VIDEO, PHOTOS: Duwamish Alive! volunteers spend a day showing how Seattle’s only river connects us all

Photos by Torin Record-Sand
Video by Tracy Record
for West Seattle Blog

From West Seattle to Tukwila, hundreds of volunteers devoted Saturday to restoration and cleanup work along Seattle’s only river and in its watershed, no doubt appreciated by all those who depend on it, like the Great Blue Heron in our photo above. The fall session of the twice-yearly Duwamish Alive! multi-site work party included the volunteers we saw in parks near the mouth of the Duwamish River …

And those who gathered for the welcoming ceremony at White Center Heights Park:

While a collection of native plants awaited shovels to place them into their new homes, light rain fell.

But spirits remained bright through a short round of speeches – Sharon Leishman, who leads the Duwamish Alive! Coalition, explained its 20 years of work, and how the river and its watershed connects us all:

She introduced King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, who was also there to spotlight a new countywide celebration of volunteer service:

His participation reminded all present that the work is for future generations too – he brought along his daughter Jazzy:

Some of the riverfront parks with Duwamish Alive! events are part of the Port of Seattle, whose Commissioner Hamdi Mohamed spoke at White Center Heights Park as well, talking about the importance of governments responsibly stewarding the environment:

That theme was echoed by county Natural Resources and Parks deputy director Tricia Davis:

Before everyone dug into the tasks at hand, Leishman presented the speakers with copies of Tom Reese‘s book “Once and Future River: Reclaiming the Duwamish“:

And before everyone dispersed, the commemorative group photo:

Watch for your chance to volunteer when next spring’s Duwamish Alive! date is announced – and in the meantime, at many other events at local parks and forests, spotlighted on calendars like ours and the Green Seattle Partnership.

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