longfellow creek

Five Specific Things You Can Do To Help Salmon Recovery

  1. Do the little things to conserve water in your home and business. fix those leaky faucets and toilets. Sweep your driveway or sidewalk instead of hosing it down.
     
  2. Take water conservation one step farther. When you buy a new washing machine, buy a front-loader. When you buy a new toilet, buy a low-flow model. Both use less water.

    The reason for doing these things is simple. When we save water, there is more water for fish. Low water may not seem like a problem when we have record rainfalls. But it is a problem in summer, when our river streamflows are low. Get in the conservation habit now, and you won't have to think about it when the fish need the water.
     
  3. Think twice before using pesticides or combination fertilizer- pesticide products.
     
    Seattle Public Libraries has committed to maintaining library lawns "naturally", which includes reducing use of pesticides. The libraries are a great first step because they are located throughout our communities so we can all see what a natural lawn looks like. They will also provide information on how our citizens can maintain their lawns naturally too. 
     
  4. If you want to know more about natural lawn care call the city's lawn care hotline at 1-888-860-LAWN. We can even tell you about friendly insects that kill the bad bugs that eat your plants.
     
  5. Don't pour paint, chemicals, used motor oil or anything else but water into a storm drain.
     
    Every drain in Seattle eventually leads to water where salmon live - Lake Washington, Lake Union, the Ship Canal, the Duwamish River, Puget Sound. Even washing your car in your driveway sends soap suds into a salmon's home. Please, use a commercial car wash.
     
  6. Volunteer your time to improve a salmon stream.
     
    Go to the How You Can Help page for more information.. 

NOTE: This material was scanned and formatted for the Web as a public service. The source material is a postcard sized handout  titled "Five specific things you can do to help salmon recovery"  published by by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU).  Scanning software may have introduced minor errors. Please contact Seattle Public Utilities for the official version.