Community funds available for waterfront projects

King County has a Grant Exchange Program that brings together different local grant and technical assistance projects to protect watersheds and shoreline habitats. If your community has an idea for an applicable project, you can apply for up to $50,000 in assistance as well as implementation support.

The programs primarily target the following: watershed protection, habitat restoration, reforestation, salmon conservation, and natural resource stewardship. The Grant Exchange is described as a clearinghouse of grant and technical assistance programs offered by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks with the goals of protecting and enhancing the environment, increasing community stewardship, and providing expertise and consultation to projects.

Last year King County awarded 69 stewardship grants totaling over $1 Million, and this amount leveraged the addition of another $2.4 Million to the grantees.

Deadline for applications is May 15th. Contact Ken Pritchard at 206-296-8265 for more info.

Elliott Bay Water Taxi is back in service

The Elliott Bay Water Taxi service - that takes passengers between West Seattle dock at Seacrest Park and downtown at Pier 55 by Spring Street - is back in operation starting April 29th and runs through September 30th this year. There is also an associated free shuttle bus that connects the dock at Seacrest Park to Alki, Admiral District, and West Seattle Junction. It operates 7 days a week and operates throughout the day, with more frequent crossings during commute hours. Fare is $3, and numerous passes and associated discounts are accepted.

A community celebration will be held opening day on Sunday April 29th, including music, family activities, and free rides on the Water Taxi all day.

Safety on the Sound 2007

For all of you boaters out there: A large array of educational and water safety organizations will be hosting Safety on the Sound 2007 at the Des Moines Marina, 22307 Dock Ave S, on Saturday May 12th from 10am - 2pm.

Participants include US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 32, Puget Sound Keeper Alliance, South King Fire and Rescue, Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Safe Kids Program, Boaters World Inc., United States Power Squadron and Poverty Bay Squadron, City of Des Moines Marina, and the King County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit.

Should be informative and helpful as we get ready for a new boating season upon us!

Seahurst Underwater and Beach Web Cam

The University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory and the Occupational Skills Center Marine Technology Center have joined together to provide a near-real-time web camera on the Seahurst Park beach and another web camera located underwater just off the shore. You can see what is currently happening in those two locations, and can also obtain time lapse video that quickly spans an entire day of underwater activity, selected video events of interest, motion capture images, and data plots.