Family fun awaits at third-annual Duwamish River Festival, Aug. 18

Come see how King County is helping make the Duwamish River a better place for people, fish and wildlife at the third-annual Duwamish River Festival, Aug. 18.  

This free, family-friendly environmental festival features updates on the Duwamish River Superfund cleanup, live entertainment, water taxi rides, food, children's activities, kayak tours, health information, natural yard care tips and more. It's all happening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Duwamish Waterway Park, 7900 10th Ave. S. in the South Park neighborhood.

King County staff from the Wastewater Treatment and Water and Land Resources divisions will be on hand to provide toxin-free samples of sunscreen, nail polish, car wash cleanser and eco-friendly laundry detergent from their information booth. Bert the Salmon, King County's clean-water mascot, will also be there to help emphasize the county's theme of a "Toxic-free Duwamish."

There's also live entertainment featuring the Duwamish Tribe's traditional dance group, "Guelaguetza," a Mexican folk dance group, DJ Jimmy Reynolds, plus gift drawings and games for kids.

Under way since 2000, the goal of the Duwamish Superfund cleanup is to remove contaminated sediments caused by decades of industrial uses and wastewater discharges, and to protect the health of people and the environment.

This year's program sponsors and organizers also include the Environmental Protection Agency (Region 10), the Washington State Department of Ecology, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, the City of Seattle, the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, The Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed Forum, the Port of Seattle, the Boeing Company, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Alki Kayak Tours and NRC Environmental Services.

More information is available at http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wtd/duwamish/events.htm.