FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Full Month of Puget Sound Activities Slated For Earth Month in April

3/21/08 Earth Month highlights Duwamish Alive, Swinomish Earth Celebration, "Simple Things To Do to Save the Sound" pledge campaign

Earth Day weekend a month from now will be celebrated on April 19 with the largest Earth Day gatherings in Seattle and in Skagit County when hundreds of youngsters and adults are expected take part in the Duwamish Alive! Earth Day restoration in Seattle and in the Swinomish Earth Enhancement Celebration.

A month of Earth Month activities begins in early April with restoration work parties in Olympia, a talk on the health of orca whales in Seattle, talks on water and climate in the San Juans, beachwalks and hikes in Seattle, and a Bellingham Bay boat tour.

Over a thousand Duwamish Alive! volunteers are expected at eight work sites along Seattle’s hometown river to weed, plant, mulch and clean up riverside sites to improve the health of fish and wildlife habitats. The day also features an afternoon celebration of music, food and prizes for all ages.

Highlighting this year’s Duwamish Alive! program is distribution of a high resolution map of the Duwamish Valley showing public access and restoration areas with information to help the public get involved. The project was the collaborative effort of over 20 organizations and nearly 40 individuals over an 18-month period.

“We hope that the map will increase the participation and involvement of the public,” said Cari Simson of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. “Once people KNOW there's a Duwamish River and find out what they can see there, they are more likely to get involved and be sympathetic to the many issues facing the river.”

In Skagit County, the 6th Annual Earth Enhancement Celebration, a collaborative effort of the Swinomish Tribe, Skagit County and People For Puget Sound, features working on beach cleanup, weeding and restoration, then enjoying a traditional salmon lunch prepared by the tribe and an afternoon of viewing educational displays, meeting traditional artists, participating in cultural activities and enjoying music from special guests.

“This year we’re thrilled to have free bus service provided by Skagit Transit to and from the event and points around Skagit County,” said Britta Eschete of People For Puget Sound. “We encourage everyone to check the Skagit Transit schedule, learn about public transportation in the county, and ride the bus on Earth Day.”

As part of this year’s Earth Month, youth and adults throughout the Sound can show how they care about saving our Sound by becoming Sound Citizens who are doing any of the “10 Simple Things to Save Our Sound” and sharing what they are doing with others. The “Simple Things” campaign is made possible in part by a grant from the Washington Department of Ecology.

A complete menu of Earth Month events and simple steps on how to become a Sound Citizen are found at Earth Month 2008. 

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