King County Parks Earn 'Salmon-Safe' Certification
KING COUNTY, WA King County Parks secured a top environmental certification this week, following a comprehensive review of its efforts to protect water quality and salmon habitats. King County is now home to the nation's largest park system to earn the "Salmon-Safe" certification from a rigorous accreditation program based in Portland.
King County Executive Dow Constantine celebrated the milestone Monday, highlighting the early success of his "Clean Water Healthy Habitat" initiative, launched in 2019. That same year, King County voters approved the Parks Levy, including $121.5 million to help protect more forests, rivers and 65,000 acres of open space.
"Our commitment to protecting water quality and improving habitat guides work throughout our entire enterprise, including our world-class parks and trails," Constantine said in a statement. "Being the largest park system in the country to earn Salmon-Safe certification demonstrates our ability to create safe, healthy environments for people, fish, and wildlife that call King County home."
Salmon-Safe awards certifications to farmers, developers and governments along the West Coast that successfully reduce their impacts on watersheds. In King County, the comprehensive assessment included a thorough inspection of nearly 21 locations, including parks, trails, and other natural areas, along with an evaluation of how effective policies are in action.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/king-county-parks-earn-salmon-safe-certification/ar-AAVAM2y