Every spring and fall, a silent tragedy unfolds beneath the glass canyons of our cities. While we sleep, Birds perish by the dozens all across the United States after striking illuminated windows [1]. On the Atlantic Flyway, the density of cities like New York and Boston creates a lethal gauntlet that claims upwards of 300 […]
The signs of spring are growing across the Morse Wildlife Preserve. In the prairie, the swallows have returned and have quickly begun to choose nest boxes and forage above the fields. Camas leaves and other plants are sprouting. Spring has arrived at the Morse Wildlife Preserve, and we’re excited to welcome you back. Join us […]
by Kirk Kirkland A 110-year-old federal refuge is currently the center of a jurisdictional tug-of-war. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) shifted management of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe through a co-stewardship agreement. This move coincides with tribal plans to install a 50-acre industrial oyster farm within refuge boundaries. […]
by Kirk Kirkland Despite the chaos that resulted when the U.S. government started a war against Iran, there is the good news that shows how our state legislature, our Governor and the state’s Attorney General have pushed back against the ICE raids in our state. State Governor bans masked policing Last month we reported on […]
by Kirk Kirkland This is the hour when we must recommit to radical hope. Notice how Trump makes headlines and creates chaos. He starts a war, that neither the Secretary of State or the President know how to end. While the administration issues threats, the data shows a lack of actionable recovery plans. The Administration’s […]
Join your neighbors and friends at the No Kings Rally. We will meet at the entrance of Point Defiance Park near the Goldfish Restaurant. On March 28, rise up and join the crowd on Pearl Street. Say it loud: no thrones, no crowns, no kings. We are not watching history happen. We are making it. […]
by Kirk Kirkland The state legislature session ended with bills sitting on the governor’s desk. High-stakes legislation moved forward despite the lack of funding and the loss of 10% of the state employees due to budget shortfalls Lawmakers navigated difficult decisions in response to limited time and significant fiscal pressure; consequently, even strong policy proposals […]
by Kirk Kirkland Four Environmental Coalition members appeared before the County Council on March 3 spoke in favor of the “Justice Fund”. It was a new sales tax that would stabilize the 2026-2027 budget. It could also pay for renovation of the jail and the juvenile facility. Seventy people signed up to speak with an […]
People’s Park renewal is one of many project proposals that will be funded when Tacoma Parks District voters renew bond funding for critical park enhancements and replacements. The package will be on a special election ballot is due on April 28th. _____________________________________________________________ by Brett Johnson The $155 million bond package includes more than 100 projects […]
by Marcella Buser Legislators adjourned on Thursday afternoon, and the 2026 Legislative Session is a wrap! Truly remarkable, every single bill on our 2026 Growing Together agenda passed the Legislature. Seven bills with our fingerprints on them are now on their way to Governor Ferguson’s desk. In a year dominated by a budget crisis and […]
Forterra land trust stewards more than 150 properties spanning over 17,000 acres across forests, wetlands, and coastal areas throughout the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Many of these lands are tucked away in hard-to-reach places, while others are publicly accessible, offering popular wildlife viewing areas and well-maintained trail systems. As we begin a new season of Forterra Nature […]
by Kirk Kirkland This is the critical time to contact your legislators and let them know which of these issues are important to you. In the last few weeks the 2026 state legislature has voted these important bills out of committee and now go to the floor of each house.. Before the cutoff date I […]
County Government stands up up for your safety and civil rights Most recently, the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officials in Minnesota have prompted many questions about immigration enforcement in Washington State and Pierce County. At the County level, Pierce county government took action last to: create new protocols for County […]
By Kirk Kirkland and Gemini AI A New Wave of Resistance hits Department of Justice Have you lost hope that the current administration can be stopped from creating chaos and returned to the Rule of Law in our economy, our schools, and our nation’s response to climate change? Each month, I use Gemini, an Artificial […]
by Kirk Kirkland How does the Supreme court decision affect the 2026 congressional budget and how will the automobile industry and the major car brands Honda, Nissan and Toyota be affected by the refund of their tariffs? On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the administration’s use of the International Emergency […]
For the Friends of Burley Lagoon, it has been a challenging year opposing the Conditional Use Permit to allow Taylor Shellfish to plant one of the largest, 25.5-acre, geoduck farm in the County. After a challenging appeal before the Hearing Examiner, they group filled an appeal to the Shoreline Management Board. Neighbors and volunteers spent […]
by Kirk Kirkland Each month during the legislative session the Coalition publishes an update on the progress of state legislation that Futurewise and other environmental groups hope to pass before the session ends. For over 30 years, Futurewise has been our close ally, and they have been the consultant that has largely shaped our environmental […]
by Kirk Kirkland The secret is out! An obscure Department of Natural Resource program called Trust Land Transfer now can be used to protect DNR forests from being logged — which local communities want to use for recreation, and preserving wildlife habitat. The Trust Land Transfer (TLT) method uses state capital budget funds to buy […]
In October of 2025 the Forterra land trust facilitated the $3.49 million purchase of 113 acres in the Frederickson area. The property purchase from Tacoma Water (City of Tacoma) was made possible with a $2.7 million grant from Pierce County Conservation Futures. The acquisition protects critical forest and watershed lands in a fast-developing area while […]
Until earlier this month with the December storms, living in the Northwest in the last 5 years, the Puget Sound area has not experienced many of the extreme weather conditions that cause flooding or extreme heat’s impact on Agriculture production. Many areas of the world are spending their government’s funds cleaning up from hurricanes, flooding […]
