The story keeps reverberating. Today's Everett Herald article by Noah Haglund makes 6 publications that have carried this story. It has now run in the: Everett Herald Seattle Times Bothell Reporter Woodinville Weekly Kirkland Patch Daily Journal of Commerce We hope you enjoy Noah's latest addition. Just click on it to read. What a year! One of our goals is to provide education tools to teachers. Our Education Committee is meeting with teachers tonight to begin the discussion about using the forest so students in future years will learn all about it. Feel free to share your suggestions. Curriculum development does not happen overnight so the more ideas we have the better will be the end product. With only a few days left in 2011 we believe this will be our year end article. But who knows? Thanks for your good wishes and support, Friends of North Creek Forest From the Everett Herald---------------->
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We thought we might be finished with good news announcements for 2011. Not quite... Here comes another 6 acres. Last spring Friends began a long and challenging application for a federally funded Land and Water grant. This grant is managed by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. RCO staff answered our many anxious questions and, along with Bothell staff, guided us through to a completed application. We gave our final presentation to an RCO panel in September and, as previously reported, received the second highest score in Washington. Important: it was not the talent behind the application that won the grant. We barely knew what we were doing. It was the property itself that won. It is spectacular and only needed someone who would tell the story. There was one catch. The grant we won needed to be funded by Congress. Three days after the City of Bothell completed the conservation of the first 35 acres the US Senate funded the Land and Water program on December 18th. By Spring 2012 Bothell will be able to purchase another 6 acres of North Creek Forest, making a total of 41 acres of park land conserved through the actions of 2011. What a year! What many don't realize... the Land and Water grant was in danger of the budget axe. A large segment of Congress does not think conservation is very important in these culturally inflicted hard times. The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition played a huge roll in getting Congress to end its stalemate over L&W funding. If you spend some time on their website you will be awed by the vitality of this organization. We can't imagine a Washington State without them. Please take a look: http://wildliferecreation.org/ Finally, you might want to read these two editorial opinions in the Seattle Times. We hope you have enjoyed these conservation adventures of 2011 with us. We share immense gratitude for all who have endorsed our goals, attended meetings and events, written letters, advised us, offered volunteered stewardship hours and offered your donations. Thank You, Friends of North Creek Forest Hi Friends, This article appeared in today's Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017026406_bothellwoods16m.html _ We are all grinning around here. From you emails it looks like it is contageous! Friends of North Creek Forest Brian Zemp (Boy Scouts); Joy Johnston, Bothell Public Information Officer; Jim Freese, Friends of North Creek Forest We are grateful to announce Bothell now owns 35 acres of North Creek Forest. The deal was completed at 2:00 PM today. Please see Bothell's press release HERE. This phase of conservation started 10 years ago when a group called Help Our Woods sought to save the forest. Many of Friends founding members were associated with HOW. They raised the funding for wildlife and wetland studies that have been very important for getting the first King County Conservation Futures grant 2 years ago. Matching funds for that grant could not be sustained with the recession. In 2010 one family (Robinson) purchased 6 acres in the center of the forest. That energized many of us. A gift of $3000 from one of our members enabled us to hire Woody Wheeler, a conservation consultant (see Conservation Catalyst). After several meetings we decided to pursue a new direction and strategy. Friends of North Creek Forest grew out of HOW and had it's first official meeting on February 23, 2011. In two months we assembled our promotional materials, web site and other infrastructure, obtained key endorsements and applied for a Snohomish County Futures grant. We only had 5 days between learning of the grant and the deadline for application. We worked hard on it, pausing only to ask the Bothell City Council for permission to make the application. By the end of April we won $200,000. The forest also attracted the attention of Representative Derek Stanford and six days after winning the Snohomish grant we won another $200,000 for the Department of Commerce. We learned that North Creek Forests sells itself. It is so worthy of conservation we only needed to tell the story. This was clearly evident when we won another $109,000 from the federally funded Land and Water grant in September. Assuming Congress funds Land and Water in their next budget, the city will be able to purchase 6 more acres next summer. Time after time the City Council voted to support us and we dove into the work along with city staff and we won the money. This is an exciting and compelling effort. In the words of Bill Evans, Bothell City Council, "In 34 years of public service I have never seen any group go so far so fast". It is the forest. It does sell itself. We just say what is there. The grant work has not been our only job. The University of Washington Restoration Ecology Network has begun work on the Robinson property. Lessons learned over the winter and spring can be applied