Showing posts with label surface water. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surface water. Show all posts

StreamFest September 14, 2024 at Log Boom Park

Thursday, September 12, 2024

An event to celebrate the rivers and streams feeding north Lake Washington will be held at Log Boom Park, 17415 61st Ave NE, Kenmore WA 98028 on Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 1 - 4pm.

Kayaking, music, fly fishing demo, and science demonstrations will be the order of the day.

The event is free and open to the public.


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Salmon Friendly Lakes: Lakeshore Resident Webinar

Monday, September 9, 2024

Lakeshore Resident Webinar
Wednesday, October 23, 
6pm to 7pm
Online via Zoom

Shorelines are hallmarks of the Pacific Northwest landscape. They provide safe access to water for recreation and leisure, and they provide critical habitat for keystone species, like native salmon. 

Join King Conservation District and Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group for a free online webinar for shoreline residents of Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish and those generally interested in Washington State lakeshore health.

Register Now


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Lake Ballinger cleared for recreation - no blue-green algae found in lake

Friday, September 6, 2024

Lake Ballinger
Photo courtesy City of Mountlake Terrace
After an initial scare about a sighting of blue-green algae in Lake Ballinger, both Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace staff agree that the lake is open for recreation.  

No further instances of potential blue-green algae have been witnessed since the first reported sighting over a week ago.  

They ask the public to remain cautious and always keep an eye out for new potential cyanobacteria.  

If you see anything in the lake, take a photo and provide details of when, where, amount, color and even direction headed to help with sampling.

Send the information to:
--Diane Hettrick

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Salmon Seeson - view spawning salmon in local streams

Tuesday, September 3, 2024


Welcome, September! Welcome, salmon “see-son”!

Through late fall, salmon will return to King County rivers and streams to spawn. This is a wonderful opportunity for families and kids of all ages to learn about Pacific salmon and witness their incredible journey. 

The King County Department of Natural Resources has rounded up the best locations for salmon viewing  - and three of them are in Lake Forest Park


And here are the local viewing spots in Lake Forest Park:
The next closest locations:

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Toxic algae - Echo Lake and possibly Lake Ballinger

Friday, August 30, 2024

Toxic algae in Echo Lake
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

Echo Lake
and the swimming beach remain CLOSED due to toxic algae and fecal bacteria.

The water is unsafe -- do not swim, fish, wade, or enter it. Do not let dogs enter or drink the water. 

Toxic algae can cause severe illness or death in humans and animals. 

Shoreline City staff will continue testing the water and will reopen the lake only when King County Public Health determines it is safe to do so.

Ballinger Lake - the City of Edmonds is warning about an algal bloom in Ballinger Lake. They sent a drone around the perimeter of the lake and determined that the algae was all around the edges. They have not tested it yet but warn people to be cautious and stay out of the water for now.

--Diane Hettrick

 

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Echo Lake Closed due to Algae Bloom

Thursday, August 22, 2024

File photo from previous algae bloom in Echo Lake
Photo by Ann Michel

Echo Lake is to remain closed due to high fecal bacteria levels. 

The City recommends that people and pets do not swim, wade, fish, or engage in other activities that would cause contact with water. 

Please do not allow pets to drink the lake water. For water quality updates, visit www.shorelinewa.gov/waterquality and kingcounty.gov/swimbeach.

The City will continue to monitor and sample the lake weekly for both bacteria and algae concentrations and we are working with King County Public Health to reopen the lake as soon as it is safe to do so.

As a general reminder, please help us prevent high fecal bacteria levels by:
  • Keeping dogs on leash and picking up pet waste.
  • Not feeding water birds in the area. Ducks & geese poop where they are fed and, when fed on the beach, their droppings can cause fecal bacteria levels to spike.
The previously scheduled cattail pulling parties have been cancelled.


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Op-Ed: Removing fish barriers to improve salmon habitat and transportation for generations to come

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Crews work to install a buried, concrete box-like structure that will allow Skagit River fish better access under SR 20 between Concrete and Rockport. Photo courtesy WSDOT

By Roger Millar, Washington State Secretary of Transportation

Perfect is the enemy of good. This feels remarkably applicable to the Washington State Department of Transportation's work improving fish habitat. A 2013 federal court order directed WSDOT to correct hundreds of outdated fish barriers and open hundreds of miles of habitat. We're doing just that: working to remove 400 fish passage barriers and restore 90% of habitat blocked by state highways in little more than a decade once the Legislature ramped up funding.

