After months of negotiations, City Councilman Richard Conlin, says there is an agreement between the city and environmental groups over the restoration of wetlands and creeks around the city's new Joint Training Facility in White Center.

"I am pleased that all parties at the table have agreed on a solution. The city must walk its environmental talk when it comes to our wetlands, creeks, and streams."

The agreement states that Seattle Public Utilities will consider ideas to restore or enhance Hamm Creek, Lost Fork/Durham Creek, Marra Farms, and watersheds in their vicinity, including ideas submitted by the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition and other community entities, and will identify projects that have environmental benefits and can be done within a budget of approximately $300,000 to $500,000. The City Council appropriated $400,000 for the work.

The projects could include work on city properties in these watersheds. The agreed-upon work could require regulatory agency approval, however. In any scenario, the final proposal shall not interfere with existing buildings, facilities and/operation of the city's Joint Training Facility. Conlin says all parties will recognize both the work the city has done in meeting the requirements of the previous settlement agreement between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city about the Joint Training Facility's site. In addition, he says all parties acknowledge the value both the city and the Clean-up Coalition places on watersheds in this vicinity, and commit to working together to find one or more projects that will restore and enhance these watersheds.

"Creeks and wetlands are a vital part of our urban ecology," says Conlin. "The city should always try to protect and enhance their health. I am very pleased we were able to reach an understanding between the environmental community and the city to move forward together toward such goals."