Over 200 Mountains to Sound Greenway volunteers will plant trees at Lake Sammamish State Park on Saturday, Oct. 17 to kick off the fall tree planting season. The event – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – will begin a campaign to plant over 25,000 native trees and shrubs in several natural areas in the Greenway.

Lake Sammamish is important for several species of salmon, many birds and a wide variety of amphibians, insects and other wildlife, and is an entrance point for salmon headed upstream to spawn. The area has been degraded over time by invasive weeds and high levels of foot and boat traffic.

To improve the ecological condition of the site, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust have undertaken a multi-year restoration project at the park, bringing volunteers to remove invasive weeds, especially Himalayan and Evergreen blackberry, from along the creek and lakeshore.

To date, Greenway conservation corps crews and volunteers have pulled out invasive weeds and planted native trees and shrubs on over 20 acres within the park. Woody debris – large whole trees – were placed along the lakeshore last year to improve salmon habitat. The trees came from clearing for a new park in the Talus development, and were not cut down for this purpose.

This fall, volunteers will plant over 8,000 additional trees at the lake and along Issaquah Creek to continue this major restoration project.

Native trees are considered critical to the health of the Pacific Northwest. Trees improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gases, shade creeks and streams cooling water for threatened salmon, reduce erosion and filter pollutants, improving water quality, and provide important wildlife habitat.

Additional tree planting events are scheduled Saturdays in October, November and December, and will take place in natural areas between Mercer Island and North Bend.

Tree planting funders and partner agencies for the fall season include Carter Motors; REI; King Conservation District; Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office; Seattle Storm; National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; cities of Issaquah, Mercer Island, North Bend; King County; Washington State Parks; U.S. Forest Service.

The Greenway Trust is seeking volunteers for tree planting events each Saturday. To volunteer, visit www.mtsgreenway.org/volunteer or contact 206-812-0122 or volunteer@mtsgreenway.org. Full day and half-day shifts are available.