The federal court order requires this work and sets the parameters (prioritizing projects by potential habitat gain) – and that's how we're going about it. As of June 2024, we have corrected 146 injunction barriers, opening 571 miles of potential fish habitat – 50 percent of the total blocked habitat of injunction culverts. We currently have 160 additional sites under construction contract. Once those additional 160 barriers are corrected, WSDOT will have restored access to 70% of blocked potential habitat. With existing funds, we expect to restore access to 75% of blocked potential habitat. The remaining work to get to 90% requires additional funding estimated at $4 billion.

One of two new box culverts shown here now helps tributaries to Patterson Creek flow freely underneath SR 203 near Fall City, opening up a potential 11 miles of habitat for salmon and other native fish. Photo courtesy WSDOT

In the past year, the Seattle Times has questioned the value of the projects we've addressed, confused our court mandated approach with other state agency fish passage efforts and asserted the presence of other fish barriers up- or downstream of our projects renders our work little more than "stranded investments." 

Here are the realities. The legal fight to arrive at these court-ordered requirements started in 2001 and lasted 17 years. Is the project list perfect? Does it immediately resolve every other barrier in every waterway we've worked on? No. But contrary to the assertion that we're building "stranded investments," we're simply the first owner out of the gate.

State law requires every barrier owner to fix their barriers and we just happen to be the only barrier owner also required to do the work by the court. Our work is the linchpin. When we correct our barriers, it creates or continues momentum as WSDOT barriers are often the largest and most expensive. 

Other owners in that same watershed may have less expensive barriers that likely will score higher for grant funding opportunities to correct them after our work is complete. Subsequent actions taken by other barrier owners makes every WSDOT investment valuable. As with anything difficult, if there's not motivation to do the work, no one will get it done. Salmon can't wait decades and again, perfect is the enemy of good. And our share of the effort would only become more expensive if we were to wait the years or decades for all partners to be ready to go at the same time.

Workers dig under a new bridge to restore a stream under US 12 in Grays Harbor County
Photo courtesy WSDOT

I call this work a moonshot – a monumental, aspirational effort – because that's exactly what we are delivering. No other state department of transportation or organization anywhere in the nation has been tasked with fixing generations of significant environmental harm in such little time. Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife field surveys confirm fish are already returning to many of the restored waterways.

We've faced many challenges not directly within our control, including funding, supply chain, workforce and construction industry shortages, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation and the presence of up- or downstream barriers. We've gotten better and more efficient with the work, including new contracting methods and bundling projects to save time, money and impacts to the traveling public.

SR 108: A worker holds a small cutthroat trout gently removed from a fish passage construction site in Mason County before work begins to improve access along SR 108. All fish are removed, counted and then released into another part of the waterway as part of the preparation process. This fish passage work improves access for salmon as well as many other types of fish. Photo courtesy WSDOT

While a federal court requires this work, correcting fish barriers benefits every single Washingtonian present and future. From a purely transportation perspective, removing fish barriers allows us to design and build structures to better withstand earthquakes and extreme storms and flooding. The new structures' natural stream conditions restore runs and open habitat to salmon and many other types of wildlife. 

More importantly, improving salmon habitat is one crucial step we can take to repair the fragile ecosystem of the beautiful state we call home. WSDOT remains committed to continuing this hard, rewarding work in partnership with Washington's tribes.

Bottom line – the court injunction lays out roles and responsibilities for culverts under state-owned roads. Local governments, landowners and tribes have roles to play in broader watershed and stream restoration efforts. While WSDOT culvert projects may not bring back salmon solely on their own, they are a critical piece of the puzzle – OUR piece of the puzzle.


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Whisper Creek memorial sign replaced

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Whisper Creek footbridge
Photo by Dan Short

Whisper Creek runs along the northern border of the former Cedarbrook School  property and is a lovely fish-bearing, year-round creek. Portions of this creek have been restored by the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation.

