Greenway to hold tree planting days

This fall, the Mountains to Sound Greenway will plant native trees in the Snoqualmie and North Bend areas.

Plantings are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with half-day options available, on Saturday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Three Forks Natural Area, and Saturday, Nov. 15 at Snoqualmie Point Park.

Organizers said the project is aimed at individuals, families, groups and work teams, with no experience required to take part. Planted trees improve air and water quality, reduce greenhouse gases, provide animal habitat, reduce erosion, filter pollutants and shade creeks and streams, cooling water for threatened salmon.

Find out more or sign-up at www.mtsgreenway.org, or call (206) 812-0122.

Trail bridge work could get funding

Mount Si trail bridges could get $170,000 in upgrades, if a plan submitted to the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) goes through.

The WWRP is a state grant program that funds parks, wildlife habitat and farmland preservation projects throughout the state. If state funding to the program is maintained at $100 million, one of the projects under consideration is replacement of two dilapidated bridges on the Mount Si Trail and Francis North accessible/interpretive trail. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office ranked the project first among trails jobs in its list of 115 outdoor recreation and conservation project applications submitted to WWRP. A coalition will push for funding from the legislature this session.

Flood fixes slated for King County

Five repairs to flood protection facilities damaged in the Nov. 2006 flood disaster were recently completed, according to the latest King County Flood Control Zone District report. Near Snoqualmie, one project included the removal of a blockage on Kimball Creek that caused water levels to rise behind blockage and flood adjacent properties. The resulting natural reservoir improves stream flow, reduces water levels, and improves stormwater storage capacity for this fall’s rainy season. The repairs are part of nearly 30 capital improvement projects that will be completed this year to protect lives and property in King County from flood damage, with funding from the district. The report also highlights collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on other levee repair projects in the Green and Snoqualmie river basins.