Joint statement of Governor Bob Ferguson and Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller on West Coast Oil Pipeline

The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill covered thousands of miles of ocean and beach
and killed at least 250,000 seabirds. Photo courtesy NOAA

OLYMPIA — Governor Bob Ferguson and Washington Department of Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller offer the following joint statement regarding the Oct. 1, 2026 decision by the Canadian Major Projects Office to list the West Coast Oil Pipeline as a “Project of National Interest”:

"We are disappointed in the decision today by the Government of Canada to list the proposed oil pipeline as a project of national interest. The classification puts the project on a fast track, limiting environmental reviews and the ability to provide input.

"The proposed project would bring a massive expansion in both the volume of crude oil and the number of tankers transiting the Salish Sea. If a project of this scale is going to proceed, it needs to come with a corresponding commitment to also increase our region’s capacity to prevent and respond to a catastrophic spill.

"Washington State has worked for decades to ensure that we are ready to respond to a major oil spill on either side of the border. These existing resources would be insufficient in the face of this scale of expansion.

"This project would bring supertankers to the Salish Sea that have been barred from Washington ports since the 1970s. It would double the volume of Canadian crude oil transiting through Haro Strait and Boundary Pass. 

"Tankers of this size would be unprecedented in these waters. Each of these ships has a capacity of up to 92 million gallons of oil. That’s 260% more oil than the largest tankers currently in these waters. And the capacity of each of those vessels is eight times the volume of oil spilled during the Exxon Valdez spill.

"Such a spill would pose an existential threat to the Southern Resident Killer Whales, to the unique ecosystems of the Salish Sea, and to the Tribal and First Nations communities that depend on these marine resources.

"If this project proceeds, it is critical that the Canadian government make detailed commitments to safeguard our shared marine waters and fill these gaps in our response capabilities."

Read more...

Washington joins California-Québec carbon market

OLYMPIA — Washington Governor Bob Ferguson and California Governor Gavin Newsom announced they have taken the next steps toward Washington joining the California–Québec carbon market in 2027. 

Together, these three jurisdictions would rank as the third-largest economy in the world.

Washington crossed a major milestone. The state concluded its linkage process by finalizing regulatory changes that make Washington’s market compatible with the California–Québec carbon market, such as aligning rules for how auctions are conducted. With that, Washington completed the steps it needs to take in order to link markets, the culmination of three years of rigorous analysis and public engagement.

Governor Newsom shared that he has authorized California to move forward with linkage, making the formal findings legally required for California to move ahead with the final step to link the two markets. California law requires that the Governor make specific findings about a partner state’s carbon market before the California Air Resources Board (CARB) may proceed with linking markets.

California’s action allows CARB to begin the public regulatory process in that state — the final step before the markets are formally linked. Québec is also working toward regulatory updates this year. Earlier this year, the three jurisdictions signed a linkage agreement that laid the groundwork for joint operations. The jurisdictions are expected to link markets in 2027.

“States and subnational governments are stepping up and leading at a time when the federal government is trying to dismantle U.S. climate policy,” said Governor Ferguson.

“Linkage isn’t just good climate policy — it’s smart economics. Linking will unlock greater emissions reductions, lower the cost of clean technologies, and create good‑paying jobs in high‑growth industries. We’re excited to be moving forward.”

Governor Newsom said,

“California has long shown climate action means a stronger economy, cleaner air, and billions of dollars of investment back into communities across our state.” 

“Meanwhile, Donald Trump and his big-polluter cronies are hell-bent on doing the opposite: more pollution, more uncertainty, and higher costs for working families. California is choosing a different path. We’re choosing certainty, partnership, and clean energy. By joining forces with our partner in Washington state, we will build a stronger, more durable carbon market that will drive investment, cut pollution, and power the clean economy of the future.”

California was the first U.S. state to launch a carbon market in 2013. In 2014, it joined with the Canadian province of Québec. In 2023, Washington became the second U.S. state to launch a carbon market. 

Washington’s market was designed to link so businesses could access the benefits of a larger market. This unprecedented climate partnership means businesses in all three jurisdictions can make more predictable, long-term investments in reducing greenhouse gases. With greater investment, the cost of emission-reducing technologies will go down, leading to even higher rates of adoption and local economic benefits like job growth.

Putting an economy‑wide price on greenhouse gas emissions is widely seen as the best policy tool for addressing climate change, and carbon markets are the most affordable way to do it. 

