By Jana Hill
For the Herald
How many bankers does it take to improve a watershed? The answer on June 4 was "34."
A group from Washington Mutual Bank closed up shop at a newly established loan-processing center in Lynnwood on Tuesday to remove invasive weeds, plant native vegetation and install storm-drain filters to improve the North Creek watershed. And they did it on the clock.
Dirk Douglas, operations supervisor for Washington Mutual, said the event was part of a nationwide program of the company called Neighborhood Works.
"Because we’re so brand new, we could afford to shut down for a day," he said.
"Every division in the company — 45,000 plus people — are volunteering in our communities" Monday through Saturday of this week, said Allen Myers, regional manager for Washington Mutual.
The Lynnwood event served a dual purpose of helping out a nonprofit organization, Northwest Stream Center, while giving a new workforce a chance to get to know one another.
In addition to the community and social benefits, volunteers were able to learn more about stream-keeping and what they can do to protect the watershed they live in.
On Tuesday, the focus was installing filters in storm water drains purchased by Snohomish County Surface Water Management that are designed to collect oil flowing off parking lots. By the end of the day, volunteers had installed filters in all five storm drains in McCollum Park parking lots, where the Northwest Stream Center is located.
Tom Murdoch, Adopt-a-Stream’s director, said the filters will collect about 60 percent of the oil in the parking lots.
"A quart of oil will befoul 250,000 gallons of drinking water," he said.
Douglas said before the effort began a lot of his staff "knew nothing about stream-keeping."
Now, Murdoch said, they’re becoming "wetland restoration technicians."
Each volunteer received a yearlong membership in Adopt-a-Stream, giving them access to the Northwest Stream Center’s research library and lowered rates on classes and events.
Several of Washington Mutual’s newly hired loan coordinators soaked up the knowledge gained Tuesday.
Stacy Meissner, a Lake Stevens resident, said she learned "how much cars contribute to polluting stuff and how serious it is to pollute the water."
Kim Nguyen of Lynnwood said when she arrived Tuesday morning, "I just thought we were here to pick weeds." Now, she said, she will find out what it will take to get a storm drain filter installed in front of her home. The new set of goals is a bit of a shift in perceptions for Nguyen.
"I’ve never considered myself an environmentalist and saving the earth until, I guess, now," she added.
Jana Hill writes for the Enterprise Newspapers. She can be reached at janahill@heraldnet.com or 425-673-6533.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