Doug Clark and Josh Piano install a replacement sign.
Photo by George Piano
Working in conjunction with local citizens, a new foot bridge was built linking the Cedarbrook property with the bordering Lake Forest Park and Shoreline neighborhoods, and areas along the creek were cleared of invasive nonnative plants and planted with native vegetation.

When the work was complete, a plaque was installed, giving credit to the partnership that did the work.

Last year, the plaque was stolen.

Photo by George Piano

This year, stone mason and general contractor Doug Clark led the effort to obtain a new plaque, and this week Clark and Josh Piano installed the new replacement Whisper Creek Memorial sign.

--George Piano, Diane Hettrick

Correction: Doug Clark led the project to replace the sign.


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Echo Lake closed due to toxic algae bloom

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

File photo City of Shoreline

Echo Lake is currently severely impacted by algae capable of producing toxins. On advisory from Public Health Seattle & King County, Echo Lake is closed for swimming, bathing, wading, and other similar activities where direct contact between humans and pets and the lake water occurs. 

Do not swim, wade, fish, or enter the water. Toxic algae can cause serious illness and can be fatal to humans and pets. For water quality updates, please visit www.shorelinewa.gov/waterquality

City staff will continue to sample the lake water weekly and we will continue to monitor the conditions. Echo Lake will remain closed until the algae clears up enough for visibility to improve and a lab result indicating cyanotoxin level below the threshold.

Stefan Grozev | Senior Surface Water Program Specialist
Public Works | City of Shoreline


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Shoreline recertified as a Salmon-Safe City

Sunday, July 21, 2024

On June 21, 2024, Shoreline achieved recertification as a Salmon-Safe city. 

Shoreline is Washington’s first Salmon-Safe municipality, and only the second certified city in the nation after Portland, Oregon. The recertification process began in late 2023.

Salmon-Safe, the Oregon-based environmental certification nonprofit dedicated to restoring water quality in West Coast salmon watersheds, closely aligns with Shoreline’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

"Being recertified as a salmon-safe city is a big accomplishment for Shoreline,” stated Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts. 
“It is a testament to our community’s commitment to preserving Puget Sound and being good stewards of our natural environment. Salmon are representatives of the larger ecosystem. Without a healthy salmon population, we don’t have a healthy Puget Sound, and that impacts every one of us.”

For the citywide certification, staff worked with the Salmon-Safe Science Team for over eight months to develop the conditions for certification. This included the Salmon-Safe team evaluating City plans, programs, and procedures; interviewing city staff; and visiting city operations and sites across the city. 

The Science Team identified nine conditions the City must meet as part of the recertification.

“The third-party audit by our independent science team shows that the City of Shoreline is on the cutting edge of cities–of any size–in taking a holistic approach to its watershed,” said Ella Sandquist, Salmon-Safe Puget Sound Director. 
“Taken together, the city’s ongoing Salmon-Safe actions represent an integrated approach and meaningful commitment to the health of Puget Sound.”

The City will have five years to fulfill the nine conditions, which include developing specific GIS analysis for stormwater treatment; implementing a stream monitoring program; enhancing salmon-friendly habitat restoration efforts; and implementing bioretention projects along Aurora.

This is another example of Shoreline demonstrating regional leadership by contributing to the health of Puget Sound waterways and the salmon and orca that depend on them. It is the hope of the City and Salmon-Safe that other jurisdictions will soon follow suit.


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70% of drowning deaths in King county involved drugs or alcohol

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Open water safety

After five consecutive years of preventable drowning deaths staying at historically high levels, King County officials are urging the public to be cautious at rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound in advance of the Fourth of July.

A preliminary analysis by Public Health – Seattle & King County indicates there were 30 preventable drowning deaths in King County in 2023. That annual estimate has been steady since 2019 when the number of preventable drownings nearly doubled from the previous year.

River safety

Experts say the trend is the result of multiple factors: 
  • warmer air temperatures in spring and early summer when open water remains dangerously cold, 
  • a nationwide shortage of lifeguards, and 
  • inequitable access to pools and swimming lessons. 
  • They also noted that in the past five years, 70% of King County preventable drowning deaths involved drugs or alcohol.

