Ruth Williams with the Thornton Creek Alliance recently sent out an update on Thornton Creek with several notable items.
First and foremost, the invasive snail species found recently in Thornton Creek means that it’s imperative people and pets stay out of the creek:
New Zealand Mud Snails are definitely entrenched at the mouth of Thornton Creek. Please be very careful not to encourage their spread. This means keeping yourselves, children, and pets out of the creek. Anything that has been exposed to these tiny invasives must be scrubbed and thoroughly dried in order to keep them from spreading to other waterways.
Since the tiny snails already have taken over Capitol Lake in Olympia, it’s clear there’s little regular citizens can do to keep them out of waterways they’re already in. But your efforts can at least prevent them from spreading their reach.
There’s even more ways to help Thornton Creek coming up. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, you’re invited to the Beaver Pond Natural Area Fall Work Party, which is taking place at Maple Leaf’s Thornton Creek Park No. 6.
When: Sunday, Sept. 25th; 10:00-1:00
Where: 8th Ave. NE and NE 106th St. (at the beaver pond)
Jobs: Weeding, mulching, and establishing clear places for new plants when planting season arrives
Please bring: yourself, friends, family, and a water bottle
Attire: dress for the weather; old sturdy shoes.
You’ll find on site: snacks, tools, gloves, good company, and useful work
For more information, email Williams at ruthalice@comcast.net or call 206-930-8965.
Lastly but also most timely, the Thornton Creek Alliance, in cooperation with the Meadowbrook Community Center, 10517 35th Ave. N.E., is holding a public talk from 7-8:30 tonight called “Gourmet Gardening or Urban Farming? Tomatoes, Chickens & Bees!”
Have you even tasted local honey? How about a really fresh egg? Hear about neighbors’ adventures and learn of community resources at this fall program from the Thornton Creek Alliance in cooperation with Meadowbrook Community Center. Speakers include Becca Fong from Parks Urban Food Systems, Stephanie Seliga from The Just Garden Project and Sheila Stickel from Seattle Community Solar and more. For more information, call Judy Olson, education vice president for the Thornton Creek Alliance, at (206) 523-4384.
