Summary

After a rigorous review by environmental nonprofit Salmon-Safe and its independent science team, King County Parks became the largest park system in the country to earn certification.

Story

King County Parks is the largest park system in the nation to earn Salmon-Safe certification after a rigorous evaluation concluded that its operations and practices protect downstream water quality and benefit threatened salmon species.

The certification shows how King County Parks – a steward of more than 200 parks, 175 miles of regional trails, 215 miles of backcountry trails, and 30,000 acres of open space – contributes to the Clean Water Healthy Habitat Initiative that Executive Dow Constantine launched in 2019 to produce better results faster for people, salmon, and orcas.

“Our commitment to protecting water quality and improving habitat guides work throughout our entire enterprise, including our world-class parks and trails,” said Executive Constantine. “Being the largest park system in the country to earn Salmon-Safe certification demonstrates our ability to create safe, healthy environments for the people, fish, and wildlife that call King County home.”

The Portland-based nonprofit Salmon-Safe offers a peer-reviewed certification and accreditation program to West Coast farmers, developers, and other land stewards in both urban and rural areas who want to reduce their impact on watersheds.

King County Parks’ designation means that its operations have passed Salmon-Safe’s comprehensive science-based evaluation of land and water management practices. As part of this system-wide assessment, Salmon-Safe’s science team also inspected 21 locations – regional trails, multi-use parks, natural areas, restoration sites, and operations shops – to evaluate the agency’s policies and on-the-ground practices to ensure they reduce the impact on watersheds and promote biodiversity. They evaluated its park design and its plans for expanding regional trails.

“Salmon-Safe’s third-party audit shows that King County Parks is a leader among West Coast park systems in taking a holistic approach to its watershed," said Dan Kent, Salmon-Safe executive director. "Taken together, the county’s actions represent an integrated approach and meaningful commitment to the health of Puget Sound and its urban tributaries.

  

See a larger gallery of Salmon-Safe Parks

The certification is valid for five years and is subject to annual reviews. Salmon-Safe will provide on-call experts and guidance for stormwater infrastructure planning, restoration priorities, landscape management, and pest management.

Scientists and experts thoroughly reviewed what actions King County Parks takes to reduce the amount of water that runs off surfaces at regional parks and trails, pushing pollutants into streams, rivers, and, ultimately, Puget Sound. One solution is replacing impervious surfaces at ballfields with pervious surfaces or natural turf so the landscape can naturally filter pollution.

Salmon-Safe experts were particularly impressed by the progress King County Parks has made installing green stormwater infrastructure to reduce the amount of polluted runoff. They also noted the agency’s ability to improve ecological functions of the land it acquires, which includes former homes and farmland.

One area where King County Parks wants to improve with guidance from Salmon-Safe is making its sustainable practices more consistent throughout the agency’s nine districts. Salmon-Safe will also help the Parks staff update and expand its Integrated Pest Management plan, which was completed in 2000.

“We don’t want to just reduce the impact that our parks and trails have on our natural environment – we want to contribute to cleaner water and healthier habitat,” said King County Parks Division Director Warren Jimenez. “I am grateful for the progress that our staff has made and excited about what we will accomplish in the years to come with help from Salmon-Safe.”

Unifying work throughout King County to achieve Clean Water Healthy Habitat

The certification marks progress for Executive Constantine’s Clean Water Healthy Habitat initiative to unify work throughout each King County division that impacts the natural environment to achieve clearly defined goals that benefit people, salmon, and orcas. In the past, the parks and trail system did not focus on protecting water quality or restoring habitat when it came to operations, capital projects, or pest management. Today, that commitment guides decisions on how to maximize environmental benefits throughout county operations and land conservation.

Enhancing King County Parks’ land management practices is particularly beneficial as the agency protects more open spaces than ever with funding generated by the Parks Levy, which voters approved in 2019. Executive Constantine included $121.5 million in the levy to protect more urban green space, river corridors, and forests as part of King County’s Land Conservation Initiative, a regional partnership to protect 65,000 acres of the highest conservation value open space before they are lost forever.

Relevant links

• Salmon-Safe
• PHOTO GALLERY: Salmon-Safe Parks
• VIDEO: Clean Water Healthy Habitat: based on science, focused on outcomes
• Land Conservation Initiative

Quotes

Our commitment to protecting water quality and improving habitat guides work throughout our entire enterprise, including our world-class parks and trails. Being the largest park system in the country to earn Salmon-Safe certification demonstrates our ability to create safe, healthy environments for the people, fish, and wildlife that call King County home.

Salmon-Safe’s third-party audit shows that King County Parks is a leader among West Coast park systems in taking a holistic approach to its watershed. Taken together, the county’s actions represent an integrated approach and meaningful commitment to the health of Puget Sound and its urban tributaries.

We don’t want to just reduce the impact that our parks and trails have on our natural environment – we want to contribute to cleaner water and healthier habitat. I am grateful for the progress that our staff has made and excited about what we will accomplish in the years to come with help from Salmon-Safe.

For more information, contact:

Chad Lewis, Department of Natural Resources and Parks, 206-263-1250