Showing posts sorted by relevance for query ronald bog. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query ronald bog. Sort by date Show all posts

Critters at the Bog

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Bird diversity at Ronald Bog
Photo by Christine Southworth


By Diane Hettrick

There are critters at the Bog. Not really Creatures from the Black Lagoon variety - Ronald Bog is far too open. Two very busy streets border the Bog - N 175th and Meridian Avenue N. The freeway is right next door.

The Bog is so close to the street that a couple of years ago it flooded the intersection.

And it's not very big, as bodies of water go.

Guess who's been keeping their teeth filed down?
Beavers live at Ronald Bog
Photo by Christine Southwick


Yet Ronald Bog seems to have more diversity of wild life than any other body of water in the area - and all our lakes are teeming with life.

Beavers, otters, raccoons, possums, frogs, turtles, enough birds to create a birdwatchers' guide, and (oops) invasive crayfish.

More evidence of beaver teeth
Photo by Christine Southwich


Our Bird Lady Christine Southwick went there for a visit Tuesday and was delighted to encounter:

  • a pair of Hooded Merganser (male and female);
  • 30 American Wigeons feeding on the grass  (these ducks are frequently seen on Green Lake lawns);
  • 8 Canada Geese;
  • one White-fronted Goose with them;
  • 1 Northern Flicker (in tree and on the ground), 
  • a Steller's Jay, and 
  • heard, but didn't see, a Kingfisher.
  • and while searching for beavers, I saw an otter checking me out!

Here's one of the otters that was looking at Chris
Photo by Martin DeGrazia


Volunteer extraordinaire Dick Decker led many weeding and planting parties at the Bog in 2011-2012, removing blackberries and planting hundreds of trees and shrubs. At one point, they had to put fences around the young trees because the resident beavers kept chewing them down.

Martin DeGrazia spends many hours on the Bog taking photos and has set up a Facebook page Ronald Bog Photo Blog with his beautiful photos.


Updated 2-23-2017 names of birds
Updated 2-24-2017 Turns out we have real, dam-building beavers at Ronald Bog! I'd been told that all our locals were mountain beavers, which are more of a burrowing rodent-type creature. I have no photos of either in our towns - if you do - send them in!

Read more...

What's happening with Ronald Bog Park? Blame it on Mr. Bean

Friday, September 6, 2019

Lush, green Ronald Bog park has been scraped
Photo by Steven H. Robinson



By Diane Hettrick

If you are one of the thousands of people who have driven by Ronald Bog in recent weeks, you may have been shocked at the appearance.

The whole north end of the Bog, at N 175th and Meridian, appears to be in site preparation for a major construction zone. Even the ponies are wearing hard hats.

Even the ponies are wearing hard hats
Photo by AT

What you are looking at, though, is a major wetland restoration of Ronald Bog Park. Sound Transit is creating wetlands at the north and east ends of the park and doing major clean up along the east side. It's a mitigation site for impacts to the unnamed, and mostly unnoticed wetlands which are primarily south of the Shoreline fire station on N 155th, running along the east side of the freeway.

The work at Ronald Bog is complicated by its history of human use.
The photo was probably taken closer to 1920 than 1930
Historically Ronald Bog was marshy peat formed by decaying plant matter, fed by small streams, and full of cranberries which were harvested by the native tribes that moved through the area and by early settlers.

Duwamish people from the permanent settlements beside Lake Washington, Lake Union and Salmon Bay, and other tribes visiting from Snohomish county, came to the bog to harvest the cranberries and other edible plants that grew there. (Shoreline Historical Museum)

1936 aerial view
The faint red lines show the current lot boundaries.
Photo courtesy King county

Over time bogs may build up so much peat that they dry out because they get elevated above the water table. Property owners, such as Paul Weller, might have diverted the streams. For whatever reason, in the 1936 aerial photo, the bog is dry.

Paul Weller acquired the property in 1936 and began peat mining. In the aerial photo you can clearly see the straight lines where the peat has been harvested. A succession of companies continued to remove the peat up into the early 1960s.

George Webster sits on his tractor in the middle of this photo.
The streets are slightly above his head and the lake is to the left
Photo courtesy Shoreline Historical Museum

In 1949 George Webster acquired the north end of the bog, established the Plant Food Company, and continued the mining of the northern half of the bog. A different company mined the south end.

As they removed the peat, they got closer to the water table and the Bog started to fill with water again. A small feeder stream, unnamed, flows in a pipe under Meridian and into the northwest corner of the Bog. The daylighted North Branch of Thornton Creek still runs north-south on the east side of the Bog.

