By Morf Morford
Tacoma Daily Index

If you look at a map or if you glance out a window of a plane approaching the airport you may notice immediately that we in the Puget Sound area live in fairly small stretch of land between a mountain range and the sea.

We have recreational possibilities – and hazards – inconceivable to most of the rest of the country.

We might complain about “sprawl,” but our “sprawl” is miniscule compared to what is possible  – or even already existing – in much of the country if not the rest of the world.

For better or worse, much of the greater Puget Sound area is too wet, too steep or too unstable to be “developed.”

If any of our mountains erupt, or if the sea levels rise, or if intense forest fire break out (as they have in recent years) we are among the first to feel their fullest impact.

In other words, our proximity to nature is closer and more intense than most.

The City of Tacoma has a variety of suggestions and classes for those who want to be more actively involved.

Workshops on gardening, yard waste and worm bin composting, rain barrels and more, weekends at the EnviroHouse (3510 S. Mullen St.). For more information and to pre-register, visit cityoftacoma.org/Envirohouse.

Other ways to get involved include: 

Choose to use a professional car wash to keep suds off the streets and keep oil, heavy metals and toxic chemicals out of Puget Sound.

Apply for a Make a Splash Grant for a reimbursement of up to $4,000 to complete a project to help prevent stormwater pollution. Applications are due June 1.

Join the City of Tacoma, Pierce County, Port of Tacoma and City of University Place at the Tacoma Rainiers: Thursday, May 24, game time 7:05 p.m., at Cheney Stadium (2502 S. Tyler St.). Celebrate Puget Sound Starts Here and meet Scoopy Doo.

Apply for and be a sponsor of a Neighborhood Pet Station to keep pet waste out of Puget Sound. For more information, contact Program Manager Aaron Copado at acopado@cityoftacoma.org or call (253) 502-2220.

Pick up some TAGRO at the Central Treatment Plant to give your lawn or garden a boost.