Good Steward Group there as Duwamish Alive! Recieves National Award

The turn out at this last Good Steward Group event wasn't as amazing as I had hoped, especially since it was in celebration of Earth Day. However, those of us that showed up to Codiga Park in north Tukwila were treated to a surprise. We were on hand as the Duwamish Alive! Coalition, which includes the People for Puget Sound and 27 other groups, received a national award from NOAA. The celebration included appearances and speeches from several local and federal dignitaries culminating with a reading from a letter written by the President.

I forgot to bring my camera to the event, so I don't have a slide show this time. However, this article explains Duwamish Alive! event and federal award a bit more fully.

That was a pleasant surprise that kept us and about 200 others from what we had shown up to do...pull weeds and plant trees. The Codiga Park was 1 of 8 work parties that was occurring simultaneously. The park was historically a dairy farm that was purchased by the City in the late 1990's. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers then completed a project on site in the early 2000's to create a nice back-channel along the river. We had the privilege of helping to restore the bank along the Duwamish River, which has been overtaken by Himalayan blackberry. Two gorgeous osprey circled overhead as well while we were replanting the buffer with native shrubs and trees.

A special thank you is necessary for everyone that came out and helped the Duwamish Alive! coalition with their event. They were most thankful.

Duwamish Alive! Earth Day Event at Codiga Park

The Good Steward Group is planning an upcoming event for Earth Day, April 19, 2008. We have teamed up with People for Puget Sound to assist with their Duwamish Alive! event. This is a huge event with 8 work sites. But we will be working at the Codiga Park in North Tukwila (12535 50th Place South, Tukwila). The work party will take place from 10AM - 2PM.


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We will be cleaning up the site, including removing garbage/debris, pulling weeds, and planting trees along a recently restored back-channel habitat that is vital for migrating adult and juvenile salmon. This is a sorely needed habitat along a river that has undergone a myriad of alterations and severe degradation. A summary of these alterations to the Duwamish has recently been highlighted in the Seattle PI.

Dress appropriately for working outside, including bringing sturdy shoes, potentially rain gear, and long sleeve shirts and pants. If you have work gloves, please bring them. However, People for Puget Sound will provide gloves, beverages, and snacks for all volunteers.

Following the event, People for Puget Sound will host an Earth Day Festival from 2PM - 5PM at the Cooper School in West Seattle with FREE food, performances, environmental education, and giveaways! You're welcome to go, but they'd really love to have you help out during the day.

Please let me know if you plan on coming to the event so we can give People for Puget Sound a rough estimate of numbers. And as always, if you have any groups you like to work with or want to help with the Good Steward Group, please let me know.