In this market-based system, the state sets an overall limit on emissions that declines each year, but it does not set the price of emissions. Instead, the price is set through auctions where companies compete to purchase allowances for every metric ton of greenhouse gases they emit. The price can easily adapt to changes in market conditions, and companies that can reduce emissions at the lowest cost move first.

In a linked market, each jurisdiction will contribute their supply of allowances to joint auctions, creating a single carbon price across all three. Larger markets provide more stable prices, and price stability is a key part of accelerating decarbonization because it gives businesses the certainty they need to plan for long‑term, capital‑intensive projects. Over time, as more companies invest in emissions‑reducing technologies, those technologies become cheaper, making it easier for others to take action.

The Washington-California-Québec carbon market is expected to lead to greater total emissions reductions across the three jurisdictions. Washington’s addition to the market also creates momentum for other states and other subnational governments to implement linkage‑ready carbon markets by paving a clear pathway for others to follow.

Read more...

Washington CoastSavers International Coastal Cleanup September 19, 2026

Beach Clean Up - Washington Coast Savers April 2026

Washington’s beaches have already seen more than 162,000 pounds of marine and firework debris removed this year, but there’s still plenty of work to be done.

On Sept. 19, 2026 volunteers across the state can join Washington State Parks and Washington CoastSavers for the annual International Coastal Cleanup.

The International Coastal Cleanup, held each year on the third Saturday of September, brings together volunteers around the world to remove trash and marine debris from shorelines and help protect coastal ecosystems.

In collaboration with Washington CoastSavers, State Parks hosts three beach cleanup events each year, and volunteers are vital to keeping Washington’s beaches clean. 

This year, 631 volunteers removed 9,956 pounds of debris during the Washington Coast Cleanup, and nearly 1,000 volunteers picked up 153,000 pounds of fireworks debris and trash during the July 5 Beach Cleanup. Together, those efforts have removed 162,956 pounds of debris in 2026 so far – that is just 487 pounds short of the 163,443 pounds collected during all three cleanups of 2025.

Since 2022, the amount of debris removed during these annual events has increased by 174 percent, highlighting both the growing impact of these cleanups and the continued need for volunteers.

While cleanup events will take place at multiple sites along the Pacific Coast and Salish Sea, State Parks will host cleanups at seven of its parks: Cape Disappointment, Fort Flagler, Fort Worden, Grayland Beach, Ocean City, Pacific Beach and Twin Harbors.

On arrival, volunteers should check in at one of these locations:

1. Cape Disappointment check-in:Bolstad OBA, Bolstad W, Long Beach, WA 98631
2. Sid Synder Dr, Long Beach, WA 98631
3. Fort Flagler check-in:The Resort at Port Ludlow, 1 Heron Rd, Port Ludlow, WA 98365
4. Fort Worden check-in:Port Townsend Marine Science Center, 502 Harbor Defense Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368
5. Grayland Beach/Twin Harbors check-in:Bonge Ave OBA, W Bonge Ave, Grayland, WA 98595
6. Ocean City/Pacific Beach check-in:Chance a la Mer OBA, W Chance a la Mer NW, Ocean Shores, WA 98569
7. Ocean City OBA, 37 Second Ave, Ocean City, WA 98569

Volunteers should dress for variable weather conditions, wear sturdy footwear and pack a lunch with plenty of water. Supplies for debris collection will be provided at check-in, though reusable gloves are encouraged. Check-in stations also serve as dumpster locations for collected debris.

Read more...

LFP resident honored with ADA 10 Under 10 Award

Ivy F. Lin, D.M.D. honored by American Dental Association
Photo courtesy ADA

Ivy F. Lin, D.M.D.; Lake Forest Park, Washington has been honored with a 10 Under 10 award from the American Dental Association.

Dr. Lin is the assistant director of the general practice residency program at the University of Washington School of Dentistry and and the faculty leader of the UW School of Dentistry’s Climate Action Sustainability Team (CAST)

The ADA New Dentist Committee chose the ten honorees for demonstrating excellence and inspiring others in science, research and education; practice excellence; philanthropy; leadership; and advocacy.

All 10 awardees are ADA members who graduated from dental school less than 10 years ago. They will receive a commemorative plaque and be recognized October 9, 2026 at the ADA 2026 Scientific Session’s Changemakers Celebration in Indianapolis as well as on ADA channels.

In 2025 she was honored with a 2025 Husky Sustainability Award.

In what is now the 16th year the award has been given out by the UW Environmental Stewardship Committee, the Husky Sustainability Award recognizes individuals and groups across all UW campuses who lead the way for sustainability at the University.

