May is Puget Sound Starts Here Month

(Port Orchard) - Now is the time to celebrate the beautiful place we call home by doing some simple things to protect Puget Sound:

• Choose compost over yard chemicals

• Wash your car on grass or gravel, or go to a commercial car wash

• Pick up after your dog, bag it and place it in the trash

“There are lots of opportunities for people to make a difference in our community,” says Jayna Ericson, Education and Outreach Coordinator with the Kitsap County Surface and Stormwater Management Program. “The Kitsap County Surface and Stormwater Management Program will be sponsoring some events in May and encouraging people to take action to keep our waterways healthy. One fun event will take place at a Seattle Mariners game on May 5. Mariners fans can obtain discounted tickets and a free t-shirt while learning how to protect Puget Sound.”

Puget Sound Starts Here Night at the Mariners
Saturday, May 5, 6:10 pm - Twins vs. Mariners
Join the Seattle Mariners as they team up with Puget Sound Starts Here to teach baseball fans simple things they can do to keep local waterways and Puget Sound clean during “Puget Sound Starts Here Night.”

Each ticket purchase online for this promotion will include a free Puget Sound Starts Here Night t-shirt. Discount tickets are available when purchasing online at www.mariners.com/pugetsound
More information about purchasing tickets is available in this flyer.

Tour the YMCA’s Green Stormwater System
May 10th at 1:00 pm - Silverdale YMCA (3909 NW Randall Way)
Learn about the Silverdale YMCA’s nine rain gardens, pervious concrete parking lot, and permeable interlocking pavers.

Please RSVP by May 9 to Liz Satterthwaite at lsattert@co.kitsap.wa.us or (360) 337-5659. More information about the tour is available in this flyer.

Keeping Our Waterways and Puget Sound Clean
You may see other reminders of ways to keep our waterways and Puget Sound clean during May:

• Coasters and coffee sleeves give clean water tips. The next time you stop in a local coffee house or pub, you may see these coffee sleeves and coasters. You can enter to win prizes by sharing a picture of you with a coaster or coffee sleeve on Puget Sound Starts Here’s Facebook page.

• Participate in a beach walk or habitat restoration event. For a list of events in Kitsap County and throughout Puget Sound, click here

• Learn about natural yard care by visiting the Master Gardeners Info booths at the local farmers markets. Click here  for details.

• Visit the rain garden booth at farmer’s markets. Visit the Kitsap rain garden booth at local farmer’s markets and learn about building a rain garden for your existing home.

• Enter the rain garden photo contest. Send in a photo for the rain garden photo contest at kitsapraingardenphotos@gmail.com. Register your rain garden at www.12000raingardens.org.

• Request a Mutt Mitt station for your community group.

• Sell fundraiser car wash coupons as an alternative to the traditional parking lot fundraiser car wash.

• Use marine pump out stations to dispose of boat sewage properly.

• Inspect and maintain your septic system.

For more information For more information about the Surface and Stormwater Management Program, visit www.kitsapgov.com/sswm.

Some Puget Sound Starts Here photos are available here on Flickr.