Think we're doing something right? Something wrong? Want to give us your views on a particular issue? Then please write to us. To promote public dialogue on fish and wildlife matters, WDFW Director Jeff Koenings encourages you to drop him a line.You can e-mail the Director at director@dfw.wa.gov, or you can mail your letter to: Dr. Jeff Koenings, Director Washingon Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501-1091

August 17, 2000 Mr. Jeff Koenings, Director Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife MS-43200 – 600 Capitol Way North Olympia, WA 98501-1091 Subject: WDFW, SPU, and Community Collaborative Project in Thornton Creek Dear Dr. Koenings: The staff of Seattle Public Utilities extends our appreciation to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for your agency's efforts to increase our understanding of salmon in Seattle's urban creeks. We also wish to acknowledge the role your agency played in improving and strengthening the relationship between community and government, and commend Dave Seiler and his staff for making this collaborative research project a success. The project was a smolt trapping experiment conducted in Thornton Creek last May. The project relied upon the support and participation of the community to help maintain the trap. Dave Seiler selected the site, and he and his staff designed, constructed, and installed a smolt trap in Thornton Creek. They trained SPU staff on how to maintain the trap, and they checked the trap daily to release fish/record data, and to make adjustments to the trap, as needed. The results not only provided new information about coho in urban creeks, but the work had other important benefits as well. The research helped to improve and strengthen the relationship between the community and city/state government because it responded to the community's request to be involved in a meaningful way in their watershed. It also provided an exciting public education/outreach opportunity, and a new direction for the City's Salmon in the Classroom Program. This year the community and local schools will be invited to participate directly in researching natural salmon production in urban creeks by halting the practice of releasing hatchery salmon fry in Thornton, Longfellow, and other urban creeks, beginning next spring. The City of Seattle seeks to balance its responsibility to maintain urban creeks as an integral part of the natural drainage system, with protecting and restoring creeks as public resources for aquatic organisms and the community. The smolt trapping research led by WDFW last May was an important component in increasing our understanding of salmon in urban creeks, and in building a trusting relationship between government and the community. Please extend our appreciation to your staff for their contribution to this successful endeavor. We look forward to the opportunity to work with your agency in the future. Katherine Lynch Sr. Environmental Analyst, Urban Creek Biologist Seattle Public Utilities / City of Seattle

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