Sunrise Elementary Partners Celebrate Stormwater Retrofit Project

Students from Sunrise Elementary led community partners in cutting the ribbon of the first phase of a stormwater retrofit project spearheaded by King County on Nov. 8. Students joined representatives from King County’s Water and Land Resources Division, Dirt Corps, Sunrise staff, neighborhood volunteers, and community members in celebrating the installation of four large cisterns with a combined volume of 4,600 gallons (equivalent to 115 bathtubs). These cisterns will reduce stormwater runoff and provide water for onsite gardens. An educational sign co-designed with the school helps explain the role of the cisterns and raingardens in stormwater management and their support of salmon recovery through improved water quality. Members of the school’s Green Team spoke about what they have learned from the experience during the ceremony and also explained the way the cisterns work, with support from project staff.

This project aligns with King County’s Clean Water Healthy Habitat goals and the Bear Creek Stormwater Management Action Plan. It was funded by the county’s subregional opportunity fund. Thank you to King County for selecting Sunrise Elementary as a community-based partner in this effort that both provides a hands-on learning opportunity for Sunrise students while making a difference for the watershed and our community.