Good afternoon from all of us here at DERT! 

It’s autumn, now, and besides the onslaught of pumpkin spice, gorgeous foliage, and being able to get our favorite jackets out again, this means…. It’s almost time for the Department of Enterprise Services to announce THE FINAL DECISION in the Environmental Impact Statement process for the future management of Capitol Lake / Deschutes Estuary. This is the moment that has been on our minds since the very beginning of DERT… and here we are, almost! DES will announce their decision on the future of the Deschutes Estuary on Monday, October 31. 

There will also be a (virtual) Community Sounding Board meeting, open to the public on November 1 from 6:30-8:30pm.  View meeting info here. 

Click here to read DERT’s full fall address and learn more about DERT’s behind the scene moves towards estuary restoration! 

Please consider donating to DERT today. You are part of the vision and hard work that guarantees the Deschutes River WILL meet Puget Sound without a barrier. Together, we will continue to advocate for the removal of the 5th Avenue Dam to restore our urban estuary.

We’re looking forward to our celebration this Saturday, 10/22 from 2-6pm at the Rose Garden at Squaxin Park in Olympia. Stop by for a glass of wine or beer, purchase some delicious food from Olympita, have good conversations, & if you participated in our online auction you can pick up your items! We also will have a live raffle with some special local items. Join us!

In Case you Missed it: 

On Friday, October 7, The 5th Avenue Dam: Reflections on Capitol Lake storymap and walking tour debuted as part of Olympia's fall arts walk. 

The tours collection can be accessed on any internet-connected device (no app download is needed) at https://arcg.is/1O5D0a

Together the tours reveal hard truths about how the landscape of Olympia today was created: through forced removal of the Indigenous inhabitants, destructive settler-colonial practices and industrial development, the racialized displacement of immigrant and working-class communities, and subsequent altering of the natural ecology. Yet equally as prevalent in this history is the resilience of the natural and social communities, and the power of contemporary efforts for their revitalization.

Using the ArcGIS StoryMaps platform, the web-based tours combine narrative text with historical and contemporary imagery including maps, audio, video, and data visualization, bringing Olympia's history to the palm of your hand. Users can follow the tours in chronological order, or select particular topics to learn about at different times; each tour takes about an hour.

The tours collection produced by Evergreen students is part of the “Walls Tell Stories, Olympia” project, created by Art Forces (based in Olympia and the San Francisco Bay Area) and supported by the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice (Olympia).

You can view the virtual tours and story maps anytime-- here! 

Goodbye, Ann! 

All of us at DERT are sad to see one of our long-standing Board Members, Ann Butler, retire from DERT. Ann is off to new adventures! If you've worked with us at volunteer events, chances are, you've probably met Ann and caught her contagious smile. She will be missed! 

A note from Ann: There are so many exciting initiatives for the Deschutes River and Estuary in the coming years. Forming the Deschutes Watershed Council - to bring partners together to improve water quality in the Watershed; removal of the 5th Avenue dam and restoration of the Deschutes Estuary; Waterkeeper for South Sound. DERT needs funding to support these actions - keeping the pressure on for estuary restoration, continuing education and engagement of residents in the watershed and maintaining our waterkeeper activities. 

At this time in the life of a nonprofit it’s even more challenging to obtain grants and foundation funds. DERT is no longer a “start up” non profit and not quite an established stronghold of financial security. Which is why it’s so important that you lend your financial support now. Thanks for considering.

Booklets and brochures and info-- oh my! 

DERT has brand new resources in the works for your office or classroom.

Our new brochure is a great resource for introducing DERT and all the work we do, and our new pollution reporting materials are packed with resources for spotting and reporting pollution in your community.  

If you would like to schedule a time pick up these resources, please email Jae at

Harris-Townsend@deschutesestuary.org

Say YEStuary with these fantastic designs--

T-shirts are available for a $20 donation and hats (black or red) are available for a $15 donation. Sweatshirts are also available for $35. 

1. Donate here 
2. Email our Outreach Coordinator, Jae, with your size or hat color. They will verify your donation and arrange pick up. Email Jae at harris-townsend@deschutesestuary.org
3. March on down to pick up your merch!

Alternately, stop by Squaxin Park on Saturday to pick out your merch!

NEWS IN THE WATERSHED

Here's what we've seen happening in the news! 

• Wild Fish Conservancy and Thurston Conservation District were awarded $145,599 to enhance a tributary in the Deschutes Watershed. View more awards here. This one is mentioned on page 47. 
• Capitol Lake hangs in the balance as state evaluates future management options. KNKX. 

Do you have watershed news to share? Send it to Jae, our Outreach Coordinator, at harris-townsend@deschutesestuary.org

Looking for an opportunity to meet new people and help the environment? 

Volunteer with DERT! 

Tabling and flyering opportunities available. 

Canvassing experience is welcome but not required. 

Do our emails get lost in your promotion tab? Here is a quick trick to make sure our newsletter goes directly into your primary inbox*. Simply click on the email in your promotions tab, and drag it up and over to your primary tab. Voila! From now on, every DERT email will go directly to your primary tab!

For more information CLICK HERE

*This tip is for those who use Gmail, but it may be applicable to other platforms.

As a community dedicated to protecting the Deschutes watershed and South Puget Sound, we must all keep an eye out for potential pollution incidents when we are out and about. This page contains a list of who to call to report a pollution source - click the organization name to be directed to their site.

DERT's South Sound Healthy Watershed Program operates thanks to our sponsoring foundations and donors like you. Did you know that donors are now able to set up automatic recurring monthly donations in any amount? Follow the link to the right to get set up. Thank you for working with us towards a free Deschutes!