know that the water that flows down the street and into the storm drain empties directly into local waterways, including Puget Sound, without treatment? Your group can help improve water quality in the Key Peninsula-Gig Harbor-Islands Watershed by participating in the storm drain marker program. The markers include the message "Only Rain Down the Drain" to remind people that what goes down the storm drain can result in pollution of our waterways.

This project is appropriate for individuals and groups with participants age six and older. The kit includes markers, adhesive, and instructions to install markers. Kits will be issued while supplies last. If this sounds like the project for your organization, contact Tiffany O'Dell with Pierce County Surface Water Management at (253) 798-2468.

Donkey Creek Chum Festival

"It takes a fish to raise a village." On Saturday, October 8, 2011, from 10am-5pm at the Harbor History Museum, we will be celebrating the role of salmon in Gig Harbor's past and present. Come watch kayak racing, eat a chum burger, paint a fish, and find out the latest on the City of Gig Harbor's Donkey Creek day-lighting project. There is no fair quite like this one.

DON'T MISS THE FUN

JOIN US
OCTOBER 8TH!

Lu Winsor Grants for Local Environmental Projects

Grant funds are available for organizations, schools, and individuals to work collaboratively with the Key Peninsula-Gig Harbor-Islands (KGI) Watershed Council on drainage, water quality, and/or habitat issues within our watershed. Such projects may include watershed education, enhancement and restoration activities, and/or purchase of equipment and supplies. The maximum grant amount is $2,000.00 per project, but you are encouraged to apply for less if your project requires a much smaller amount. These grants are funded by Pierce County Public Works and Utilities, Surface Water Management Division and Peninsula Light Company's Green Choice Program.

Grant materials are available under the Current Events/Announcements section on the KGI Watershed Council website: www.piercecountywa.org/KGI

Grant applications are due October 14th, 2010, 4:00 PM.

Car Wash Kits Available

One of the more popular fundraising activities in Pierce County is the Car Wash. This has proven to be a fun, easy, and effective way for youth-oriented groups to support their programs. Unfortunately, there is a down side; when a car is washed on paved surfaces, the soap, automotive fluids, oil and roadway dirt goes into nearby storm drains. Water in storm drains flows directly into lakes, wetlands, streams and Puget Sound with little or no treatment.

However, Pierce County Surface Water Management has a solution that allows your group to raise money and protect Puget Sound at the same time; just borrow a free Fish-Friendly Car Wash Kit. The Fish-Friendly Car Wash Kit is easy to use and helps keep toxic car wash runoff from entering our waters. Each kit comes with a catch basin insert, submersible pump, garden hose, extension cord, instructions, and a sign identifying the car wash as fish-friendly. You can borrow a kit free of charge for your event by contacting Pierce County Surface Water Management at 253-798-2725. If you host more than five car washes a year, you may even apply to keep a kit.

Vaughn Bay Tidelands Open!

In case you missed the recent coverage regarding Vaughn Bay on “Pierce County News”, this link (http://www.piercecountytv.org/pcn ) will take you to it. At the 2.58 minute mark you will be able to hear more details about the “great news” regarding the re-opening of a significant amount of Vaughn Bay to shellfish harvesting following a thirty year closer. This success is due to Pierce County Shellfish Partners efforts to restore water quality.

Pierce County Public Works and Utilities, Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department and Pierce Conservation District initiated the development of Shellfish Partners in 2005 with the goal of healthy tidelands. That goal includes the prevention of shellfish bed closures, due to poor water quality, and ensuring that all shellfish harvested in Pierce County are safe to eat. “Safe to eat” ultimately means water clean enough for fishing and swimming. Big goals. As shown by the improvements at Vaughn Bay, big goals are achievable.

Pierce County Shellfish Partners is now comprised of eight public, private and nonprofit organizations. Through their collective efforts the following actions are bringing about change; stormwater inspections, water quality sampling, public education, Best Management Practices (BMP) in farming, drainage improvements, identification of failing septic systems, the septic repair grant and loan program (grant funded by the Department of Ecology) and more.

So, after those thirty years of closure due to polluted waters, between the years 2008 and 2011 there have been over one hundred and fifty acres of tidelands restored in Vaughn Bay, with the last fifty being giving the green light by the Washington State Department of Health in June. Now that’s something to write home about! Congratulations to all who, in one way or another, support the continuing efforts of restoring healthy waters to Pierce County tidelands and beyond.

Your KGI Watershed Council Executive Committee