Natural Environment and Ecosystems

Why are the natural environment and ecosystems important for sustainability?

A healthy, functioning natural environment is essential to life. Streams provide a place for plants and animals to exist in an urban environment, and support salmon, who need clean water. Our urban forest helps to clean our water and air, provides shade, fights climate change and contributes to a more livable city. Our parks and open spaces provide beauty and places for all of us to relax.

Kirkland influences how clean and healthy Lake Washington is for humans and wildlife because rain carries pollution from wherever it falls.

What's a watershed and how does it connect to the health of our environment?

A watershed is an area of land that drains to a particular water body. Most of Kirkland is within the Lake Washington watershed. That means Kirkland influences how clean and healthy Lake Washington is for humans and wildlife because rain carries pollution from wherever it falls. Other cities along the lake are also in the Lake Washington watershed, so it’s vital to work together to protect the lake’s water quality and watershed health.

How was Kirkland doing before adopting the Sustainability Master Plan?

• Kirkland’s creeks and lakes face water quality and habitat challenges typical of urbanizing areas.
• More than 119 acres of City owned natural areas and open space park lands have been enrolled in restoration.
• From 2010 to 2018, citywide tree canopy cover dropped by 272 acres, mostly in single family residential areas.
• More than 90 percent of residents live within a ten minute walk of a park.

What key natural environment and ecosystems goals are included in the Sustainability Master Plan?

 Key natural environment and ecosystems goals include:

• Protect and clean the water in Kirkland’s streams, lakes and wetlands for people and wildlife
• Restore 500 acres of natural area
• Use less pesticides in parks and City properties
• Ensure that all community members have access to parks and open space within a 10-minute walk
• Continually improve parks and reduce participation barriers to meet all residents’ recreational needs
• Increase tree canopy cover and optimize tree preservation and planting for health and equity

How can the community help meet these goals?

• 

  Hand-pull weeds in your yard and avoid using chemical pesticides
• Build healthy garden soil with compost and mulch
• Wash your car at a commercial carwash instead of at home
• Volunteer with the Green Kirkland Partnership to restore Kirkland’s natural areas
• Scoop your pet’s waste, bag it, and put in the trash
• Plant a native tree(PDF, 8MB), and don’t cut down trees unless needed for safety
• Advocate for making progress towards identified goals at the Planning Commission, Parks Board, and City Council