Removing invasive knotweed, Issaquah Creek

Partner Profile: King Conservation District

The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and the King Conservation District (KCD) have worked together on a wide range of projects since the Greenway Trust was founded in1991. KCD has been an instrumental partner in many of the conservation and restoration successes across the Greenway.

KCD was chartered by the Washington State Legislature in 1949 as a non-regulatory state agency that works directly with private landowners to care for their land and be stewards of natural resources. All landowners within KCD’s boundaries are entitled to free information and technical assistance.

KCD provides programs, services, and financial incentives for property owners and land managers in both urban and rural communities throughout its 35 member jurisdictions (34 cities and King County). KCD engages individuals and communities in stewarding soil, water, and other natural resources through partnership and collaboration. KCD promotes conservation through demonstration projects, educational events, providing technical assistance and, in some cases, providing or pointing the way to funds which may be available for projects.

KCD programs

Some of the many services offered by KCD include:

  • Farm Management Services, such as farm management planning, soil testing, and access to the KCD manure spreader
  • Help with design and installation of stream, wetland, estuarine, and marine beach enhancement projects
  • Envirothon – the largest environmental education competition for high school students in North America

In addition to these programs, KCD also awards grants for projects that directly improve the condition of natural resources, provide education and outreach to increase awareness, build capacity to enhance implementation of natural resource improvement projects, and implement pilot or demonstration projects.

Greenway Trust-KCD partnerships

The Greenway and KCD have partnered on many ecological restoration projects. These projects have been funded through various KCD grant programs across King County, restoring dozens of acres of private and public land through the treatment and removal of invasive weeds and the planting of thousands of native trees and shrubs.

From invasive removal, tree planting, and volunteer engagement at Lake Sammamish State Park, to knotweed control and invasive weed removal at YMCA Camp Terry, KCD has provided funding and technical support to assist the Greenway Trust in conserving and enhancing the Greenway landscape, with an emphasis on the engagement of private landowners.

Funding from the King Conservation District has been instrumental in two of the Greenway Trust Stewardship Program’s major ongoing efforts – comprehensive knotweed control and reforestation campaigns in the Issaquah Creek Basin and along the Raging River. Since 2008, the Greenway Trust has worked with private landowners in these two critical basins to survey and control over 50 acres of rapidly-spreading invasive knotweed, and to plant thousands of native trees and shrubs.

Preston case study

Henry property during restoration
Henry property during restoration

In addition to larger projects, KCD provides assistance to individual landowners interested in enhancing and stewarding their lands. One project that serves as an excellent example of the successful engagement of private landowners is the Upper Preston / Lake Creek Restoration Project.

In 2009, the Greenway Trust, with assistance from KCD, worked with Linda and Todd Henry to restore 1.5 acres of riparian and upland habitat on their property along Lake Creek in Upper Preston. The Henry property, which had a mix of native trees, shrubs, and groundcover, was also heavily infested with Himalayan blackberry, pockets of Bohemian knotweed encroaching on the creek, and English ivy working its way into the deciduous trees on the property.

Todd and Linda’s enthusiasm for restoration allowed the Greenway Trust to apply for a successful grant from the King Conservation District to help cover the costs associated with restoring the degraded areas on their property. Over the next three years, the Henrys worked with Greenway Trust staff and Washington Conservation Corps crews to clear blackberry, knotweed, ivy and other weeds, and to plant nearly 1,400 native trees and shrubs, restoring half of their property.

Since the close of this successful project in 2012, Todd and Linda have maintained their restored area by continuing to remove invasive weeds and maintain planted areas.

Henry property after restoration
Henry property after restoration

KCD – Greenway Trust collaborations include:

Private Landowner Engagement Projects

  • Little Bear Creek Knotweed Control and Reforestation
  • Raging River Knotweed Survey and Control (Phases 1-3)
  • Raging River Enhancement at Rahn Property
  • YMCA Camp Terry Environmental Stewardship and Habitat Restoration
  • Upper Snoqualmie River Willow Staking and Knotweed Control
  • South Fork Snoqualmie Riparian Restoration
  • Upper Preston / Lake Creek Restoration

Public Land Restoration Projects

  • Issaquah Creek Restoration at Lake Sammamish State Park (2007-2011)
  • Discovery Park-Capehart Restoration Project

 

To learn more about King Conservation District: www.kingcd.org