Hello Walpa!

Spring is in full swing, and so is WALPA! In this edition of the Ripple, we’re sharing exciting WALPA news, a packed calendar of upcoming events, and a robust roundup of Earth Day activities and volunteer opportunities across Washington and Idaho. Stay connected, get involved, and dive into the Ripple!

In 2025, the Washington Lakes Protection Association is offering two student scholarships. 

• The Dave Lamb Memorial Scholarship to a graduate student for $1,000.
• The WALPA scholarship to an undergraduate student for $500. 

Both scholarships will also provide complimentary registration and a $200 travel stipend towards accommodation for each recipient at the annual meeting.

All applicants should send materials in a single Adobe Acrobat PDF file clearly identified by the applicant’s last name to William Hobbs, chair of the Scholarship Committee, at william.hobbs@ecy.wa.gov.

Applications are due by 11:59 PM (PT) on April 30, 2025. The Scholarship Committee will contact applicants in late May/early June to let them know their application’s status. See the WALPA webpage for more details on student scholarships.

• Save the Date! WALPA's Annual Conference will be October 8th through October 10th in Moses Lake, Washington. Stay tuned for our Call for Abstracts and more details!

• Do you have cool items or equipment, and love supporting WALPA and students? Donate to our Annual Conference's silent auction and raffle! With a diverse membership, any contribution will be appreciated and put to great use! WALPA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization so funds from our annual raffle directly support student scholarships, research, and outreach efforts. Please reach out! We appreciate you!



• The 2025 Annual Early Career Panel was a spring success! (See photo below) This year marked the first time the panel was held during the spring semester, drawing over 60 registrants. We really appreciated how engaged the student attendees were. Clark, the panel facilitator, prepared over a dozen questions for the panelists but asked only one, as the microphone was handed over to attendees who asked the questions that mattered most to them. Thank you again to everyone who joined us—and a big shout out to Ty Stephenson for organizing the event and to our panelists: Nikki VandePutte, Katie Ewen, Meghan Bugaj, Dash Paulson, and Dr. Kaitlyn Campbell!

For more on WALPA’s work or how to get involved, visit our website today!

• The Washington State Discover Pass Program has designated 12 days in 2025 when Discover Pass is not needed to park at a State Park or on lands managed by DNR or WDFW lands. This includes Earth Day! Read more at www.parks.wa.gov
• Water Resources Center 2025 Spring Seminar Series. Bring your lunch and learn about water resource issues and research in Washington State in this virtual lunchtime seminar series. Registration required via WRC's website. Upcoming seminars:
• "Evaluation of Drawdown Dynamics and Implications for Groundwater Detectability with Remote Sensing" on Tuesday, April 15 by Dr. Sasha Richey McLarty
• "Evaluation of Remote Sensing Based Monitoring of Lake Water Quality in Washington State" on Monday, April 28 by Dr. Emese Hadnagy, Dr. Gopal Mulukutla, and Dr. James Gawel
• Last Chance to Register! The Spokane River Forum Conference – April 22 & 23 in Spokane, WA. This year's theme is "Our Community, Our River". Find more details online.
• Washington State Environmental Health Association (WSEHA) 2025 Annual Education Conference "Partnerships for an Equitable Future" - April 28-30 in Suquamish, WA. Register for the conference and read more details online. Be sure to catch these Department of Ecology and Health talks:
• "Freshwater Algae and Invasive Aquatic Plant Programs" presented by Joseph Teresi, Wes Glisson, and Shawn Ultican (Department of Ecology)
• "Exposures to both Toxins and Toxics in Lakes", presented by Cecelia Welch (Department of Health), and William Hobbs and Callie Mathieu (Department of Ecology)
• Save the Date! Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) Annual Meeting - July 15-18 in Providence, Rhode Island. This year's theme is "Navigating the Waters: Wetland Science, Evolving Policy, and the Future of Our Landscape". Early bird registration is open now through May 1, 2025. Read more at: swsannualmeeting.com.

Do you have lake news or events to share? Reach out to info@walpa.org to add it to a future issue!

Join WALPA on Thursday, May 8 for the 2025 Western Washington Lakes Workshop! With this year’s Western Workshop theme, “Waves to Engage”, we will dive into the power of community engagement in lake stewardship. This town hall-style event will bring together experts from state and county agencies, local lake communities, and environmental consulting to discuss how individuals and groups can actively participate in protecting and managing their lakes. The event is FREE and will be held online via Zoom. 

Whether you’re a resident, a community leader, or simply passionate about your lake, this event is designed to help you connect, learn, and take action.

The workshop will be driven by what YOU want to know, so come ready with your lake questions!

Earth Day is the perfect time for WALPA members to celebrate the natural beauty of our lakes and reaffirm our commitment to protecting them. Whether it’s through community cleanups, educational events, or restoration projects, there are many ways to get involved and make a meaningful impact.

Here are some upcoming opportunities across Washington and Idaho to volunteer, connect with others, and help protect the environment.