elsewhere in the forest now that Bothell owns a big part of it. Support for this work is one of our commitments. Outreach and education are other key activities. Our goal is to support educators with material resources so they can use the forest as a teaching tool. Sorry about these dark photos: This panorama is of the northern half of North Creek Forest, approximately the part Bothell just purchased. It is about 5/8 of a mile long and 1300 feet deep at the widest part with a 300' elevation gain. Below it lies I-405, North Creek and the business park. The next photo is of the remaining 29 acres. Assuming our L&W grant is funded we will still have 3 parcels of forest to acquire. In each case we have to find a solution that works for landowners, Bothell and all other interests. _We are going to take some time off to "decompress" over the Holidays. We hope to pose a possible solution for the remaining conservation early in 2012. The Bothell Reporter article is HERE. A Daily Journal of Commerce article was published today which you may like to read. (see article) Seattle Times and Everett Herald photographers and reporters spent almost two hours with us yesterday. You should see those articles soon. Warmest Wishes, Friends of North Creek Forest This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
Jim, Rob, Dan, Cathy, and David on the camera Yesterday was a good day for a wet walk in the forest. Well, it was if you are traveling with Rob Sandelin, naturalist for the Environmental Science School (ESS), a program of the Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe. Rob engages 28 middle school and high school students in snag surveys, tree planting, mushroom surveys, transect studies, etc. He looked at our web site and decided he wanted a closer view. ESS is always looking for new ground. Dan Paquette took us to some of his favorite botanical sites. Along the way Dan pointed out various tree, shrub and moss species. Rob too, was a walking encyclopedia. He pointed to a decaying stump and said when he was in graduate school they took apart a similar stump and found over 300 different species of invertebrates living in it. ...over 300 different species of invertebrates _Next he picked up a golden maple leaf with green ringed spots on it. He said the spots were caused by a fungus that actually brings cells back to life and starts up their photosynthesis. His students call it a "zombie fungus" and the Latin name got by all but Dan I think. There is so much going on if you have someone show you. Student will discover amazing things here someday. I asked Rob if he would send us a paragraph reflecting on the afternoon. As soon as he got home he sent us his thoughts.... A rainy day walk in the woods On a late afternoon in November, in between rain squalls, a small group of us went out for an exploration of the North Creek Forest. As we arrived at the northern access point the large white sign said, 35 acres for sale. Pushing past the freeway noise we entered the forest. The light was subdued filtered gray from the clouds which gave everything a soft touch. The ground was covered with a thick mulch, with bright yellow maple and horse chestnut leaves adding the top layer, the bright yellow like so many pieces of summer sunshine scattered on the ground. Season for Thanksgiving 2011 _Following deer trails we wandered under the opening deciduous canopy, the maples reaching bare branches in to the sky like mossy skeletons. Stout cedars, a few impressive in girth and a scattering of other conifers anchored the hillside with their wide roots, cascading long green sprays of branches hanging like Christmas swags. In the forest gardens, seeds from bright summer flowers lay slumbering, snug under fallen leaf blankets, awaiting spring. It is easy to see the potential here, a wide diversity of native plants which must host a healthy regiment of birds and other critters. As darkness fell we managed to find our way back and discovered the sign at the entrance hosting a new addition of, "Sale Pending". Indeed, this forest is poised for protection and will make a fine future natural area. It is all but finished. The northern half of North Creek Forest is on it's way to conservation. Last Tuesday the Bothell City Council again supported us with a unanimous vote. Today the contract has been signed by all parties and by this afternoon it will be in escrow. It is possible that Bothell could take ownership by as early as December 15th. Yesterday a news service, Public Eye Northwest, called for an interview. Today that story appears on their Blog, Social Capital Review.... http://bit.ly/sUuRYW We had our Board retreat yesterday and we are ready for a big expansion of activity in 2012. This is now greater than any of us. It has a life of it's own and, in the next phase we shall feed it! Gratefully, Friends of North Creek Forest This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
Sharp Shinned Hawk photo by Andy Schauer A Sharp-Shinned Hawk dropped into Andy Schauer's back yard near North Creek Forest. Andy had his camera ready. This Sharp-Shinned Hawk migrates to this area for the winter. It eats other birds and it's presence is an indicator of a large number of birds on the edge of North Creek Forest. This is an uncommon sighting. Thanks Andy! NEXT VOTE The Bothell City Council is going to vote on a Purchase and Sales Agreement to buy 35.66 acres of North Creek Forest at 6:00 PM tonight. We expect a unanimous vote as all Council Members have supported this. TIMING The trouble is in the details. As it currently stands there is no provision in the agreement to close the sale before risking a loss of funding. This article is, in part, a public appeal to the Council to counter this risk by assuring the completed purchase happens before the State Legislature cuts funding in December. The clock