SALMON SAFE PROGRAM
Since 1996, Salmon Safe has been operating in the Cascadia Region, certifying products and projects through the lens of bioregional health. Previously used primarily to evaluate farms, vineyards, and agricultural products, the Salmon Safe certification program has expanded to include landscape and site projects, such as parks, golf courses, residential developments, and campuses, as well as urban development and infrastructure work. To build a network of firms and companies with expertise in Salmon Safe practices, the organization has created new accreditation programs for contractors, developers, and design firms.
Walker Macy became a Salmon Safe Accredited Design firm in 2024 to further strengthen our commitment to regional ecosystem health and to enhancement of local and regional watershed health. Our regional certification in the Pacific Northwest focuses on the development of projects with superior habitat protection and restoration, enhanced urban ecological function, green infrastructure solutions, and climate resilience.
Even before certification, Walker Macy has a long history of Salmon Safe projects, including the Allen Institute for Brain Science, UW Bothell/Cascadia Campus, and work at Portland State University and Lewis & Clark College. We also collaborate with municipal agencies that are certified at an organizational level, including City of Portland Parks & Recreation, City of Eugene Parks & Open Spaces, and Port of Seattle.
Associate Principal Jason King has collaborated with Salmon Safe for the past 15 years on the development of Salmon Safe standards for urban development and infrastructure projects. Jason has also been a subject matter expert for landscape architecture, green infrastructure, and urban ecology as part of the organization’s Interdisciplinary Science Team, and he has reviewed over 30 projects throughout Washington and Oregon since 2010.
PROJECT FOCUS: Elliott Bay Connections
Elliott Bay Connections (EBC) in Seattle is a public-private partnership to connect, restore, and revitalize public parks along the Elliott Bay waterfront from Pier 62 to the beach just south of Smith Cove. The entire project will improve two miles of waterfront, including a new pedestrian and bicycle greenway along Alaskan Way (the Greenway Project) and improvements to Myrtle Edwards and Centennial Parks (the Parks Project).
The Walker Macy team led the Salmon Safe project accreditation, convening design team members to develop strategies and collaborating with the owner and consultant team to understand the criteria and their alignment with the Salmon Safe goals. Because the Salmon Safe system is not checklist-based, it focuses on project performance and not prescriptive methods. The design team took a hands-on approach to the development of documentation to meet all the required criteria and worked with the assessment team to provide clarifications that led to successful certification in April 2025.
The key design element is restoration and enhancement of shoreline habitat at two pocket beaches in Myrtle Edwards Park. The project aims to enhance shoreline habitat by repairing or replacing existing riprap armor with habitat gravel, cobble, and beach sand. The improved habitat for salmon and other species is enhanced through inclusion of driftwood/logs, stumps, and boulders. The design seeks to preserve approximately 700 existing trees, with tree removal capped at 5%. Approximately 140 new trees—primarily conifers, oaks, and dogwoods—will increase the taxonomic diversity of trees in the area and improve canopy resilience to pest pressures. Understory shrubs and native meadow grasses will also be planted in many areas where lawns currently exist.
An efficient irrigation system and emphasis on native vegetation in the landscaping design, should minimize the amount of potable water used for irrigation. Broader goals of the site include carbon sequestration, adaptability to climate change, and connections for the project to the Coast Salish culture.
The project is currently under construction, which also includes Salmon Safe compliance for construction activities. Once construction is completed, the project will be monitored and re-certified regularly, and maintained in compliance with Salmon Safe Integrated Pest Management practices. The Walker Macy team will continue to be involved in ensuring the project construction and maintenance attain high levels of ecological health and shoreline protection.