On top of founding the UWSOD’s CAST, Dr. Lin has successfully implemented multiple initiatives to increase awareness regarding the environmental impact of dental care and how climate events impact the health of patients and communities.

Read more...

Washington challenges gutting of federal Endangered Species Act protections

Attorney General Nick Brown is co-leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general in two lawsuits to maintain protections for endangered and threatened species under threat by the federal administration.

One will be filed against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and another against FWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 

The suits challenge new rules under the Endangered Species Act that make it easier for the federal government, private companies or individuals to modify or degrade the habitats of listed threatened and endangered species and leave threatened species without core protections, undermining Congress’ mandate when it passed the law.

“The federal government’s attempt to gut the Endangered Species Act threatens the habitats of orcas, sockeye salmon, and other endangered species that are part of our economy, culture, and way of life,” said Brown.

“These illegal actions ignore the will of Washingtonians and people across the United States, who overwhelmingly support protecting endangered species.”

The ESA protects more than 1,600 plant and animal species and millions of acres of critical habitat nationwide. Since the law’s passage, 99% of protected species have been saved from extinction, including the California condor, the grizzly bear, the peregrine falcon, the grey whale and the bald eagle.

These federal protections are essential to Washington’s conservation of the Southern Resident orca population. 

The Southern Resident population has declined since 1995, falling from 98 whales to 74 whales today. They were first listed as “endangered” under the ESA in 2005. The ESA’s habitat protections also play a critical role in conservation of Washington’s endangered and threatened salmon populations. These populations continue to face threats from habitat destruction, which would only increase if these rules go into place.

The coalition’s first lawsuit challenges the rescission of the longstanding regulatory definition of “harm.” Previously, the rule defined harm to include “significant habitat modification or degradation” that actually kills or injures wildlife by damaging species’ natural habitats and significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding, or sheltering. 

Rescinding this definition eliminates the ESA’s primary mechanism for protecting the habitats of listed species and makes it easier for them to be damaged or destroyed, even when that destruction ultimately threatens the survival of protected species.

The second lawsuit challenges two rule changes by FWS that reduce protections for threatened species and create a new process for designating areas as “critical habitat.” 

The first rule rescinds FWS’s regulations that automatically protect all newly listed threatened species, substantially increasing the risk newly threatened species will become endangered. 

The second rule weakens the ESA’s remaining mechanism for protecting species’ habitats by establishing a new process for designating areas as “critical habitat.” That new process makes it much easier for FWS to decline to include areas—in particular federal lands—as “critical habitat” even when those areas are relied on by endangered species. Research shows habitat loss is the primary cause of species decline and the loss of these protections will harm Washington’s imperiled species.

The coalition argues these rules are also contrary to the Administrative Procedure Act and National Environmental Policy Act.

Brown is co-leading these lawsuits with the attorneys general of California, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The suits are also joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Read more...

Councilmembers' Conversations on Climate Issues

The cities of Lake Forest Park and Shoreline share more than a common border – we have a lot of common interests. Councilmembers on both city councils work together to further these interests.

Recently, I had a chance to talk with Laura Mork, a longtime Shoreline councilmember, on the subject of mutual interests between the cities.

“Lake Forest Park’s Climate Hub, and the quarterly conversations regarding local climate issues held there, serves to inform and educate people in and throughout our region,” she said.

“Shoreline residents greatly appreciate these events with engaging and knowledgeable speakers, and LFP’s leadership in making these informative events happen.”

In addition, we talked about many opportunities for collaboration:

• pedestrian and multimodal safety, especially a safer Burke-Gilman /Interurban Trail connector,
• maintaining and improving streamwater quality and ecosystem health through the Lake Ballinger Forum, and
• building climate resilience through shared events in the Go Electric! Education series.

Tracy Furutani
City Councilmember & Deputy Mayor

Reprinted from LFP Times Fall 2026

Read more...

Climate Action Book Club August 5, 2026 Fen, Bog, and Swamp by Annie Proulx

Join the Climate Action Book Club:

You are invited to join even if you haven't read the book.

Next meet up will be Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Location TBD. The group will meet at 5:30pm and chat about the current book Fen, Bog and Swamp by Annie Proulx (nonfiction).

The Club has picked books for September through February...see the list is below for meeting dates and titles. Hopefully something for everyone!

• September 2: The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
• October 7: What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
• November 4: Kolbert: Life on a Little Known Planet
• December 2: Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
• January 6: Night Owl: Poetry that navigates questions and concerns for the environment that envelopes us.
• February 3: Carbon: The Book of Life by Paul Hawken

Third Place Books has a display table featuring the book club titles, upcoming and past, and offers a discount if you are a member of the club.