“Experts from several of our King County departments have identified actions each of us can take to reverse the alarming rise in drownings in recent years,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We need the public’s help to save lives this summer. It starts by being aware that rivers and lakes in our region are much colder and more dangerous than they appear."


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Poem: Urban Stream

Sunday, June 23, 2024

Stream at Twin Ponds by Vicki Westberg

Urban Stream

Combed by coho, groomed by grass
her language is microsong
high-pitched and fast.
She teases the doodlebug, dragonfly, sticks.
She flashes, splashes, sprays and spits.
She jumps and bumps, dappled and dimpled,
flirting, squirting, gurgling dribbles.

Nibbling ripples of bubbles appear,
as well as regular floods of tears.
Coyotes kiss this hide-n-seek creek
and possums cross her
while you and I sleep.

Sunbeams explode and moonbeams meander
directing airborne creatures to land there.
Her earth hard host cradles the flow
and leaves gifts of gravel
above and below.

At the end of her baptismal slide
she climbs the rain cloud
for another ride.

Vicki Westberg 2011
From her self-published book of poetry, entitled 
"Earthverse," copyright 2011


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Echo Lake Cyanobacteria Management Plan - provide your feedback

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Echo Lake during an algae bloom
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

Surface Water staff at the City of Shoreline are excited to announce the release of their draft Echo Lake Cyanobacteria Management Plan (ELCMP). 

This comprehensive plan aims to ensure the long-term health and improving the desired conditions at Echo Lake. 

The Echo Lake Cyanobacteria Management Plan was developed by Herrera Environmental Consultants with sampling assistance from local residents. The plan reviews the results of the sampling program and outlines strategies and actions to protect and enhance the lake's conditions. 

It includes discussions on:
  • Characterizing water quality at Echo Lake
  • Identifying nutrient sources to the lake, and developing a water and phosphorus budget to track inflows and outflows
  • Evaluating potential long-term and short-term management actions that can be used to address algal blooms

We value the insights and perspectives of all community members. 

Your feedback will help us refine the plan to better meet the needs and priorities of our community. By contributing your comments, you can play a direct role in shaping the future of our lake. 

Please review the draft Lake Management Plan here. We encourage you to share your thoughts, suggestions, and concerns by Sunday June 23, 2024. This deadline ensures we have sufficient time to review and incorporate your feedback into the final plan.

You can find the Plan and the comment form on the following website

And as long as you are providing feedback - the City also has a survey about city-wide surface water management (not just Echo Lake!). See previous article


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Shoreline survey on Surface Water Plan - the City wants to hear from you

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Survey Opportunity: We want to hear from you!

The City of Shoreline is updating our Surface Water Plan to reduce flooding, prepare for climate change, make our City greener, and protect our natural waters.

We’ve created four options for the Surface Water Plan. These options differ in how much work the Utility can do over the next six years. They also differ in cost.

Tell us which plan is best for Shoreline by June 30th!

Take the survey and enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card!


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Photo: Green Lake on a warm summer afternoon

 
Photo by Ron Greeley

Enjoy this peaceful photo of Green Lake in North Seattle on a warm summer afternoon.



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No developments in search for presumably missing kayaker on Echo Lake

Monday, May 20, 2024

Shoreline Fire rescue swimmers and KCSO divers prepare to go in the water. The small blue boat is the boat that was floating upside down in the lake. Shoreline Fire brought their Sea Do, a 1-2 person motorized watercraft (not pictured) The red & white board is a paddle board. Fire also brought a board (not pictured) meant to pull up a patient. Photo by Michael Wansley. 

On Saturday morning, May 18, 2024, at 7:45am a lakeside resident noticed a capsized kayak floating near the center of Echo Lake in Shoreline and called 911.

The caller did not see anyone in the water at this time but did recall seeing a person in the same or similar kayak earlier in the morning. 

King County Sheriff’s Office deputies (Shoreline PD) and Shoreline FD rescue swimmers responded. A search of the lake was conducted throughout the day by the Fire Department rescue swimmers, KCSO dive unit, with support from Bothell PD. 

