The Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed Forum has released a video, “Green the Green,” to raise awareness about protecting this vital watershed.

The Green/Duwamish watershed stretches from the Pacific Crest Trail in the Cascades to Elliott Bay in Puget Sound, and comprises Water Resource Inventory Area 9 – with 16 cities and 700,000 residents. The watershed provides drinking water to the City of Tacoma, fish and wildlife habitat, miles of recreational areas, and is home to billions of dollars of commerce.

“I used to play in the Green River when I was a kid,” said Dennis Robertson, a member of the Tukwila City Council and the Watershed Forum.  “I made summer money picking beans in the farms along its banks when I was in middle school and started fishing it when I was in high school. Now, a bit older, I see the beauty, complexity, and diversity of this watershed and it is a wonder to me. It gives life to so many Pacific Northwest icons. It is worth fighting to preserve.”

The release of the video coincides with the 15th anniversary of the listing of chinook salmon as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

“This is our legacy: I want to leave my grandchildren a healthy river filled with chinook,” Robertson said.  “The river has served us well for centuries, and now it is time for us to treat it better by protecting and restoring it – so that it can continue to provide so much for so many, well into the future.”

“This video really highlights the diversity of the watershed on so many levels – from the vibrant cultures of the people who live there, to the industrial, agricultural, recreational and ecological value that it provides,” said Watershed Coordinator Doug Osterman.

Visit the greenthegreen.com to learn more about the many efforts to restore fish and wildlife habitat, improve water quality and ensure the Green/Duwamish Watershed remains healthy and vibrant home for all.