For more info, email LFPBookClub@gmail.com

Read more...

WA tribes, environmental groups sue over Endangered Species Act rule change

Chinook salmon swimming upstream to spawn
Photo from King County

By Aspen Ford

Washington State Standard

Washington tribes and environmental organizations sued the federal government Tuesday, arguing that recent changes to Endangered Species Act rules defy scientific research and pave the way for the destruction of important wildlife habitat.

The two separate lawsuits, filed in U.S. District Court for Western Washington, challenge the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the legal definition of the word “harm” as used under the Endangered Species Act.

In a July 10 announcement, the Department of the Interior said the new rule would reduce permitting requirements and compliance costs for farmers, landowners and energy producers.

“For years, federal agencies abused the ESA to obstruct lawful land use and burden American families and businesses,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “This action restores common sense, respects private property, provides much-needed certainty for landowners and follows the statute Congress actually passed.”

But the environmental groups and tribes contend that the change will pose greater risks for species like salmon, steelhead, grizzly bears and northern spotted owls.

The rule is underpinned by a 2024 Supreme Court ruling, according to the Department of the Interior announcement.

When a species is listed as endangered, federal agencies such as the National Marine Fisheries Service designate certain areas of federal or private land as critical habitat.

Before the rule change, developers seeking permits were required to explain how they would limit habitat harm in these areas, but that is no longer the case, said Kristen Boyles, Earthjustice attorney representing the nine environmental groups suing the federal government.

“This is a big deal,” Boyles said, noting that she expects other lawsuits to be filed in the near future. She described the rule rewrite as “an assault on all of these resources that should belong to all of us,” which will enrich companies.

The conservation groups that sued include the Center for Biological Diversity, Columbia Riverkeeper, Conservation Law Foundation, Conservation Northwest, Friends of the Wild Swan, Oregon Wild, Sierra Club, Swan View Coalition and WildEarth Guardians.

Their suit names lead officials at the Interior and Commerce departments as defendants.

Swinomish and Squaxin Island Tribes fear the rule will undermine recovery efforts for the federally listed Chinook salmon in the Puget Sound and Skagit River, which are reserved for the tribes to fish in under longstanding treaties with the federal government.

“We cannot save the ESA-listed Chinook salmon that are a pillar of our Treaty rights and our cultural lifeways when the habitat they need to spawn, rear and grow is under attack,” Steve Edwards, chairman of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, said in a statement. “This new rule is anti-science.”

The lawsuit from the tribes also alleges that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service violated the law by arbitrarily and capriciously rejecting Swinomish’s consultation request.

Read more...

AG Brown defeats Trump’s attack on wind energy

These turbines are part of the Combine Hills wind power project located west of Walla Walla, Washington. Photo: John Harrison.

Attorney General Nick Brown and a multistate coalition won a final victory Monday in their lawsuit challenging the federal government’s unlawful order to freeze all federal permitting for wind energy projects when the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit dismissed the Trump administration’s appeal.

“Wind energy is an essential option for delivering clean energy jobs and cheaper, cleaner power to Washingtonians as we transition from dirtier, more expensive fuels,” said Brown.

“Once again, we’ve defeated one of the Trump administration’s harmful and illegal attacks on Washington’s economy.”

On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued a presidential memo that indefinitely halted all federal approvals necessary for the development of offshore and onshore wind energy projects pending federal review. 

The coalition filed a lawsuit challenging those actions and in December 2025, a federal judge ruled that they were arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law. The federal government appealed that ruling but subsequently decided to drop that appeal. On Monday, the court entered a judgement dismissing the appeal and cementing the states’ victory.

Wind energy is a homegrown source of reliable, affordable energy that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, creates billions of dollars in economic activity and tax payments, and supplies more than 10% of the country’s electricity.

The indefinite halt on project approvals threatened Washington’s ability to meet its greenhouse gas emissions requirements and renewable energy commitments. It also threatened an increasingly important part of Washington’s economy.

Washington has enacted multiple state laws encouraging the deployment of affordable, clean renewable energy like that from wind.

Wind power is the second largest contributor to Washington’s renewable energy generation after hydroelectric power. In 2024, Washington generated 8,421 thousand Megawatt hours from wind power alone, enhancing Washington’s energy security and economic stability.

The coalition argued that federal agencies’ actions violated the Administrative Procedure Act and other federal laws because the agencies, among other things, provided no reasoned explanation for categorically and indefinitely halting all wind energy approvals. 

