Press Release:
Environmental, tribal, community, and government forces will join together at the semi-annual Duwamish Alive! Earth Day river restoration event on Saturday, April 16th. Starting at 10:00am volunteers will roll up their sleeves at multiple sites along Seattle’s industrialized watershed to perform cleanup and restoration work in the ongoing effort to keep Seattle’s only river alive.

TO SEE AN IMAGE OF THE NEW INTERPRETIVE SIGN TO BE INSTALLED AT T-107 CLICK HERE OR ON THE LINK ABOVE.

This sign will be installed at T-107 on Saturday, and at T-105 shortly thereafter. The sign is a project funded by the Rotary Club of West Seattle, with cultural and historic information created and reviewed by People for Puget Sound, the Port of Seattle, Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/TAG, Suquamish Tribe, Duwamish Tribe, and the Burke Museum. Sign artwork by Noel Design.

A special ribbon-cutting and site dedication will happen from 1-2pm at the end of the work party at T-107 Public Access site at 4700 West Marginal Way in Delridge/West Seattle. Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/TAG, The Rotary Club of West Seattle, People For Puget Sound, and the Port of Seattle have partnered since fall 2010 to improve a hand-carry boat launch for kayaks and canoes, and design an interpretive sign and memorial bench for the site.

The ribbon-cutting and site dedication will be led by The Duwamish Tribe's Chairwoman, the Honorable Cecile Hanson, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin, and Port of Seattle Commissioner Gael Tarleton.

A Northwest Coast Salish cedar canoe called the Blue Heron, and local kayakers from Alki Kayak Tours will officially open the new hand-carry canoe and kayak launch.

The Rotary Club of West Seattle will also dedicate a memorial bench in honor of the late Ken Wise, a longtime West Seattleite and member of the Rotary Club of West Seattle.

"We are so proud of our ongoing collaborative efforts to improve Duwamish River shoreline sites for recreation and education, as well as much-needed habitat restoration for wildlife," said Cari Simson, Program Manager for Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/Technical Advisory Group.

The Duwamish Alive workday at all 13 sites begins at 10 AM and concludes at 2 PM. Refreshments, tools, and instructions will be provided. All ages and abilities welcomed. Children under 10 must have 1-to-1 supervision. On Duwamish Alive day, volunteers will spread mulch around native plants installed earlier this winter and finish the beach area of the hand-carry canoe and kayak launch site.

The Duwamish Tribe will welcome volunteers from T-107 to the Duwamish Longhouse after the work party from 2-4pm for Fry Bread and an open house at the Longhouse and Cultural Center, 4705 W Marginal Way Southwest, more information: (206) 431-1582.

DRCC/TAG is a non-profit organization providing citizen involvement in the Lower Duwamish Superfund Cleanup process. "Volunteering at Duwamish Alive is a great first step for citizens to get involved in restoring the Duwamish River; people love to see the positive results of their hard work at the end of the day," said Simson.

After the work parties, Nature Consortium will host an Earth Day Festival that includes free food, hands- on arts projects, live music, and informational booths from local organizations. The Festival takes place from 2pm-4pm at Pathfinder K-8 School, on SW Genesee Street in the Delridge neighborhood of West Seattle.