The group’s recent activities included a local outing to the Middle Green River area between Enumclaw and Black Diamond and another successful Soos Creek restoration event. Group members also gathered for a festive holiday party in December, to celebrate the season and the year’s accomplishments.

Middle Green River Naturalist Outing
On November 12, the skies parted for an outing along Icy Creek and the Middle Green River. Lisa Parsons, Executive Director of the Middle Green River Coalition (MGRC), led our outing. A great group of all ages enjoyed Lisa’s on-site talk at Icy Creek on the history of the area and attempts to preserve its unique heritage. We hiked through lush mature forest to the Icy Creek Overlook trail for a view of the watershed, followed the trail to where Icy Creek comes out of the ground, and continued to Fish & Wildlife hatchery ponds. We then reached the Green River to view resident wildlife and multiple layers of sandstone and coal seams on nearby cliffs.

The Middle Green River and its various tributaries comprise an ecologically rich area deserving protection and preservation. Unfortunately, Icy Creek remains unprotected. The MGRC has struggled to keep Icy Creek on the priority list for protection. For more info, go to www.mgrc.org/index.html.

Soos Creek Restoration Project
In the fall, the group, in cooperation with Friends of Soos Creek and King County Parks, held its 5th semiannual service outing at Soos Creek Park. Twenty-five volunteers, composed of Sierra Club and Friends of Soos Creek members, as well as unaffiliated citizens, turned out. The primary effort was directed at replanting of native species plants (supplied by King County Parks) at the south end of the park. We also cleared and barked areas around plantings done in the spring. Many thanks to our volunteers!