Program Night: Brightwater and Birds, What Mitigation Means to the Environment

Michael Popiwny and Monica Van der Vieren of the Brightwater team will present an overview of King County’s new Brightwater treatment system, focusing on the Mitigation Program, which includes landscaping, environmental restoration and enhancement, and publicly accessible spaces throughout the system.  The presentation will provide extensive information about mitigation at the Treatment Plant site in Woodinville, including landscaping buffers, the Environmental Education and Community Center, and the site’s “North 40” habitat restoration area and public trails.    

Michael Popiwny is Architectural Design and Mitigation Manager for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.  He led the award-winning site selection process for King County’s Brightwater Wastewater Treatment System which now includes a treatment plant site of 114 acres.  Among his many other responsibilities, Mr. Popiwny is currently overseeing the development of the 150 million dollar community mitigation package (which includes 22 million dollars dedicated to habitat creation and restoration) and directing the LEEDs sustainable design approach for the Brightwater system. 

Monica Van der Vieren currently works in King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division with the community relations team.  While her primary responsibilities involve working with communities during sewer construction projects, she gets opportunities to promote local wildlife at work with associated environmental projects like Brightwater’s North 40 habitat enhancement area.

Birds:  EAS member Jim Rettig has performed bird surveys of the Brightwater site and will talk to us about what birds we can expect to see in the Brightwater “North 40” habitat restoration area. His talk will be illustrated by Gary Luhm’s beautiful bird images.

Special Tour:  We invite you to attend a special Brightwater “North 40” tour of the habitat restoration area on Saturday, April 28 at 9:00 - right before the EAS native plant sale.  

Please join us Thursday, April 26, for this informative presentation on Brightwater. Come at 6:30 for the social hour.  Enjoy a brief monthly meeting and refreshments from 7:00 to 7:45, followed by Monica’s and Michael’s excellent presentation.  Be sure to bring lots of questions for the Brightwater team.

The social hour, meeting, and presentation are free and open to the public.  Invite a friend or anyone who wants to know more about Brightwater or mitigation (or see pretty bird images).

Directions toNorthlake Unitarian Universalist Church, 308 4^th Ave. S. (corner of 4^th Ave. S. and State). Take I-405 exit 18 (NE 85^th, Kirkland).  Drive west on Central Way to 3^rd St. (stoplight). Turn left (south) on 3^rd St. and follow it as it bears left and changes name to State St.  Turn left on 4^th Ave S.