An Environmental Label for the Northwest

Stewardship Partners is collaborating with the Oregon-based Salmon-Safe certification program to recognize farm operations who adopt conservation practices that help restore native salmon habitat in Pacific Northwest rivers and streams. Salmon-Safe farms protect water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and overall watershed health. The independent eco-label is gaining national recognition and appears on a variety of products including wine, dairy, produce, and fruit.

How does Salmon-Safe work?

Salmon-Safe is a third-party certification program that utilizes professional inspectors with experience in both salmon habitat and sustainable agriculture. The farm evaluations are based on a thorough set of guidelines developed by scientists and farmers. The Salmon-Safe label provides credibility, exposure, and marketing opportunities for participating farms.

How does agriculture affect the health of our rivers?

Because our region's major river systems coincide with the most productive agricultural valleys, farmers have a critical role to play protecting water quality and restoring the once abundant salmon populations whose decline has become one of the most pressing environmental concerns facing our region. Poorly managed farms can have a major impact on water quality and habitat. Erosion and runoff can bring silt into the rivers, covering the spawning gravels where salmon eggs hatch, leaving them exposed and unprotected. Chemicals used on farms can wash into the waterways, causing damage to young fish and other water quality concerns. Excessive irrigation can deplete in-stream water supplies. Lack of vegetation along stream banks causes an increase in stream temperature and absence of habitat structures for salmon and other fish and wildlife.

What does it mean for a farm to be Salmon-Safe?

Salmon-Safe certification guidelines require farms to:

• Maintain a buffer of trees and vegetation along the stream banks
• Control erosion by cover cropping bare soil
• Improve passage for migrating fish
• Apply natural methods to control weeds and farm pests
• Use efficient irrigation practices
• Control impacts from animal husbandry
• Protect wetlands, woodlands, and other natural areas
• Promote on-farm plant and wildlife diversity

Salmon-Safe's Origins

Salmon-Safe was originally founded by the Oregon-based Pacific Rivers Council in 1997 and has since spun off as a separate non-profit organization that works with farmers throughout the Northwest to promote conservation practices and habitat restoration. To date, over 40,000 acres of farmland have been certified across different farm sectors including dairy, eggs, wineries, fruit orchards, and vegetable farms. Salmon-Safe farm products have been promoted in over 200 grocery stores throughout the western United States, providing powerful market benefits to participating growers.

Click here to visit the Salmon-Safe Web site.

Washington Salmon-Safe Program

Stewardship Partners is working with the Salmon-Safe program to promote environmental farming practices throughout Washington State. To date, we have recruited over 65 farms into the program, produced professional marketing and promotional materials, and established a marketing presence at area grocers as well as local farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs.

We are working with certified producers to support their marketing efforts and are conducting a retail campaign with PCC Natural Markets, as well as promotional and educational activities to support Salmon-Safe farms. Participating farmers have received attention from various media sources, including local TV, radio, and newspapers. The program is also linking farmers with available resources to improve farming practices and enhance fish and wildlife habitat.

Look for the Salmon-Safe label in PCC Natural Markets and other local grocers as well as at Seattle area farmer's markets and be sure to thank the farmers for doing their part to help protect our region's native salmon.

Puget Sound Businesses become Salmon-Safe

photo credit: resorthotelphotographer.com

Several high profile Seattle-area institutions were honored by Salmon-Safe, Stewardship Partners and its Seattle-based outreach partner The Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability (NBIS), for their commitment to protecting wildlife habitats and improving water quality in the Puget Sound region. The latest prestigious organizations to receive Salmon-Safe certification include the University of Washington's Seattle Campus; REI's headquarters, distribution center and downtown flagship store; the Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park; and PCC Natural Market's Edmonds store. In addition, Turner Construction has been recognized as the first Salmon-Safe accredited construction management company.

To qualify for Salmon-Safe certification, each organization went above and beyond local and state regulations to adopt significant measures to restore in-stream habitat, conserve water, protect streamside and wetland habitats, reduce erosion and sedimentation, and reduce the use of chemical pesticides. Stewardship Partners has also expanded the Salmon-Safe program to residential developments that incorporate low impact development practices and golf courses (see article regarding Tacoma Meadow Park ) that incorporate best practices for pest management, water consumption, and water quality. In partnership with Built Green of King and Snohomish County, we have developed a joint certification program for future Five Star Communities.

Click here to download the guidelines (PDF) for Salmon-Safe farm management certification.

Click here to learn more ways that you can be Salmon-Safe.

For more information contact David Burger at Stewardship Partners via email at .