A July 20–21 event to restore the health of the Duwamish River welcomes community members.

by Alex Garland

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The Puget Soundkeeper Alliance (PSA) wants to right some wrongs of the past. A history of using tires to preserve embankments along the Green and Duwamish rivers has led to a massive influx of old tires in the river as storm surges, flooding events, and the natural ability of water to move heavy objects has changed the shape of the river.

On Friday, July 20, and Saturday, July 21, the PSA will sponsor a two-day cleanup of the Duwamish River, with a focus on removing decades-old debris from the river. (An additional event will take place Aug. 17 and 18.) Community members are invited to participate in the event, which will be supported by boats and kayaks. With priorities ranging from stormwater runoff to pollution, from marine debris to toxic cleanups and fossil fuel transport, clean water is the goal.

To Anna Bachmann, clean water program director, the Duwamish River cleanup is a prime example of the organization’s efforts to clear debris from the water and water’s edge. “I’m in charge of our stewardship staff, our education outreach staff, and community science work,” explained Bachmann. “I’m also project manager for two projects at Soundkeeper: the Lost Urban Creek Project and the Salmon and Legacy Debris Project, an ecology-funded initiative that is primarily about public education around the 6PPD tire and salmon issue.”

The Salmon and Legacy Debris Project is a response to the harmful effects of 6PPD, a chemical compound used in tire manufacturing that is lethal to coho salmon. This program involves volunteer cleanup opportunities, which present a new challenge to the group. “We’ve never done a cleanup this large and complicated, involving construction waste, appliances, 55-gallon drums, or tires,” said Bachmann. 6PPD is a compound that helps make tires more durable, but as tires break down through normal wear and tear, 6PPD reacts with ozone to produce 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-q).

According to the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE), the State is taking several approaches to keep 6PPD out of waterways. A long-term goal is to replace 6PPD with a safer product, but in the meantime, the State is working to understand the problem and identify priority areas. They’re also working on ways to manage stormwater to capture and treat 6PPD and 6PPD-q before it enters wetlands on the banks of rivers and waterways, known as a riparian ecosystem. Tires are no longer allowed to be used for revetments or embankment protection, and the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance suggests the use of natural materials when it’s time for homeowners to replace or repair their riverbanks.

“One of the debris sites is near Baker Commodities, a rendering facility with debris dating back 30 to 50 years,” Bachmann said, highlighting the environmental concerns at this site, including deteriorated 55-gallon drums with unknown contents and tires used for embankment protection.

“These dumping sites become areas where other debris collects. Once you leave debris, it becomes an attractant,” said Bachmann. Recent efforts, including an Earth Day cleanup, revealed a significant issue in unpopulated areas. “Over the winter, someone dumped two hundred tires next to the river, and another 25 in drainage near the river. It was in a place where there weren’t any houses or businesses around.” By leaving trash, construction debris, and tires in or near the river, a signal is sent to others looking to dispose of waste, that these areas are unimportant and prime for dumping.

Mike Perfetti, surface water senior program manager for the City of Tukwila, emphasized the City’s supportive role. “Puget Soundkeeper Alliance deserves all the credit. They’re leading this grassroots effort, and as a beneficiary, we are a supportive partner.” Perfetti outlined the City’s commitment to water quality and managing stormwater infrastructure. He noted the detrimental effects of legacy debris on both water quality and public safety. “The debris in the river, like old oil drums and rubber tires, are hazards to people who fish and recreate on the river.”

The importance of a collaborative approach is clear. “As a city, we are focused on development actions and illicit discharge actions upstream to clean up the river and creeks and improve water quality. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance reached out to us to talk about this project. This is a grassroots-led effort to clean up legacy debris that’s been there for decades.” He added that the City and County have been instrumental in organizing key stakeholders and steering the project. “We bring some project experience and are just helping to guide the process. We have a standing offer to the Puget Soundkeeper to pay for some of the disposal of debris.”