The lawsuit also argued that the abrupt halt on all permitting violated numerous federal statutes that prescribe specific procedures and timelines for federal permitting and approvals—procedures the administration wholly disregarded in stopping wind energy development altogether.

Brown was joined in this lawsuit, which was led by the attorneys general of Massachusetts and New York, by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Rhode Island.

Read more...

Environmental Rotary Club dissolves, planting new roots in Shoreline, Bothell, and LFP Clubs

By Judy Maccully

The Environmental Rotary Club of Puget Sound is officially dissolving as a cause-based e-club, with its passionate members transitioning their environmental activism directly into community-based clubs in Shoreline, Bothell/Kenmore, and Lake Forest Park. 

Rather than marking an end, this transition embeds interest in ecological stewardship directly into Rotary’s traditional community service groups across the North End.

A Legacy of Local Green Impact

The decision in 2001 to charter a unique "cause-based" Rotary Club in the Puget Sound area came after Rotary International in June 2020, approved adding a new area of focus dedicated to the environment. 

It became Rotary's seventh area of focus, joining peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development. 

Quickly, stories of how environmental sustainability promotes the other humanitarian goals quickly emerged as Rotarians around the world began developing local projects and pursuing global grant funding for environment-related projects. 

The Environmental Rotary Club of Puget Sound, Chartered in July of 2021, bridged the gap between global environmental initiatives and local, hands-on restoration and environmental focused projects.

The Environmental Rotary Club’s digital network allowed volunteers to coordinate ecological preservation efforts, leaving a permanent footprint on public spaces: The Miyawaki Urban Forest Project: 

In collaboration with the Shoreline Historical Museum, club members worked alongside a coalition of neighborhood champions on the installation of an urban pocket forest using the Miyawaki method. This project transformed barren soil into a biodiverse ecosystem. 

In addition to securing a Rotary District grant for the entryway art to the Forest, the Club funded and contributed the labor to create a pollinator garden adjacent to the Forest.

North City Park Restoration: Adopting the Shoreline park in 2022, the club hosted consistent urban forest restoration events to support native plant life.

Regional Alliances: From constructing a shade pergola at Horseneck Farm for the South King County Food Coalition to mobilizing teams for the global Plastic Free July EcoChallenge, participating in Duwamish River cleanups, coordinating local lithium battery collection drives in partnership with Redwood Materials, and helping to establish the Lake Forest Park Climate Hub (often referred to as the environmental hub) which is a permanent community resource located along a 25-foot wall inside Third Place Commons, their footprint extended deep into the community.

Honoring Five Years of Visionary Leadership

The community impact achieved by the club over its five-year history is a direct result of the dedicated leaders who guided its mission from the very beginning. Deep gratitude is extended to the individual Club Presidents whose strategic vision and tireless hours of volunteer coordination sustained the group's momentum:

• President Kimberly Peterson served during the Club’s Charter year 2021 and during Rotary Year 2022-22.
• President Janiece Hoggatt served Rotary Year 2022-23
• President Douglas Hoggatt served Rotary Year 2024-25 and 2025-26. Along with Treasurer Janiece Hoggatt, Douglas stewarded the Rotary Club through its final 2026 board meetings and close-out activities

Planting New Roots in Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, and Bothell

While the standalone e-club model closes, the mission to safeguard the planet simply pivots. Members are bringing their environmental expertise and existing project portfolios into established community-based clubs.

For Shoreline Rotary, this influx of cause-driven activists ensures that long-term local initiatives—like the maintenance of the Miyawaki Forest and the preservation of North City Park—will continue to thrive under strong, centralized neighborhood leadership.

Meanwhile, members joining the Rotary Club of Northshore in Bothell will spread this ecological focus further east, blending environmental advocacy with traditional civic projects.

Lake Forest Park Rotary Club is also inheriting dedicated talent from the dissolving Club. LFP Rotary is already deeply familiar with these initiatives, having previously co-led major regional conservation events like the highly successful District 5030 Lithium Battery Recycling Campaign alongside the Environmental Club. 

The integration of this new member directly amplifies Lake Forest Park’s ongoing ecological goals—such as supporting local urban canopy health, partnering with the LFP Stewardship Foundation, and backing local climate resilience efforts.

Since Rotary’s 2020’s commitment to Environmental Sustainability thousands of Rotary Clubs worldwide have been running local green initiatives. Many of the Rotary Clubs throughout the Puget Sound have also incorporated environment focused projects into their annual plans to serve their local community. 

