Pədt̕aqa Forest (working title) represents the flora and fauna of the Fauntleroy Creek watershed in West Seattle.

This new West Seattle arboretum was founded by the students of Summit Atlas School.

Pədt̕aqa means “time of the salalberry” or “moon of the salalberry” (late summer) in the Coast Salish language, Lushootseed.

Click this link to hear the pronunciation: pədt̕aqa
(https://tulaliplushootseed.com/encyclopedia/pdt̕aqa/?yr=2023&month=11&dy&cid=mc_mini_widget-3)

We hope that it is indeed the time of the salalberry in our watershed, which has suffered so much destruction over the last two centuries. Although the original old growth forest is now gone, we invite all who now live in the Pədt̕aqa Forest to help take part in its restoration. Restoration and management is in the care of hardworking volunteers from the Fauntleroy Watershed Council and the City of Seattle.

This project supports the Commission’s Fauntleroy Watershed Action Plan by fostering “beneficial native plant species in public spaces while keeping invasive species at bay and encouraging private property owners to do the same.”

Property owners in the bounds of the watershed are invited to add their trees to the “living collections” of this new West Seattle arboretum using the iNaturalist app or website.

HISTORY

October 2024: students from Summit Atlas School, in collaboration with the Fauntleroy Watershed Council and the City of Seattle, are in the process of creating Seattle’s newest accredited arboretum.