A resident named John, who was a child in the 1950s, remembers a barge in the middle of what was now a lake, still digging peat from the site.

In 1964 the peat mining was discontinued, and Darwin Bean acquired much of the bog property for his business, Marshall Tippey Landscaping. He began filling the north and east shores of the pond with the intention of building a small tract of homes there.

According to John, "The old dump was also to the south and it was the old school dump with old cars from the 30s, and lots of what now would be antiques. Lots for young kids (pre teen) to explore. There wasn’t any ecology then and when the freeway was built they buried the dump, the ponds, and streams much to our dismay."

So the whole area was basically a dump. Darwin Bean was finding fill material wherever he could and certainly would have welcomed debris from the I-5 construction right next to the Bog.

In 1965 a vigorous coalition of citizens, politicians, and press successfully lobbied the King county council to acquire the land and turn it into a park, which it did in 1970.

Now, Sound Transit has accepted the challenge of turning the park built on a dump back into a healthy wetland.

The concrete is being piled up for removal
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

The land they are working on is full of chunks of concrete and sections of twisted pipe and whatever else Darwin Bean could find to fill up the pit left by peat removal.

On the land at the north end of the Bog, Sound Transit contractors are digging deep and removing concrete, pipe, and other debris.

The contractor reports that in addition to the concrete and metal, they removed a toilet, kitchen sink, automobile license plates from the 1950s, bricks, and asphalt chunks. They have excavated five feet and in some areas, as deep as nine feet in order to remove debris and build the wetlands.

Sandbags and a turbidity curtain protect the lake
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline


They are also working a few feet into the lake to remove the fill and debris. Temporary best management practices, such as sand bags and a turbidity curtain, are in place during the work to keep from disturbing the rest of the lake.

When they have finished excavating, they will backfill the land with compost and topsoil. Then they will create two separate wetland areas. The central area of the park will be kept clear so residents still have access to an improved trail system and a view of the lake.

Rotary picnic shelter
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The Rotary shelter is in good shape and will be refurbished and remain in place. Shoreline Parks Director Eric Friedli wants to create some seating areas in the new park with possibly a picnic table under the shelter.

Trees had to be removed from the site in order to create the wetlands -- many because their roots were entwined in concrete and pipe and growing on the fill material.


The new wetlands will not be open to the public but will be designed so that people can see into them. They will help absorb and store floodwater in wet years – another way to help prevent flooding at the intersection of Meridian and N 175th.

The dotted green area on the map will be wetlands which will be boggy or completely under water, depending on the season and rainfall.

The darker green is the buffer area. It will protect the wetland and can also serve to absorb water in wet years.

2010 was a very wet year.
This is along Meridian
Photo by Janet Way

Taller trees will be planted in the northwest wetland, except where the view is being protected. A variety of native species of trees, shrubs and other types of plants will be planted in the wetland and the buffer.

Sound Transit hopes to reintroduce native plants which were there historically, such as Bog laurel and LavenderLabrador tea. LavenderLabrador tea is mentioned in several of the historical records as being native to the site but it has since died out.

The site will be monitored for over 10 years, to make sure the native plants thrive and that invasive plants, such as reed canarygrass and knotweeds, are removed and the wetlands are healthy.

Dick Decker and volunteers worked in the park for several years
removing invasive plants and planting several hundred native plants
Photo courtesy Dick Decker 2010

Work done over the years by volunteers to restore native plants was primarily in the far northwest section of the site and has not been impacted. (See 2011 article). However, the area is very overgrown now.

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The popular arboretum remains intact and the large sculpture, The Kiss, has already been moved to a new position on an elevated area. The trail will be raised and leveled with gravel to ADA standards. It will be expanded around the sculpture to reach the Rotary shelter by the lake.

Interpretative signs will be added throughout the area.

The work is expected to be complete by this winter, although some planting may be done in the spring. Sound Transit will continue to monitor the site for up to 10 years.

If you want to do more research or want more specific information on the history of Ronald Bog, check in with the Shoreline Historical Museum at N 185th and Linden, where they have the references, maps, aerial photos, etc. and information on bog use back to Native Americans.

Thanks to John Gallagher, Karin Ertl, and Rebecca McAndrew of Sound Transit, Vicki Stiles of the Shoreline Historical Museum, and Shoreline Parks Director Eric Friedli for material in this article.



Read more...

New eagle nest at Ronald Bog

Friday, March 10, 2023

Eagles are nesting at Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin DeGrazia

A new eagle nest is being built at Ronald Bog Park in the large cottonwood on the north side of the water
 
This is the first year for this site. There have always been eagles around the Bog but this is the first nest.

