Events 2000-01

October 5, 2000 Fall Kickoff Meeting (Anderson Hall Forestry Club Room)

The first meeting of year was held during the second week of school to welcome past members back from summer research and meet new members recruited during the previous months orientations. The primary purpose of the meeting was to register individuals as members, collect dues and discuss the years upcoming events. At the first meeting a total of 36 undergraduate and graduate student from various disciplines signed-up for the membership. The meeting ended with a food and drinks along with a showing of the video Salmon the Brink which was produced by a local television station. The half-hour video looks at the history of the salmon situation in the Pacific Northwest and potential impact of the listing of Chinook salmon on Washington States economy.

October 28, 2000 Streamside Tree Planting Volunteer Sammamish River Project (Marymoor Park)

The streamside restoration project was designed by the county government to improve habitat for threatened salmon in our region. The program asked that volunteer groups provide their own team leaders for the tree planting because of the large-scale nature of the project. Eight members volunteered to serve as team members and attend a training session prior to the workday. On the day of the planting these members served as team leaders for our group as well as an Eddie Bauer and Rotary Club group of volunteers. Volunteers used shovels to dig holes for saplings and placed hay on the banks to reduce erosion. The planting, which were planted along the Marymoor Park reach of the Sammamish River, were part of a bigger landscape of nearly 10,000 native trees and shrubs planted that month near the park. As the plants grow, they will hold soil on the riverbanks, shade and cool the river therefore improving habitat for Puget Sound Chinook salmon. See Pictures.

November 7, 2000 Lunchtime Seminar -- Geology, Watersheds, and Pacific Northwest StreamsDr. Derek Booth, Director of the Center for Urban Water Resources Management.

The student chapter invited its faculty advisor to give a lecture at the first of three lunchtime seminars. This gave students an opportunity to meet the chapters advisor and get exposed to the history of the Seattle region (most students are from areas outside of the Pacific Northwest). Dr. Booth spoke about the geological history of the Pacific Northwest and the current patterns of development in the region. He raised the question of what effect urbanization will have on natural stream systems in the Puget Sound region. The meeting was well attended with 63 students and faculty from across the university campus.

November 15, 2000 Annual AWRA Washington State Section Conference-- Water Marketing in Washington: Negotiating for the Future.

Several chapter members volunteered or attended the Washington section Fall Conference at the Seattle Art Museum. Volunteers worked at the registration table and assisted presenters during their lectures. The conference was an excellent opportunity for our membership to meet numerous professionals in the water resources field, as well as learn about economic value of water in our region and the issues water will raise in the future for development.

March 2, 2001 Winter Meeting and Lunchtime Seminar -- Salmon and the 4 (d) Rules

Dr. Elizabeth Babcock, NMFS Puget Sound Area Coordinator for Salmon Recovery Title: Rules to Protect Puget Sound Salmon Species: NMFS enforces the 4 (d) rule to protect Puget Sound Salmon. The second Lunchtime Seminar was held in conjunction with the winter quarter meeting. Members decided that they prefer to hold meeting and seminars together. The speaker was asked to address the regulations that were being enforced by the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect fish. Because the meeting was expected to draw a large crowd (due to local interest in the topic) it was held in the student union. Dr. Babcocks lecture discussed the basics of the Endangered Species Act and how the implements of regulations will protect salmon. This meeting was well attended by individuals from the campus community including non-science majors.

April 28, 2001 Swamp Creek Restoration Project Volunteer Project

During the summer of 1998 the student chapter adopted habitat restoration sites at Swamp Creek. Swamp Creek is an urban stream that flows into the Sammamish River (this is the same stream as the Fall tree plantings). Each year the chapter visits the stream to maintain and monitor trees and shrubs planted by the county as part of the local Habitat Partners Program. This year the student chapter invited Shapiro and Associates, a local consulting firm, to assist in removing invasive weeds at the site. Some of the problem species at the site include Japanese knotweed, reed canary grass and blackberry brushes. Inviting Shapiro and Associates to help out with the project turned out to be a success; they provided food and drinks and the students had an opportunity to interact with a future employer.

May 8th 2001 Spring Meeting and Lunchtime Seminar-- When is it a ditch?

The story of watershed management in May Creek: A case study of the interesting relationship between science and policy---Brent Lackey, Sammamish River/Lake Washington Basin Steward. This seminar will be held in conjunction with the spring quarter meeting. Mr. Lackey will discuss interaction of science and public and policy and how the two interact. This meeting is being held in the College of Forestry Resources.

May 17th 2001 Annual Spring Social

This spring the chapter is hosting a joint social with the Washington State section of AWRA on the campus of University of Washington. This annual event brings together students, professors, and professionals in the water resources field for an evening of good food and great speakers. Dr. Mike Brett, a newly appointed university faculty member, from the department of Civil Engineering will be our speaker this year. The social is a great opportunity for students to network with professionals working in water resources. The event will also feature student displaying poster presentations of their research.