SEATTLE — This summer, a dedicated group of south Seattle residents is offering a new way to explore the Duwamish River, despite its history and reputation as a dirty body of water because of the industry built around it.
Declared a superfund site in 2001, the Duwamish River makes up the last 12 miles of the Green River, flowing through south Seattle and emptying into Elliott Bay.
It's an area American Canoe Association (ACA) paddle board instructor and guide Lee Lee has spent the last 12 years learning about.
"Originally there was 5200 acres of wetlands that the Duwamish and Salish people lived along and now what's left is about 5 acres of natural wetland," said Lee Lee, river program coordinator with the Duwamish River Access Paddle Program.
Lee also credits 20 years of restoration efforts by the Port of Seattle, along with volunteer groups to bring back salmon and other wildlife that they are now hoping to draw more people into the water.
"Encourage tribal members or native folks or people of color to be able to access the water because historically that’s been difficult," said Lee, pointing to expensive equipment and a limited number of guides able to get groups safely on the water.
That's why earlier this year, Lee applied for and received a $40,000 grant from the Duwamish River Opportunity Fund in partnership with the city of Seattle to develop a first-of-its-kind paid river guide training program for Duwamish Valley residents that now boasts 16 guides.
"It feels amazing," said volunteer regular Ursula Stuart who was among the first to go through the program.
"Learning about safety learning about reading the weather," said Stuart who is a single mom and doesn't have the resources to be able to volunteer as much as she would like.
She received a $100 stipend for the training and now gets paid regularly to take groups out on her own, which Stuart says is a side hustle that provides her with extra income while also feeling like she's helping her community.
"There is a sense of pride when you take a group out and you bring back pounds of trash," she said
The River Access Paddle Program is hosting another paid training in September with priority given to South Seattle residents and those who otherwise wouldn't have access to the water.
To apply, click here.