Eagle pair at Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin DeGrazia

They are establishing their hunting territory. Ronald Bog is not known for its fish, nor is it stocked, as Echo Lake is.
 
Shoreline resident Mark Tomboulian says, "But there are are plenty of invasive non-native rabbits to feed on, and I saw one being taken up to the nest today.'  

Further, he warns, "Any outside small pet without supervision is a prey candidate, so good time for a warning about how outside cats and small dogs are at risk."

Ronald Bog is between I-5 and Meridian Ave N, with the north boundary at N 175th in Shoreline.
 

Read more...

Shoreline students make a difference at Ronald Bog

Thursday, October 28, 2010


Shorecrest students join volunteers at Ronald Bog. Photo by Ron Post.
Most Shoreline residents drive by Ronald Bog and enjoy a glimpse of the still water. Thanks to the efforts of local volunteers, those views are getting bigger and better.

Led by Shoreline resident and native plant steward Dick Decker of Meridian Park Neighborhood Association, local volunteers have put in hundreds of hours removing blackberries and other invasive species from Ronald Bog Park. 

The volunteers are planting native species and the result is restoration of habitat and great views of waterfowl, turtles, and other wildlife at the bog. On October 23, local Shorecrest High School students joined the work party. You can help continue those efforts.

There will be additional opportunities to volunteer at Ronald Bog on Saturday, November 6 and Saturday, November 20 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. 

This event will be co-sponsored by the City of Shoreline and the Meridian Park Neighborhood Association and will continue the restoration work from the earlier work parties. Ronald Bog Park is located at 2301 N 175th in Shoreline, 98133 at the intersection of Meridian and N 175.

For more information about either work party, contact Nora Smith at 206-801-2253. All minors must have a signed waiver form, available electronically by email.

Read more...

So - how much did it rain?

Friday, November 25, 2011

Ronald Bog during the summer 2011.  Photo by Martin deGrazia.

So how much did it rain this week?

Take a look at these before and after photos Martin deGrazia took of Ronald Bog.

Ronald Bog is located in the Meridian Park Neighborhood, at Meridian Ave N and N 175th. The bronze ponies stand in front of the Bog, which is home to beavers, turtles, and ottters.

Same view of Ronald Bog, after last week's rainfall.
Photo by Martin deGrazia

Ronald Bog normally holds a high volume of water and has been known to flood the intersection during heavy rainfall.  A rain gauge in the neighborhood showed 2 3/4" of rain.

The new retention ponds at Cromwell Park (by the courthouse) were designed to take some of the pressure off Ronald Bog by capturing the excess water further upstream.

Retention pond when it was under construction at Cromwell Park.
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


Read more...

Travels with Charlie: Ronald Bog Park Wetlands

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Ronald Bog Park
Photo by Gordon Snyder
By Gordon Snyder

We headed to Ronald Bog Park 2301 N 175th St, Shoreline, WA 98133 to look over the wetlands before everything started leafing out. Lots to see and to sniff.

This is an amazing example of Urban Wetlands that are being restored. A piece of Nature surrounded by I-5 on the East, N 175th on the North, Meridian Ave N on the West and residences on the South. It looks like natural progress has been happening over the last couple years.

The Canadian Geese have taken up residence and were grazing the lawns. Their droppings are everywhere. The riparian areas are preparing to explode with warmer spring days.

Bog Water is clear this time of year, but has warnings about contact because of possible urban pollution and algal blooms. That’s a tough challenge as restoration continues.

If you’re interested in an example of our local conifers, there is a small arboretum with living examples. Just a brief walk along the path.

Diane Hettrick wrote a terrific Shoreline Area News 2019 article about the Wetlands Restoration 
”What’s Happening with Ronald Bog Park?”

The Ronald Bog is fighting huge odds becoming a wetlands once again. But given a chance Water and Biology will make it happen.

Check out Ronald Bog over the seasons because it will always be changing...


Read more...

Wild creatures among us: Otters

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Otter at Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin De Grazia
By Diane Hettrick

A man I knew who worked in a building on Echo Lake told me a story years ago about being in the building at 5am and seeing animals he didn't recognize leaping and playing in the water. 

We took the story to the Echo Lake neighborhood association and after a lot of research, identified the creatures he saw as freshwater otters.

Then, people who lived around the lake started telling otter stories. It's apparently one of those things you know about if you live there. 

My favorite story was the young man who was fishing off one of the docks. He was catching a lot of fish and thought it would be a great idea to keep them in a basket and put the basket under water.

