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Be a Creek Steward
Spotlight on Jay Mirro
Where he works: Longfellow Creek; Brandon St. Natural Area
Time as a Creek Steward: 18 Months
Mode of Work: Monthly Work Parties
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What brought him to the Creek Steward program: Having just moved nearby Longfellow Creek, Jay decided to take an active role by seeking out the Longfellow Creek Watershed Council in 2001. He has been actively involved in projects up and down the creek since then and began working directly with the Creek Steward Program at the Brandon St. Natural Area after creating a master plan for the site with the University of Washington in 2004.
What Creek Stewardship means to him: “Whether leading a work party of 1 or 100, you can make a difference in your little section of Seattle.”
What he does when he’s not battling blackberry: Jay works for the King Conservation District as a Small Farm Planner.
How Creek Stewardship has impacted him: After having moved from the U-district to West Seattle near beautiful Longfellow Creek, Jay was inspired by the large trees and greenery that are hard to find in an urban environment. Through creek stewardship, Jay learned that a sizable portion of that greenery included invasive vegetation, and that their impact can be devastating to the natural system.
What keeps him going out every month: As a citizen of Seattle, Jay feels that it is the least he can do to give back just five or six hours a month for the benefit of the community. Those volunteer hours have helped to clear and mulch an entire acre, transforming a site that was once covered in ivy to a much healthier riparian habitat.
Jay’s most hated weed: Ivy, of course.
Jay’s most beloved native plant: That’s a tough one…vine maple.
Memorable Creek Steward Moments: A work party that Jay held approximately two months ago attracted 75 students from Seattle Pacific University. With four groups working on four different projects, an incredible amount of work was accomplished. That moment, seeing the impact of so many people getting involved and caring about their environment, was extraordinary.
Want to help Jay?
To join Jay at his monthly work parties on Longfellow Creek, check the Creek Steward Events page for upcoming events.
Interested in taking an active role on Longfellow Creek?
Check the Longfellow Creek Watershed Council page for more information about how you can get involved.
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