While this specific Club closes, the environmental mission simply returns to the soil. The dedicated volunteers will join others in the Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, and Northshore Rotary Clubs to help ensure that local conservation efforts remain a permanent fixture of community service. 

The Environmental Rotary Club of Puget Sound may be dissolving, but its green impact will continue to bloom right here in our neighborhoods.

Read more...

Kenmore purchases Savage Moose property for stream restoration

Savage Moose sports bar in Kenmore

The City of Kenmore purchased the Savage Moose property (corner of NE 181st ST & 61st Avenue NE) as part of a long-range environmental stewardship plan. 

The property sits on a stream culvert identified as a fish passage barrier. Future planned work will reconnect fish passage in the stream from Lake Washington to the site and ultimately further up the stream. 

The property is adjacent to the former “Jack in the Box” property, which is now a WSDOT stream culvert replacement project; demo work on that site begins this summer. 

The City’s project on the Savage Moose property will connect to WSDOT’s project, once completed. 

Construction is still 4-5 years out for the City project. For the time being, the City plans to maintain the Savage Moose lease with no change to operations for the foreseeable future. 

The funding for the purchase is from dedicated funding sources specific to culvert replacement work including a King County Conservation Futures grant and Surface Water Management Funds – which are restricted funds and can only be used for these types of projects; the funding from this project does not come out of the City’s general operating budget.

Read more...

Sea-Tac 2025 Landscape Standards make native plants mandatory

Sea-Tac, one of the 10 busiest airports in the United States, just made native plants mandatory. 

That is not a small decision. That is 2,500 acres of future landscaping reclassified as ecological infrastructure.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's 2025 Landscape Standards — adopted by the Port of Seattle and effective for all new construction and renovation projects — require that native Pacific Northwest species constitute the primary plantings in all airport landscaping. 

The ferns, salal, red-twig dogwood, and native sedges visible in this photograph along the terminal drive are not a pilot project or a PR gesture. They are the new legal standard.

Sea-Tac handles 51 million passengers annually and operates in one of the most ecologically sensitive regions in North America — the Puget Sound lowlands, a temperate rainforest ecosystem that has lost 65% of its native vegetation cover to development since 1950. 

The airport sits in the middle of a landscape that historically supported Chinook salmon runs, western toad populations, and migratory shorebird habitat. The Duwamish River watershed — whose headwaters pass through the airport's drainage basin — is on the EPA Superfund list partly because of decades of contaminated stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces.

Native plants change the stormwater equation. Pacific Northwest native sedges and rushes — the kind of plants now required at Sea-Tac — can absorb 10 times more stormwater per square foot than turfgrass, because their root systems are adapted to the region's wet winters and dry summers. 

They require no irrigation after establishment. They require no synthetic fertilizer. They support the native bee species — including the western bumblebee (Bombus occidentalis), listed as a species of special concern — that have co-evolved with Pacific Northwest plant communities for thousands of years and are ill-equipped to forage on non-native ornamentals.

The institutional significance is the multiplier here. When an airport — a facility optimized entirely for operational efficiency and passenger throughput — embeds native plant requirements into its permanent design standards, it normalizes ecological landscaping in the most utilitarian possible context. 

It says: native plants are not a lifestyle choice for people with garden blogs. They are the baseline standard for any responsible land management.

Sea-Tac didn't plant a garden. It changed a policy. The difference between those two things is millions of square feet of future habitat.

--Girls With Gardens

Read more...

Spring clean-up: time to get rid of motor oil, poisons, pesticides, and other hazardous waste

If you live in King County, you can take your household hazardous waste to any collection site or to the traveling Wastemobile. 

You don’t need to make an appointment, and there’s no fee for this service.

King County Household Hazardous Waste Facility - North Seattle

12550 Stone Ave N, Seattle WA 98133

View a YouTube video about the North Seattle collection site.

Contact information:

• Phone: 206-296-4692
• Email: haz.waste@kingcounty.gov
• Phone line hours: Monday through Saturday, 9am to 5pm (except holidays)

--Thanks to LFP Rotary for this tip

Read more...

Town & Country Markets Celebrated for Leadership in Sustainability and Community Impact

Town & Country electric delivery van at charging station at Shoreline store
Photo courtesy T&C

Family-owned grocer honored with an Environmental & Sustainability Award for Addressing Environmental Challenges and Driving Tangible Climate Wins

SEATTLE – April 20, 2026 – Town & Country (T&C) Markets’ longstanding commitment to sustainability across its operations has been recognized in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual Environmental and Sustainability Awards. The company was selected alongside honorees making meaningful impact through environmental leadership, innovation, and long-term stewardship in the Puget Sound region.

