Stream, Together:
in Seattle
I loved seeing the fish spawn at Carkeek Park during the
SMA preconference workshop tour. It was almost spir-
itual to hear them run up the river. "Welcome home,"
I wanted to say. "You have been gone for a long time,
and now your journey is complete. Thank you!"
During the conference I connected with Urban and
Community Forestry Assistance Program Manager at
Oregon Department of Forestry Scott Altenhoff and
found out that the City of Eugene, Oregon has a ten-
year alternative paving study underway; a field trip is
being arranged for our city working group. The personal
connection that meant the most was hanging out with
SMA Director Leslie Berkes. I enjoy smart people!
—Leslie Gover, Happy Valley, Oregon City Arborist
urban-forestry.com 13
I really enjoyed listening to Syracuse
City Arborist Steve Harris talk about
the work he's doing in Syracuse,
NY. It gave me so much hope
to hear that the dedication and
planning he's put into the urban
forestry program there is paying
off with important alliances being
formed throughout the City gov-
ernment, and with federal money
being directed to his program.
—Erica Smith Fichman,
Community Forestry Manager,
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
SMA conference attendees took part in the pre-conference tour where they visited
Seattle's stormwater infrastructure natural drainage systems, built over three
decades. The system begins in the neighborhood seen here and ultimately drains
to Pipers Creek where salmon come each year to spawn. Photo by Leslie Berckes
