Supporter Spotlight: Sally Lawrence
This month, we’re excited to spotlight Sally Lawrence, a passionate advocate for public land conservation and a driving force behind the Save Coal Creek Campaign. As a dedicated leader, Sally was at the forefront of efforts to protect the Coal Creek natural area, working relentlessly to conserve this precious landscape and ensure it remained accessible for generations to come. Her leadership was crucial in mobilizing community support and achieving the campaign’s remarkable success.
At Milt's birthday party, March 2024, photo courtesy of Sally Lawrence
By Sally Lawrence
My husband and I moved to Seattle from the East Coast in 1983 to live in a place with mountains and gorgeous landscapes. We tried to instill a love of nature and hiking in our two kids (now 35 and 33). My first hikes with the Issaquah Alps Trails Club (IATC) introduced me to Harvey Manning’s successful efforts to conserve our local foothill open spaces amid the mushrooming suburbs. This influenced my commitment to volunteer locally after retirement. Even before retiring I volunteered with the Bellevue Stream Team. I made physical measurements of Coal Creek, looking for sources of erosion and measuring tree canopy. I fell in love with its deep ravines, cascading waters, and trees dripping with moss.
One of the ways I experience nature is hiking. A favorite local hike is an eight-mile loop on Cougar Mountain. Starting on the Red Town Trail, the route heads south, connecting with the Indian Trail, then the Shy Bear Trail, followed by the Deceiver Trail, before looping back along the Quarry Trail. The trail passes two beautiful waterfalls. My first hike there was unforgettable. A chattering of birds alerted me to a young black bear climbing down from a log—an experience I treasure. On weekdays, these trails feel like a quiet sanctuary, with just the birds as company.
Sally testifying at Bellevue City Council meeting
When I began leading the Save Coal Creek campaign in March 2020—just as the pandemic shutdown began—my connection to nature became even more important (thankfully, the Issaquah Alps allowed me to continue enjoying the outdoors on trails—yay!). Once I learned about the proposed development, it was easy to jump in with both feet and work to increase awareness. I believed it was so important that the former Milt Swanson property be added to the two adjacent public parks, it was worth spending a ton of time helping the cause. As a Bellevue resident, I accept that the city will continue to grow, bringing change with it. We're fortunate to live in a thriving economy. However, with rapid urbanization there is also a responsibility to save and create as much open space as we can. New residents need nearby open spaces to breathe and relax.
My love for nature comes from my parents, who raised four kids in mostly rural places. But they were not adventurous—it was my grad school boyfriend David, later husband—who introduced me to hiking and camping. I studied biology and college and oceanography in graduate school and became increasingly interested in the interplay between a species and its environment. Although I did not remain in research, this science background was really essential to my work as a water quality specialist for Department of Ecology.
Looking for amphibians in Klondike Marsh; photo courtesy of Sally Lawrence
What's ahead in 2025? The success of the Save Coal Creek campaign is still fresh, having been achieved just this past December 10th! I'm still adjusting to the news. We'll find a way to celebrate Save Coal Creek's success, though it's still unknown how that will unfold. In the meantime, I’ve found other ways to avoid household chores, haha. One of them is learning more about our local wildlife, which is an indirect way to contribute to conservation. I’m part of Woodland Park Zoo’s Citizen Science Project, "Amphibians of Washington," and, with my friend Hilary Barnes as co-lead, will lead a team for the fourth year to document (photos only) amphibian eggs and other life stages at Klondike Marsh on Cougar Mountain. I’m also involved with Bats Northwest, a Seattle non-profit that educates the public on the ecological value of bats and the importance of protecting them. For me (the nature nut), there’s nothing more satisfying than coming home exhausted after three hours in the cold and dark at Mercer Slough, recording bat echolocation calls with a hand-held detector.
Hiking with husband David in 2024; photo courtesy of Sally Lawrence.
And my husband and I are avid travelers. So this month, we’re off on a quest for sun and warmth— we'll head to a place where we can snorkel and hike and see colorful birds and fish.
Learn more about the history of the Save Coal Creek campaign here.