Town & Country Markets’ award-winning practices include 80% waste diversion rate through recycling, composting, innovative packaging alternatives and food donations. In addition, its sourcing and partnerships with local producers and growers to support sustainable food systems, as well as the adoption of a carbon dioxide refrigeration system to reduce emissions.

Since opening its first store on Bainbridge Island in 1957, the independent grocer has approached sustainability as a central tenet of its core values: supporting local producers, protecting natural resources and reducing environmental impact.

"We are honored to be acknowledged for work that is deeply embedded in who we are as a company," said CEO Ryan Ritter. "For us, sustainability is an integrated initiative that influences how we source products, support local food systems, invest in our stores, and create opportunities for our teams and communities."

Town & Country Markets has had a leadership role dedicated to sustainability since 2008 to lead initiatives across the company focusing on waste reduction, packaging, responsible sourcing, energy efficiency, and reducing the company’s carbon footprint .

"At Town & Country, sustainability is about making practical, long-term decisions that support both our communities and the environment with systems that create a lasting impact," said Marina Heppenstall, Director of Sustainability at Town & Country Markets.

Town & Country Markets has built a reputation for prioritizing regional and responsibly sourced products, with a particular emphasis on seafood sustainability. The company has rigorous sustainability standards for its seafood departments, restaurants, and prepared foods program following Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch recommendations or sourcing from fisheries and farms with third-party sustainability certifications. 

Charging stations at Shoreline Town & Country Market on Westminster Way

The company also expanded electrification efforts across its operations, including the addition of electric grocery delivery in 2022, and electric vehicle charging stations and an electric car-sharing program in 2024, as a part of its broader strategy to reduce emissions and lower its environmental footprint.

T&C continues to invest in the next generation of sustainable food careers. The company helped develop Washington state's fishmonger apprenticeship program, embedding seafood sustainability education into the curriculum while creating new career pathways for employees.

Town & Country Markets' sustainability efforts are guided by a belief that independent grocers play an important role in shaping healthier communities and a more resilient food system. Operating six family-owned markets across the greater Seattle region, it’s been serving Northwest communities for nearly 70 years.

To learn more, visit townandcountrymarkets.com or follow the company on Instagram and Facebook to join in the delight of eating.

Read more...

Recology: Thrifting and Buying Secondhand

Recology's Waste Zero March Madness is officially over, and we have a winner—Thrifting and Buying Secondhand!

Choosing pre-loved items is a simple way to save money and keep valuable materials out of the landfill. By giving items a second chance at love, we reduce waste, extend product life, and support a more sustainable economy. Thanks for playing and keep choosing waste‑reducing wins!

Read more...

Shoreline’s E-Bike rebates reduced pollution

E-Bikes parked at the Shoreline Costco bike rack
Photo by Oliver J Moffat

By Oliver J Moffat

Shoreline residents who got an e-bike last year drove less and polluted less. More e-bike rebates are available. 

Shoreline gave 125 e-bikes to residents in the city’s most polluted neighborhoods in Ridgecrest and Briarcrest last year. 

Those e-bike recipients drove less, reducing tons of climate pollution.

Last year’s e-bike recipients reduced their car usage, driving an average of 1.3 fewer days per week. 

They replaced about 2.26 car trips per week, totaling about 859 fewer vehicle miles per year for each rider, said the Pedal Forward Shoreline Final Report.

Collectively, that prevented an estimated 43 metric tons of CO₂ from being spewed annually, said the report. 

To remove that much climate pollution from the air, thousands of mature trees would need to be planted, based on MIT and USDA data for how much CO₂ a single tree absorbs each year.

An e-bike hauling free trees from Shoreline’s communi-trees event 
Photo by Oliver J Moffat

Shoreline’s Pedal Forward program will again be giving out e-bike rebates, fully funded by a State Department of Ecology $125,000 grant, according to recent city budget documents.

Shoreline residents can apply for a $500 e-bike rebate, and low-income residents can get $1,500 rebates.

In addition, all Washington residents can apply for an e-bike rebate from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Washington residents, age 16 and older, can apply for a WSDOT rebate of $300 or $1,200 depending on household income on eligible e-bikes. 

Most climate pollution in Shoreline spews from tailpipes: 55% of climate pollution comes from transportation.

Shoreline’s Climate Action Plan seeks to reduce miles driven per person 20% by 2030 and 50% by 2050 to cut that pollution down.