is running. EROSION The most often raised issue to purchasing this forest is erosion. Several years ago surface runoff cut into the forest hillside resulting in mud entering North Creek. Bothell designed a fix and constructed bypass conduits which will last a long time. Permanent solutions can be implemented as grants are acquired. The city apparently inherited this surface water problem when this part of the forest was annexed. OUR REQUEST City staff prepared an agreement requiring a significant erosion study but this study could delay purchase well into the special Legislative session. Since it is already the city's responsibility to deal with this surface water erosion we ask the Council to approve the purchase now and use any study as a foundation for future erosion control designs. That would be valuable, timely and would not cost the city a penny more than a process that delayed the purchase. We have already committed to work with the city on erosion control grants. The second part of the study, a search for toxic waste, is necessary. Staff mentioned the possibility of one or more buried oil tanks. We ask that it be expedited so any problems can be determined and dealt with in the closing document similar to a work order paid for out of an account set up for that purpose. Without access to details of the P/S Agreement we can't speculate upon the design of such a provision but the creative application of City Council talent can. It should be noted that there has not been one single voice opposing this purchase. The word about conservation of this forest is all over Bothell and beyond. "Due diligence" is a tool to protect citizen interests. With no opposition to this purchase it would be ironic if the full exercise of due diligence ended in the failure of a popular landmark conservation purchase. Photo by Andy Schauer A WATERSHED MOMENT Bothell is on the verge of conserving one of it's most valuable natural assets. A matrix of salmon streams, large wetlands and upland conifer forest park land is an exceptional gift to ecological function within urban watersheds. A Watershed Moment refers to a moment in history where something changes that fundamentally shifts our point of view. It's a paradigm. We are watching one unfold right now. Thank You, Friends of North Creek Forest Forest emerging from a logged out past. THE PURCHASE We raised enough money for Bothell to purchases the 35 acre BSA parcel (see previous articles). The final purchase and sales agreement is being crafted by the Bothell city attorney. When completed the language in that document and timing will determine the fate of this property. One of our grants comes from the State of Washington. When the Legislature convenes in late November they could cut funding for this grant before Bothell uses it, and the whole 35 acre purchase would be dead, along with a lot of work, making 2011 a practice year. So it is up to the city to bring this one "home" on time. TDR The City Council is considering a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) code amendment that could result in conservation of the remaining forest. Our conservation goal is not the only thing at stake. If it is done well, with a winning plan accepted by property owners, neighborhoods and the city it could become a model for future TDRs, a useful tool in conserving ecologically important land. If it is done in a way that leaves a landowner strapped, a neighborhood feeling run over, or city staff in a quandary, it would probably ruin public confidence in future TDRs for years to come. We are networking in neighborhoods to ensure people completely understand TDRs in general and have a sense of inclusion in this specific case. Here is a general explanation of TDRs you can download:
A large maple EDUCATION Readers already know we are contracted with UW-REN (see previous articles). UW students and faulty are a force unlike any other. It's hard to grasp their full potential. They bring so much talent and knowledge into the forest it is truly an honor to facilitate their work. We are lucky to have Dr. Warren Gold, biologist and a faculty director for UW-REN on our Board of Directors. And we have Darryl Nevels, a UW senior and President of the UWB/Cascadia CC Sustainability Organization on our Board. And we have Maximilian Dixon graduate student headed for a career in Sustainable Regional Planning on our Board. These scholars along with a founding Friends member Dr. David Bain, biologist, give our organization the depth to make good things come true... lots of activity in this area. 501c3 We are in the final stage of a 501c3 application, a long process that will give a tax deduction to people who contribute to our work. Once our 501c3 is approved by the federal government all of your donations will be tax deductible back to our date of registration with the State of Washington. Most groups get this part done up front but our success has been so rapid we kept putting it off until "we had the time". Ha! It's time. WISH LIST