Celebrations & Events

• FREE Electronics Recycling Event hosted by Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and Public Works: recycle your residential electronics with certified technology to securely destroy your private information. Saturday April 26, 10 am to 2 pm. Evergreen State Fair Park, Monroe, WA.
• City of Boise, ID 2025 Earth Day Celebration: food, music, giveaway prizes, crosscut saw demos, re-use crafts, Plinko, native plant seeds, electric vehicle car show, and more! Saturday April 19, 10 am to 4 pm. Veterans Memorial Park, Boise, ID.
• City of Bellingham, WA Earth Week Events: volunteer work party, free recycling drop-off event, children's story time, stormwater tour, and more. All week!
• Choose from many City of Vancouver, WA events: beach cleanup, park beautification, park cleanup, invasive plant removals, and nature challenges. Saturday April 19 and Saturday April 26.
• "Water for Life" film screening presented by the Watershed Alliance of SW Washington Film Series. Film in Spanish with English subtitles. Tuesday April 22, 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Vancouver Community Library, Vancouver, WA.

Write to your Federal Representatives

Urge them to to protect the federal employees, agencies, and funding that support our irreplaceable aquatic resources. Feel free to use this template, find contact information for your representatives in the House and Senate, and read WALPA's statement on our home page.

Volunteer Opportunities

• Volunteer to help out on a WALPA committee! Read up on our committees here, and email info@walpa.org to sign-up!
• Choose from many City of Vancouver, WA events: beach cleanup, park beautification, park cleanup, invasive plant removals, and nature challenges. Saturday April 19 and Saturday April 26.
• Earth Day Stewardship Work Party at North Creek Forest presented by Friends of North Creek Forest. Tools and work gloves provided. Saturday April 19, 10 am to 1 pm. Bothell, WA.
• Earth Day Work Party and Free Pizza at Bridle Trails State Park. Registration required. Work site is 15-minute walk from event area. Saturday April 19, 9 am to 1 pm. Kirkland, WA.
• Annual Earth Day Washington Coast Cleanup to clean coastal beaches alongside WA State Parks. Multiple locations! Saturday April 19, 9 am to noon. Registration required.
• Earth Day River Cleanup at High Bridge Park by Spokane Riverkeeper. Limited supplies provided. PNW Espresso and food truck onsite! Registration required. Saturday April 19, 10 am to 1 pm. Spokane, WA.
• Earth Day Stewardship Event at Deception Pass State Park: guided walks, activities, and conservation work party. Lunch provided. Registration required. Saturday April 19, 10 am to 3:30 pm.
• Earth Day Volunteer Work Party at 21 Acres. Work with staff on restoration and farm projects, learn about regenerative farming and food systems, tour the farm, and shop the Farm Market. Saturday April 26, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. 21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living, Woodinville, WA.
• Earth Day Restoration Party at Duwamish Hill Preserve, presented by Forterra and Delta Air Lines. Remove invasive plants at the Preserve. Friday April 18, from 1 pm to 4 pm. Duwamish Hill Preserve, Tukwila, WA.
• Earth Day Cleanup at Gissberg Twin Lakes Park. Beautify this new City park! Supplies provided. No registration needed. For ages 15 and up. Tuesday April 22, from 2 pm to 6 pm. Marysville, WA.
• Earth Day Cleanup in City of Lake Stevens. Trail Cleanup at Catherine Creek Park (Thursday April 24, 6-8 pm) and park cleanup at Eagle Ridge Park (Saturday April 26, 10 am-noon).
• Earth Day Shoreline Cleanup at Sandpoint City Beach. Shoreline trash cleanup, with free pastries from Winter Ridge Natural Foods and hot beverages from Evans Brothers Coffee. Bring your own supplies. Saturday April 19, 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Sandpoint, ID.
• Earth Day Community Work Party at Squalicum Creek. Remove invasive species near the Squalicum Creek Re-route project. Tools, gloves, and light refreshments provided. Registration required. Saturday April 19 from 9 am to noon. Bellingham, WA.
• Port of Everett Marina and Jetty Island Cleanup Day. Supplies and snacks provided. Transportation to and from the island provided on a first-come first-served basis. For ages 18 and up. No registration needed. Saturday April 19, 9 am to noon. Fisherman's Tribute, Everett, WA.
• Berrydale Tree Forest Salmon Restoration Event, presented by Orca Conservancy, Free the Green, and Women In Environment. Plant trees at the newly added salmon restoration site on Big Soos Creek. Supplies and snacks provided. Family friendly. Saturday April 26, 10 am to 2 pm. Kent, WA.
• Tulalip Tribes & Streamkeepers' Quilceda Creek Tree Planting. Supplies and snacks provided by the Adopt A Stream Foundation. Saturday April 19, 9 am to noon. West Fork of Quilceda Creek, Tulalip, WA.

Event details are subject to change and registration may be required or full. It's advisable to check the links or contact event organizers directly for the most current information.