Portland keeps kids off field with high lead level

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PORTLAND -- Portland Public Schools is limiting access to an elementary school field with artificial turf as a precaution against lead.

Children 11 and younger won't be allowed on the field. So, Rieke Elementary School students won't be able to use the field during the school day. The city parks department will limit some of its programs on the field.

The district had independent tests on its three fields after reports about lead in East Coast turf fields.

The district's results were within safety ranges set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. But they exceeded more general recommendations for lead in soil set by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com

Family Vacation

The cultural scablands of Washington state was the location of our family vacation.
Interesting history.

Dry Falls, Steamboat Mountain, & Grand Coulee Dam

Saving Rain

There is this article in today's Seattle PI that mentions an archaic Washington State water law. Click here to read the article.

I decided to do some research- what is this law exactly?

RCW 90.46.130 Impairment of water rights downstream from freshwater discharge points.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, facilities that reclaim water under this chapter shall not impair any existing water right downstream from any freshwater discharge points of such facilities unless compensation or mitigation for such impairment is agreed to by the holder of the affected water right.

(2) Agricultural water use of agricultural industrial process water and use of industrial reuse water under this chapter shall not impair existing water rights within the water source that is the source of supply for the agricultural processing plant or the industrial processing and, if the water source is surface water, the existing water rights are downstream from the agricultural processing plant's discharge points existing on July 22, 2001, or from the industrial processing's discharge points existing on June 13, 2002.

Washington Department of Ecology established the Reclaimed Water And Water Rights Impairment Advisory Committee to assist the agency in examining water right issues and finding appropriate solutions. The Department of Ecology has given themselves to December 31, 2010 to develop and adopt new rules based upon suggestions from the advisory committee.

As a homeowner- I have been looking at collection rain water in containers larger than my 55 - gallon rain barrel and would like to install a cistern. I do not know for sure, but there seems to be a City of Seattle pilot program currently in place called Seattle RainCatcher Pilot.

Seattle Public Utilities Rain water harvesting.

Georgetown Garden Tour

At the US Bank parking lot in Georgetown, we checked in, made a donation and received our map. Photo's are not great, but we are learning. Someone needs a haircut.

Great City - Seattle

Came across a fairly new group- Seattle Great City Initiative.

The Seattle Great City Initiative brings together organizations and individuals committed to making positive, lasting change, breaking down traditional barriers that can get in the way of smart planning and helping Seattle grow and thrive as a truly great city.

They are having a Summer Street Scene Party. Thursday, July 17, 2008.
Vulcan, Inc. is the event host.

Click here to see poster.

I really like the organization's long term goals.

1. Sustainable Practices
2. Social Equity
3. Increase of the Supply of Well Designed Housing
4. Improved Parks and Streets and Public Spaces
5. Green Building Standards
6. Clean Affordable Mobility.

I will try to get myself and my family to this event, but it conflicts with the little's ballet class.