Low Hanging Fruit to save salmon

The dirty little secret known to everyone is that stormwater run off is horrifically bad for freshwater fish.  And a recent study demonstrates the issues.  

But help can be on the way.  This is one of those things that simple solutions, or what we call "low hanging fruit" can help enormously.  Rather than having stormwater dumped into rivers, streams, and even Puget Sound, infiltrating the stormwater run off through soils is an effective way of neutralizing the toxics in the water and helping salmon.  

Washington state Department of Ecology has taken a leadership role in ensuring the new development in Washington manages stormwater more effectively while protecting freshwater and anadromous species.

While Western Washington soils are almost all bad for infiltration rates (much of the Puget Sound area is on top of glacial till) there are ways to build rain gardens, berms, and swales that can still infiltrate without creating muddy messes.

Shelterwood Consulting has extensive experience in this area.  We have worked with municipalities to correct their mistakes in building rain gardens and we have worked with developers in creating effective stormwater management plans.  

It's important.  Our salmon are depending on us to pick the low hanging fruit and help them.