A few years after university researchers discovered that a toxic chemical found in tires was the cause of coho salmon dying in urban streams just before they could reach their spawning ground, our scientists tested a new soil mixture that has proven to be 100% effective at removing the chemical from stormwater in a laboratory.  

They describe it as a potential breakthrough for salmon recovery in King County.

“Coho salmon dying from exposure to a toxic tire chemical just before they return to their spawning ground after their journey to the Pacific is not just a tragedy – it’s an urgent call to action,” said John Taylor, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks. “Our scientists joined their peers to identify a promising solution to a lethal challenge, one that can contribute to the survival of a native salmon species.” 

🎥 Watch the video featuring a few of the scientists behind the research.

📰Read the Seattle Times coverage of this potential breakthrough.

What kinds of trees will thrive in King County as summers here get hotter and drier? Our foresters are conducting research to answer that question now. 

This spring, our staff launched a long-term trial planting native tree seedlings sourced from regions with climates similar to what’s predicted for our area at the end of the century. The seedlings — Douglas-fir, western redcedar, Sitka spruce, grand fir, western hemlock, and ponderosa pine — came from Southwest Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. 

Using U.S. Forest Service climate modeling tools, our scientists selected four sites across King County with a range of growing conditions. Over the next decade, they’ll monitor the trees’ survival and growth to identify which genotypes are best suited for the region’s future climate. 

The project – funded by the King County Parks Levy – is one of several strategies in King County’s 30-Year Forest Plan to improve forest health and resilience for this and future generations. 

🌲 Read the Seattle Times coverage.  

🌿 Learn more about the tree trial.