Lifestyle
With Earth Day and Arbor Day both this week, we want to highlight some volunteer opportunities from this weekend through the summer. Citizens can make a difference by helping remove invasive plants and doing other work to care for watersheds and parks. Many of these are appropriate for families or groups seeking a way to serve together.
One of the major efforts is in the Miller and Walker Creek watershed. Here are some upcoming opportunities, including links to sign up ahead of time:
April 25 at Miller Creek Trail in Burien (GBP Site 106)
May 9 at Miller Creek Trail in Burien
May 30 in Normandy Park
June 13 at Miller Creek Trail in Burien
Also, there are opportunities in the fall to plant trees and shrubs. And fall is the season for counting salmon through the CSI, Community Salmon Investigation, program. Citizen scientists are trained to document pre-spawn salmon mortality in Miller and Walker creeks and to help scientists identify water quality issues leading to premature mortality.
To write a fully informed story, I participated in a cleanup in the Miller Creek area on Saturday, April 18. There were a total of 15 volunteers, though some people arrived late or had to leave early. We pulled Ivy from the ground and also removed 12 t0 18 inches of Ivy that is growing up trees. We leave the rest of the Ivy on the trees. Removing it from the trees could harm the tree bark because of how the Ivy roots burrow into the bark.
Left: This mound is roughly 18 cubic yards and was built in three hours. / Right: Circle of Life: Ferns growing out of Ivy left on a tree after a previous Ivy pull - Photos by Stuart Jenner April 18, 2026
Removing invasive plants such Ivy, and also Himalayan Blackberries, have many benefits for the entire ecosystem. Ivy blocks the growth of food for birds, the Ivy leaves do not naturally fall off each year to rejuvenate the soil, and then birds and native wildlife can’t get the food they need.
Each cleanup has an on-site coordinator. I asked Eric Riguaux, who ran the event on April 18, for some background information.
Q: Who provides funding for the cleanup days, such as hauling away the Ivy?
A: Funding is provided by an inter-local agreement (ILA) composed of the local jurisdictions where Miller and Walker Creeks flow. This includes Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac, King County, and the Port of Seattle. Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group partners with King County to help run the restoration volunteer events and the Community Salmon Investigation that happens in the fall. The program began in 2007, but our group has been involved only during the past year.
Q: Besides the official times, are there other opportunities groups could arrange?
A: Yes, if people have a specific group that they want to bring to an event, they could reach out to me (erik@midsoundfisheries.org), and we could discuss potential options. We do support hosting private events when the schedule allows for it, and could support those events on weekdays or Saturdays.
To learn more, check the King County web page about Miller and Walker Creeks.
Q: What do people need to know in order to participate?
A: Plan on wearing long pants, comfortable and sturdy close-toed shoes, and clothes that can get a little dirty. Participants are also welcome to bring their own gloves and pruners, but those tools are provided if needed. We ask that parents accompany any children who are participating.
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