As of 6:00am Sunday morning, no body has been located or recovered. Deputies contacted many residents around the lake and have not yet identified any missing persons or the owner of the kayak. Regular kayakers did not recognize the boat or the description of the kayaker.

KCSO divers were out again on Sunday with no reported results.

This is an open investigation.

Worth noting is that the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary advises paddleboarders to put a waterproof ID sticker inside their boats. When small craft such as kayaks or canoes are found adrift, typically there is no way of determining whether or not individuals may be in distress. In such situations, having timely access to some basic information can make all the difference.

--Diane Hettrick

5-20-2024 Corrections to references to personnel and equipment on scene.

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Kayaker reportedly lost at Echo Lake

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Police searching Echo Lake for lost kayaker
Photo by Michael Wansley
According to lakeside resident Madysen Ellis, around 8:10am on Saturday May 18, 2024 Shoreline Police responded to Echo Lake on the report of a lost kayaker. Witnesses reported that a man was seen kayaking around 7:10am. His kayak was upside-down in the water and no one saw whether he got out of the lake.

Staging area for search of Echo Lake
Photo by Michael Wansley
Police searched the lake from a westside dock with boats and divers until 10:17am. They sent a boat around the entire lake.

Police divers searching Echo Lake
Photo by Michael Wansley
Echo Lake is relatively shallow but the bottom has a thick layer of loose peat which turns the water into a dense brown cloud if disturbed.

The kayaker has not been identified. The KCSO has been contacted for information.

--Diane Hettrick


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Travels with Charlie: Let's respect our special places…

Saturday, May 18, 2024

By Gordon Snyder

Charlie and I headed to Pfingst Animal Acres park to wander around and get some sniffs in.

When we’re there, I always head down the path to the McAleer Creek viewing deck. It’s one of those special spots that lets you look and listen to the creek any time of year.

How’s the flow? the turbidity? any spawners? Just a great spot.
Photo by Gordon Snyder
But… I see something.

Photo by Gordon Snyder
A closer look...

Come on? This is a wonderful unique place to drink a Cup O Joe. Along the creekside with no other distractions.  

You just enjoyed this Special Place. And then just left…………..

This cup will be headed to Lake Washington.


Here’s the start of the cup’s journey marked by arrow.  

The shaded area is McAleer watershed. McAleer creek connects Lake Ballinger to Lake Washington.

Please, Let’s respect our special places… so they stay special.

Please and Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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City staff to speak at Echo Lake Neighborhood Association (ELNA) meeting on May 21, 2024

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

 
Echo Lake. Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

Please join City of Shoreline staff John Featherstone and Stefan Grozev at the May 21, 2024 meeting of the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association (ELNA) as we explore historical, current, and future perspectives on surface water for the Echo Lake neighborhood, for Echo Lake, and the surrounding areas.

We will go over current water quality monitoring programs, redevelopment standards for the Echo Lake watershed, and other City programs that have an impact on stormwater runoff and the health of the lake.

Adjoining neighborhoods and others are welcome to attend this meeting, which will be held on Zoom from 7-9pm. Contact ELNABoard@gmail.com for the meeting link.


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Meeting Tuesday to discuss results from Echo Lake watershed monitoring and recommendations for treatments for harmful algal blooms

Monday, May 13, 2024

Algae bloom at Echo Lake June 2022
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

The public is invited to a meeting to discuss the results from the Echo Lake watershed monitoring that took place last year and the recommendations for treatments at Echo Lake for harmful algal blooms.

This is a hybrid meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 starting at 6:00pm. You can attend in person at City Hall, third floor, room 303, or join online via Teams meeting information below.

Please join the City and our consultant team from Herrera Environmental Consultants as we present the findings and recommendations of the Echo Lake Cyanobacteria Management Plan.

Here is a tentative agenda for the meeting:
  • 6:00 – 6:15 – Introductions
  • 6:15 – 7:00 – Echo Lake Cyanobacteria Management Plan Overview and Findings
  • 7:00 – 7:30 – Recommendations and Next Steps
  • 7:30 – 8:00 – Questions and Answers
Teams Meeting Information:
Stefan Grozev | Senior Surface Water Program Specialist
Public Works | City of Shoreline
Mobile - (206) 571-7100


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