Welcome to spring! Yes, despite the fact the crisp morning air was

27 degrees and car windshields were frosty, Monday was the vernal

equinox and spring is officially here. The daffodils along the river nod in

the sunshine, the cherry blossoms are about to burst into bloom, the

frogs croak to the darkness and the robins stake out their territory with

morning and evening song. Time to spruce up and spring clean!

PPP

Fall City was on TV last week. The subarea plan hearing was televised

on the public access channel, giving area residents, along with

nonresidents who own land (a.k.a. “have

invested”) in and about Fall City, a chance

to speak to the King County Council about the plan. The plan emerged

from an extensive series of open meetings in 1998-9 where a Citizens

Advisory Committee (CAC) crafted recommendations. The county executive

further refined the CAC’s ideas into the plan now before the council. Copies are

at the library, and it’s online as well. Public comment is still being solicited.

Write councilmembers (516 3rd Ave., #1200, Seattle, WA 98104)

fax (206) 296-0198) or e-mail. Call (206) 296-1000 for contact information

or to leave a message.

The plan will probably be tweaked here and there in response to

certain interests. Hopefully good sense and vision will prevail. Get your two

cents’ worth in and stay tuned.

PPP

A hardy, determined and visionary group of citizens have appealed

the green light for Treemont, the ill-conceived development of 194 homes

that Port Blakely wants to put on the toe of Tolt Hill. Treemont is a bad

idea from the get go. It will cause increased flooding and worsen our already

deplorable traffic woes. Its impacts on Patterson Creek and the

Snoqualmie watershed make a mockery of intentions to work toward salmon

recovery, actions speaking far louder than words.

The Treemont subdivision might have been on track for approval if

citizens hadn’t filed an appeal. Join them at Jubilee Farm on Sunday

afternoon, March 26, at 4 p.m., and find how you can help keep suburbia off the

hillside. This property, which lies across State Route 202 from Aldarra Farms, has

silt and clay soils, high landslide hazard risk (despite all those crates of

rock and barriers along the highway), high water table and steep _ 40 percent

to 60 percent – slopes! The access road is slated to be built adjacent

to Patterson Creek, where salmon still spawn.

The surface water won’t sink into the ground. It would be piped

directly into the Snoqualmie or Patterson creek _ a dubious strategy for salmon

and clean water and flood control.

The Valley, and Fall City in particular, must resist projects that

will increase flooding, create excessive development of farm and forestland

and adversely impact salmon. You can be part of the resistance to Treemont.

Donations of time and money are needed for an effort that will benefit the

Valley now and in the future by changing the course of Port Blakely’s plans.

It can be done! Other communities are setting precedents. Come to

Sunday’s meeting! Or call (425) 222-4558 for information. To be added to the

mailing list, e-mail emcarlson@aol.com. Working together, citizens can

make a real difference.

PPP

Lake Alice needs volunteer monitors. Call Wendy Cooke at (206)

296-1949 if you’d like to help track the health of the lake. You might even

get your own Secchi disk. To be continued …

PPP

And, thanks to all of you who have missed me! Your interest and

support is appreciated.

News Notes items may be

submitted to Janna Treisman

at Box 1329, Fall City, WA 98024; or phone (425) 222-5594 or

e-mail treismaj@hotmail.com.