Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 20, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Kathy Fletcher, People For Puget Sound, 206-382-7007

Gov. Gary Locke Signs Earth Day Proclamation; Participates in Earth Day Shoreline Restoration Project

Gov. Gary Locke today signed an Earth Day Proclamation and planted trees at an Earth Day shoreline restoration event during a celebration near the Duwamish River in Seattle.

Locke signed a proclamation recognizing April 22 as Earth Day in the state of Washington.

"I urge all citizens to participate in local watershed planning activities, to engage with others in habitat restoration projects, and to involve our children so the values of our natural environment can be handed down to future generations," Locke said in the proclamation.

Locke also joined People For Puget Sound staff and volunteers in celebrating Earth Day by planting trees at the Hamm Creek restoration site along the banks of the Duwamish River. Hamm Creek is one of many sites People For Puget Sound is restoring for birds, salmon and other wildlife.

"Today we face the challenge of addressing the consequences of past actions," Locke said. "We must recover and restore our natural systems. We may not be able to restore them to pristine condition, but we can work toward a natural system that is compatible with our communities."

Hamm Creek is one of many sites where People For Puget Sound is working with partners and volunteers to restore habitat for birds, salmon and other wildlife. The Hamm Creek Project was constructed as part of the Elliott Bay/Duwamish Restoration Program, which includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as administrative director, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Muckleshoot and Suquamish tribes, the state Department of Ecology, Seattle Public Utilities, and the King County Department of Natural Resources.

The Army Corps of Engineers was a key participant in construction and continues to cooperate with People For Puget Sound and the NOAA Fisheries Restoration Center/Restore America's Estuaries Partnership to provide the critical ongoing stewardship of the site.

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Related Links:
Office of the Governor: www.governor.wa.gov;
People For Puget Sound: www.pugetsound.org



Earth Day Proclamation

WHEREAS, Washington State citizens are committed not only to the protection and preservation of our environment, but also to the restoration of ecosystems and habitat; and

WHEREAS, the restoration of ecosystems and habitat involves the participation of Washington residents from across the state; and

WHEREAS, volunteers are actively engaged in stream restoration projects in local watersheds, contributing over 250,000 volunteer hours since 2000; and

WHEREAS, federal, state, local, and tribal governments have worked closely together and with non-governmental organizations to implement watershed plans, achieve salmon recovery goals, and complete restoration projects; and

WHEREAS, these restoration projects are yielding results, with nearly 11,000 acres of salmon habitat acquired since 1999, over 1100 fish passage barriers removed, and 1300 miles of stream opened to salmon; and

WHEREAS, local communities in 42 of the state's 62 watersheds have stepped up to initiate watershed plans that will develop local solutions to water and habitat issues;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gary Locke, Governor of the state of Washington, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2004, as

Earth Day

in Washington State, and I urge all citizens to participate in local watershed planning activities, to engage with others in habitat restoration projects, and to involve our children so the values of our natural environment can be handed down to future generations.

Signed this 20th day of April, 2004
Governor Gary Locke

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