We’re celebrating Puget Sound throughout the month of May — Join us!
This week we’re swimming into spring with the Salmon in the Schools program. More than 1,800 students and almost 300 adults will gather along Seattle shores this spring to release fry into local creeks and Lake Washington. They’re all participating in a program that explores the relationship between salmon and stormwater called Salmon in the Schools (SISS).
SISS — a partnership between the Seattle School District, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle Parks, Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project, and the Fauntleroy Watershed Council — helps students understand the impacts of personal choices on stormwater runoff and water quality. Over 70 public, private and parochial schools participate in the program. Schools receive salmon eggs in January and students start learning about salmon lifecycle and habitat. As the students care for the salmon in their classrooms, they also nurture a personal connection and investment in environmental stewardship. By the time fry are released, students understand both the importance of salmon to the Pacific Northwest ecosystem, commerce, history, and culture, and how water quality impacts the health of these iconic fish.
At each salmon release event, students are asked, “Now that your salmon have been released, is your job caring for them finished?” The students know the answer to that question is no. They will tell you that picking up pet waste, looking after your local storm drain, and choosing to bike more often are all things we can do to prevent pollution to our waters to help salmon, and other species and wildlife, thrive.
Celebrate Puget Sound Starts Here month this May by taking actions to protect the health of our local waterways, wildlife, and environment. Take the pledge to protect our waters and get free Chinook Book coupons (while supplies last)! To learn more about Salmon in the Schools, visit www.sisseattle.org
We’ll be posting Puget Sound Starts Here blog posts throughout the month of May, so stay tuned!