According to the Shoreline Climate Action Plan 2025 Year In Review, there was a 16% decrease in miles driven per person per day compared to the 2019 baseline. 

Read more...

Is carbon pollution? and why it matters -Today Saturday April 18, 2026 10am at Third Place Commons

Join us for the LFP Climate Hub’s April 18, 2026 Climate Conversation for a lively discussion.

What does the federal definition of carbon mean for us and for our community?

10am at The LFP Climate Hub: Third Place Commons, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park

Read more...

State Parks co-hosts annual Washington Coast Cleanup on April 25, 2026

Photo courtesy Washington CoastSavers

OLYMPIA — April 8, 2026 — Celebrate Earth Day weekend by helping protect Washington’s beaches and marine life – volunteer at a state park during the annual Washington Coast Cleanup.

As a member of the Washington Clean Coast Alliance, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is proud to co-host this opportunity to bring people together who love Washington’s coastlines and want to help protect and preserve it.

While cleanup events will take place at multiple sites along the Pacific Coast and Salish Sea, State Parks will host cleanups at eleven of its state parks, including Cape Disappointment, Fort Flagler, Fort Townsend, Fort Worden, Grayland Beach, Griffiths-Priday, Mystery Bay, Ocean City, Pacific Beach, Shine Tidelands and Twin Harbors.

State Parks collaborates with Washington CoastSavers to organize three beach cleanup events a year. The need for volunteers remains high, with a consistent year-over-year increase in debris removal. 

From 2022 to 2025, there was a jump from 59,477 pounds to a staggering 163,443 pounds of garbage collected off our beaches. Of that total, 584 volunteers collected 13,203 pounds of debris at last year’s Washington Coast Cleanup alone.

To bolster efforts, State Parks also works with Grassroots Garbage Gang, Port Townsend Marine Science Center and Surfrider Foundation to increase volunteer participation and impact.

Participants volunteering at a Washington state park should check in at one of these locations:

• Cape Disappointment check-in: 
• Bolstad OBA, Bolstad W, Long Beach, WA 98631
• Fort Flagler/Mystery Bay check-in: 
• Chimacum Corner Farmstand, 9122 Rhody Dr, Chimacum, WA 98325
• Fort Townsend/Fort Worden check-in: 
• Port Townsend Marine Science Center, 502 Harbor Defense Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368
• Grayland Beach/Twin Harbors check-in: 
• Bonge Ave OBA, W Bonge Ave, Grayland, WA 98595
• Griffiths-Priday/Ocean City/Pacific Beach check-in: 
• Chance a la Mer OBA, W Chance a la Mer NW, Ocean Shores, WA 98569
• Ocean City OBA, 37 Second Ave, Ocean City, WA 98569
• Shine Tidelands check-in: 
• Shine Tidelands State Park Rd, Port Ludlow, WA 98365

Volunteers should come prepared for variable weather conditions, wear sturdy footwear and bring a packed lunch with plenty of water. Upon check-in, participants will receive supplies for debris collection, though bringing reusable gloves is encouraged. Check-in stations will also serve as designated drop-off locations for collected marine debris.

To learn more about the Washington Coast Cleanup, view a list of all participating beaches and pre-register for the event, visit CoastSavers.org. Please note that a Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to state-managed lands on April 25.

Read more...

Green Fair at Third Place Commons April 4, 2026

 

LFP Green Fair will be held on Saturday April 4, 2026 at Third Place Commons, upper level Town Center, intersection Bothell and Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park

A variety of vendors will be supplied with giveaways and be able to answer your questions!

Read more...

Ecology offering up to $20K to help replace lights that hide toxic chemicals

Photo courtesy Dept of Ecology

Old fluorescent light fixtures in schools and daycares can be harmful to students and staff. 

In 1979, the U.S. finally took action against the dangers of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), banning the use of PCBs in manufacturing.

Since then, Washington has worked to identify and remove remaining PCBs from public buildings. 

This includes older fluorescent lights containing PCBs, commonly found in schools and daycare centers, that increase exposure risk for children and teachers.

With capital funding from the Legislature, we help schools upgrade to newer and more energy efficient lighting. This product replacement project helps cover costs of an inspection, replacement lights, and proper disposal of the old lights through a licensed dangerous waste hauler.

"We’ve already helped the Reardan-Edwall School District transition to safer lighting fixtures,” said Sean Smith, who leads Ecology’s work to implement the product replacement program. “We found and safely removed 30 light ballasts in that one project. We’re eager to help more facilities make the switch.”

More information here

Read more...