Michael May, program manager for Tukwila Parks and Recreation, highlighted the community’s efforts to enhance the recreational use of the river. “We did a master plan for the Tukwila Community Center and, pending funding, we plan to implement an area behind the center adjacent to the river for launching small craft like kayaks and canoes.” Bachmann hopes that opening river access will help give people a sense of ownership and through that, become better stewards of Seattle’s only river.

May also mentioned the ongoing maintenance efforts by Park staff and the Green Tukwila Partnership, which focuses on restoration within parks, but says, “Groups like Puget Soundkeeper and Earth Corps work along the riverbank, planting native vegetation and enhancing the natural habitat.”

Other organizations, like the Duwamish River Community Coalition (DRCC), are more focused on addressing the river as a Superfund site, a designation the river received in 2001 when the Environmental Protection Agency found it to be one of the most toxic places in the nation. The DRCC aligns with groups like the Puget Soundkeeper to share resources, which allows groups to split their focus on different areas of the river and different issues involved with cleanup.

Jamie Hearn is a policy director at the DRCC and works on climate policy, including toxic cleanup of the Superfund site. “We can rely on each other for certain areas, and the tire stuff is something we really rely on Puget Soundkeeper to keep us informed on.” Cross-promotion on websites and social media helps get the word out about volunteer opportunities. “When folks are really plugged in with our work, they also are pretty involved or pretty informed about Puget Soundkeeper’s work as well.”

Alicia Kellogg, the Duwamish basin steward at King County, explained the County’s support for the project, including coordinating with a County archaeologist to ensure cultural resources are protected. “One of the many Green-Duwamish efforts I am supporting is the legacy debris cleanup project initiated and led by Puget Soundkeeper Alliance,” said Kellogg.

The DOE is also a significant partner, providing funding and support through the Public Participation Grants. “Ecology’s grant award is for a total of $107,499 over two years,” said Scarlet Tang, the Northwest Region communication manager for the DOE. “We are working with two other state agencies, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, to remove tire reefs from Puget Sound,” Tang added. “Our Waste Tire Cleanup Program Evaluation Report has more information about Ecology’s work on tire removal.”

The department’s efforts extend beyond just tire removal, aiming to improve overall water quality. “We’re focused on managing stormwater to capture and treat 6PPD and 6PPD-q before it enters our local waters,” they explained.

Reflecting on the challenges of river cleanup, Bachmann noted, “Every time I come down, it’s different. Debris gets moved around by the water. Removing stuff that’s been stuck in the riverbank for many years means that it’s stuck in sediment. To remove a lot of sediment into the river, like to excavate in the sediment, requires permits.” With the lower Duwamish an EPA Superfund site, years of industrial runoff, illegal dumping, and toxic accidents have deposited pollutants in the mud and muck of the entire Duwamish.

The July cleanup also aims to foster greater community engagement with the river. “I kind of wanted to do this project up here because I feel like no one ever gets to see this section of the river. It’s really a pretty section despite all its problems,” Bachmann said.

As the PSA prepares for the cleanup, Bachmann remains optimistic about the community’s involvement and the river’s future. “I feel that the future looks bright … People have been really interested in getting involved in the cleanups, and if we can improve access to the upper part of the river, people will engage with and, as a result, I think will become better stewards of the river.”

The collaboration between the PSA, local government, and community groups highlights the shared responsibility in maintaining and improving the health of the Duwamish River. As Chief Seattle once said, “The rivers are our brothers, they quench our thirst. The rivers carry our canoes, and feed our children. If we sell you our land, you must remember, and teach your children, that the rivers are our brothers, and yours, and you must henceforth give rivers the kindness you would give any brother.”

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Anyone interested in getting involved can go to the website LegacyDebrisCleanup.org and check the events page. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance is also holding an intergenerational day camp and those interested can get on the mailing list to get advance notice by filling out an interest form.

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Editors’ Note: This article was updated on 06/14/2024 to correct the spelling of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance as well as correct the date of the upcoming cleanup event.

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📸 Featured Image: A bridge spans the Duwamish River, offering a glimpse of both the lush greenery and the industrial areas nearby. (Photo: Alex Garland)

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