Seattle, WA —/(CFS) and its ally, Coalition to Protect Puget Sound Habitat, filed a motion for summary judgment in federal court. Groups ask the court to set aside Letters of Permission (LOPs) and stop nine large-scale industrial shellfish operations in Washington’s from working on sensitive coastal waters. Despite a 2019 Order from this Court requiring the […]
by Erik Schneider As spring transitions into summer on Morse Wildlife Preserve, signs of new life are emerging. Fledgling birds are appearing throughout the Preserve, across the diverse habitats of this landscape. The Morse Wildlife Preserve is open to the public on the Second Sunday of each month, from April to October. The next open […]
Volunteers gather each summer to restore the fish ladder at Chambers Bay. County staff have funding and will remove the dam at the same time that the upstream bridged is replaced. ____________________________________________________________________ Each fall Al Schmauder gathers volunteers and Puyallup Tribe employees to repair “his” fish ladder at the Chamber Bay Dam. The ladder was […]
From the Port of Tacoma to the crop growing farms of Puyallup Valley, this is the diverse County Council 5th District that Bryan Yambe represents. As the previous Deputy Mayor of Fife, he has brought residents, farmers and industry together. Meet Yambe and express your concerns at a fundraising party coming up on Wednesday June […]
In August, Nora Prindle will offer a class in Nature Journaling. This event offers a creative way to capture the essence of any experience in a way that is uniquely yours. Not only are we using words to capture the heart of things, we are also using drawing. It’s a new way of experiencing nature […]
The NO KINGS Day of Protest will be held Saturday, June 14th, Noon-3 PM at the at the entrance to Point Defiance Park, near the old Goldfish Tavern. On this day, Trump planned a military parade. Then the 50501 Movement organized 50 protests in 50 states. The 50501 Movement is a decentralized protest movement built […]
Complete the Streets By Kirk Kirkland Streetscapes can make all the difference in a community. Just look at what University Place has done, creating a tree-lined boulevard and walkable community on Bridgeport Way. A three year effort by Futurewise activists finally passed legislation in Olympia, implementing “Transit Oriented Developmen.” in cities and unincorporated areas. At […]
By Kirk Kirkland In the beginning there were four environmental groups working together to stop Taylor Shellfish from getting a permit for the largest Industrial aquaculture proposal in Pierce County. At their first hearing before the County’s Hearing Examiner, these groups presented a long list of issues to stop the permit for a 30 acre […]
by Marianne Lincoln Today at the Sustainability Expo in Tacoma, I worked at the table for the Clover Creek Restoration Alliance. We were next to the booth for the Nisqually Land Trust. Everyone walking by knew of the Nisqually River, yet they looked puzzled at our banner for Clover Creek. So, I asked everyone who […]
Looking for a peaceful, educational Sunday stroll? by Tom Galdabini Spring was vibrant at Morse Wildlife Preserve as we kicked off another Forterra Nature Discovery™ event — “Spring Birding.” There were signs of beaver, deer and, in the middle of our exploring and not very far away, a chorus of coyotes howling to each […]
As far as new environmental legislation goes, the Washington State Legislature’s session this year ended with excitement as troubled ideas like killing ghost shrimp breezed through committees in the last weeks and made it to the Governor’s desk. Futurewise activists did a remarkable job of getting Transit Oriented Development passed. And, while the Rent Stabilization […]
SHB 1309 An association of environmental coalitions in Puget Sound, Hood Canal and Port Angeles worked together to stop SHB 1309. The bill directs over $200,000 of scarce general fund dollars and a budget proviso of $2,000,000 to fund this effort. The bill argues that private business is due these funds since the Department of […]
Review of Thurston County Court permit for the Tiny Home Village? On March 28, the Thurston County Superior Court convened on Zoom with over 60 people attending. Others in the courtroom were not visible on camera. Prior to the meeting, the judge had read the legal briefs about the appeal of the Conditional Use Permit […]
By Kirk Kirkland and Al Schmauder Will Pierce County be able to meet future demand for clean drinking water required by increasing population and development in the Chambers-Clover watershed? Water managers conclude there will be adequate water to supply homes and other uses until about 2040. Lakewood Water District (LWD) committed to sell up to […]
by Claudia Finseth It’s March 25, 2025. Those of us fighting against the destruction of the Spanaway Marsh have been at it for over two years now and spent over $140,000 dollars. Let’s take stock. In December of 2024, the Tacoma Rescue Mission brought in massive equipment, and on the high point in the midst […]
by Claudia Finseth HAPPINESS, FOR ONE THING Last week the annual list of the happiest countries in the world came out. For the eighth time in a row that designation went to Finland. The United States of America came in way down the line. We are not, generally, a happy people. One of the main […]
Good news from Congress this week where Republican leaders are standing up to president Trump. Here is hope that essential programs from the Biden presidency to reduce the impacts of global warming will survive. It is good to hear that there are republicans leaders who are willing to speak truth to power on such a […]
The last few weeks of legislative session have been action-packed, full of votes, committee hearings, and floor action. It was a big time effort to make sure rent stabilization and transit-oriented development stayed alive. Things will pick back up the first week in April as we near the next cutoff deadline April 2nd. This is […]
by Kirk Kirkland, John Garner and Claudia Finseth Ghost shrimp are native to the Pacific Coast of North America. They lay their eggs in estuaries, and the newly hatched offspring then leave the estuaries to live and grow in the ocean. When the sfuly shrimp return to the estuaries to lay their eggs in […]
by Brett Johnson As the 2024 General Election recedes in the rearview mirror, a new year is now well underway. It’s a time to reflect on events of the past year, but also look toward the future. In other posts, the Coalition has detailed some of our legislative priorities in Olympia that we hope will […]