Our forest stewards need a lock box so they can secure their tools at the end of the day. It looks like this: http://www.amazon.com/Delta-1653990-Heavy-Duty-Site-Vault-Security/dp/B00164QMSI If you know how to get one of these or have one to donate (used is fine) we sure could use it! Thanks, Friends of North Creek Forest Students enter the forest through access points previously "excavated" for them. UW RESTORATION ECOLOGY NETWORK(UW-REN) students from Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell Campuses toured North Creek Forest, one of several sites selected for restoration work for the academic year 2011-12. Access was through an area Friends cleared so students could see the land through the blackberries. This site along 112th NE is one of the most heavily invaded in the entire forest. Among things students will need to address: retaining native vegetation like Salmonberries, Alders and Willows engulfed by Blackberries; a collapsed garage and foundation discovered under Blackberries; and lots of nettles and (did we mention?) Blackberries. Where to begin? It's a huge undertaking. We gathered toward the top of the restoration area to discuss parameters. Students will have maximum control over their restoration design. They can start anywhere and work in any direction. Their design will determine if "weeds" are composted on or off site; may suggest trail or path design and location; if the old garage foundation is to be a feature in the restored area ( to hold benches?); drip irrigation and a water supply must be considered to give new trees their best chance of survival; how to plan for reusing elements like the drip system? This is a big project. UW-REN plans all aspects, including overall design of the restored area, material acquisition, keeping all partners informed, logistics, irrigation, long range maintenance and possibilities for future phases. Friends will have an opportunity to respond to the student proposal later this fall. Our goal is to give students maximum opportunity for creativity and support them with tools and material and additional volunteers wherever possible. In time restored land will look like this part of the forest. OCTOBER 4th VOTE The Bothell City Council voted to enable the use of three grants and to have staff create the purchase and sales agreement for the BSA 35 acre purchase. Our guess is the closing date will be on or about mid November. A key document must be completed prior to closing to be effective. It is called a "Waiver of Retro-activity" and it enables the city to use the 35 acres as a match for other grants, something that might be a 1/2 million $ values someday. The City Council also voted to have staff draw up Transfer of Development Rights language that might enable the conservation of the rest of the forest. If approved owners could donate land and "send" development rights to one or more other properties, called Receiving Properties. This is a very good process if the "receiving" property(s) design is acceptable to everyone. Readers might want to view Cascade Land Conservancy's web site to see the kind of work they have accomplished. They have succeeded in conserving a lot of land. TDRs can be a good conservation tool and CLC has used them successfully many times. Friends of North Creek Forest photo by Jeff Larsen, see Endorsement Page under Arts and Authors ANOTHER GRANT! We did not think we had much chance competing with 14 other applicants including Seattle Parks and other "heavyweights". So we were stilled yesterday we were notified our application for a Land and Water grant came in second in Washington State. As long as the US Congress doesn't eliminate funding next Spring we will be able to apply this grant to a 6 acre parcel in the forest. We are a bit stunned and grinning. The reason we scored so high is the forest itself. All we do is show it to people. The forest is worthy of conservation of the highest form. The United States Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is funded primarily by a fee on offshore oil drilling. It was created in 1964 and has funded conservation and development in and around Yellowstone National Park, Big Sur and other national treasures. At the State level LWCF is administered by the office of Recreation and Conservation and applications are for local projects like North Creek Forest. You can view the actual presentation on our Presentation Page. EASY DOES IT -- OCTOBER 4th The city council will not vote to purchase the 35 acre Boy Scout Property on October 4th as previously reported. Instead they have a regular session scheduled to approve 3 Inter-Local Agreements so three different grants can be used for the purchase. They are also expected to authorize staff to create a Purchase and Sales Agreement. So this is not the big meeting yet.... but soon. If you still want to come to the City Council meeting October 4th we will enjoy seeing you. But all we will be doing is updating the Council on our progress (new grant, restoration) and making ourselves available to answer questions. Once the Purchase and Sales Agreement (PSA) is drafted it will go to the Boy Scouts Council for review and and approval. When the papers are signed, the City Council will vote to execute the PSA and buy the property. The executed PSA is the key. The Legislature must cut another $ 1.2 Billion in November. According to Department of Commerce staff, they have never cancelled an active contract (executed PSA). An active contract means one that is approved and money due to the seller. So the critical item is an active contract. The City Council and Boy Scouts Council must have this before the Legislature makes their cuts in November. We are nervously optimistic "our baby" will be fine. In some places all we could do was make tunnels! RESTORATION PREP Some of us learned about our LWCF score while we were in the middle of cutting student access trails into blackberries. Cutting blackberries and smiling... imagine that. The mound in the background is an old apple tree, buried under a mountain of vines up to 30 feet long. UW Seniors will soon visit the site and then create a restoration proposal for our approval. They will implement removal of invasive species in the Winter and plant native vegetation in the Spring. One of the reasons we are winning grants is because there are only a few degraded places like this around the edge of the forest. Thanks to University of Washington Restoration Ecology Network the worst spots are being restored first. It's been a great week! Friends of North Creek Forest This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
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