When he was done, he pulled up the basket - and it was empty. The otters were probably delighted with the bonanza.

A rare photo of an otter out of water
running along the shores of Ronald Bog
Adult males are 4 feet in length and weigh 20-28 pounds
Photo by Martin De Grazia
I have heard many other otter stories since. 

Martin De Grazia lives on Ronald Bog and sees otters there regularly. 

They are very elusive and I have few local photos, so I am pleased that he was able to get a number of photos and share them.

Otters live in burrows with underwater entrances or hidden dens near the water. They spend most of their time in the water, hunting for fish, and other water creatures, such as crayfish. 

They are a particular boon to Echo Lake, which has the dubious distinction of being home to a species of invasive crayfish.

Otter at Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin De Grazia
Otters are opportunistic, though, and will follow any good food source. 

George Piano of Lake Forest Park told a story about coming home to find an otter fishing in his koi pond. She ran off, but not before getting a few of his prize koi. 

A few days later, she was back, this time using his pond to teach her pup how to fish.

George's home in Lake Forest Park has a steep ravine behind his property, which drops down to McAleer Creek.

Otters playing in the waters of Twin Ponds
Photo by Debbie Arthur

I think it's safe to assume that every body of water and every stream in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park has otters. This week, I received a photo taken by Debbie Arthur of otters in Twin Ponds. Kevin Urie reports they are in Boeing Creek.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife says that "In late fall, the pups leave to establish their own territories. During this time, wandering youngsters are seen far from water, traveling on land between lakes, ponds, and from one stream drainage to another."

Otters at Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin De Grazia
This is a partial explanation for the stories about otters being seen traveling across the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden in the Richmond Beach neighborhood. 

Since there are no streams or bodies of water nearby, I am still curious about where they are coming from.

It's also interesting to think that, aside from the occasional fish pond, the otters are finding enough fish in the lakes, bogs, ponds, and streams, to sustain life and breed.

-----
This article was originally published January 11, 2016. Since then, Martin De Grazia has become the Otter Whisperer, apparently part of the otter clan. The otters stare at him but they don't hide and he is getting some amazing photos from Ronald Bog.




Read more...

Art projects and community knitting at Ronald Bog Sunday, Aug 12

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Hypertufa Container-Making Art Party for all ages at Ronald Bog on Sunday August 12th, 1pm-4pm


Do you like to play with stuff outside? Come down to Ronald Bog Park and explore art-making with artists Mary Coss and Cynthia Knox. Mary will demonstrate how to make containers using hypertufa made with peat moss. Bring a small bowl or small dairy tub if you want to make something yourself. Wear comfortable outdoor clothes and bring work gloves if you have them. Also handy, a chair or blanket to sit on. Minors must be accompanied by adult. For more info contact Cynthia.


Community Knitalong at Ronald Bog Park on Sunday August 12th, 1pm-4pm

Yarn - Bombers Unite! Make tree socks not war! Would you like to contribute your knitting skills to a worthy and artistic cause? Come to community knitalong at Ronald Bog Park. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on. The yarn and needles/loom are provided along with instruction. For more info contact Cynthia.

Ronald Bog Park is located in Shoreline on N 175th between Meridian Ave N and I-5.


Read more...

Ronald Bog Park wetland mitigation to begin in July

Tuesday, June 18, 2019



As promised, Sound Transit will soon begin work to restore the wetlands at Ronald Bog Park and plant trees.

Ronald Bog Park will be closed as early as July 1st for Sound Transit to begin construction of wetland mitigation. Sound Transit is using an area of Ronald Bog Park for a wetland mitigation site to replace wetlands affected by light rail construction.

Enhancements to the park, including trail improvements, will be made as part of the project.

Ronald Bog Park will be closed to the public and wetland buffer areas will be fenced off indefinitely for wetland creation. 

The sculpture has already been moved to a new location in the park. (See previous article).

The work includes tree removal and excavation to create new low areas, then planting of trees, shrubs and groundcover plants.

Sound Transit will build a new ADA-accessible Trail featuring interpretive signs to enhance the enjoyment of the park.

They will also install fencing, signs, benches, bollards and habitat structures.

The work will take 18-20 weeks and is expected to be complete by next fall.

Work hours will be from 7am to 5pm.

Ronald Bog Park is located on N 175th St between I-5 and Meridian Ave N. -  2301 N 175th St, Shoreline 98133.


Read more...

Art in the Park - SummerSet Arts Festival at Ronald Bog

Sunday, June 10, 2012


The Ronald Bog Arboretum

Meridian Park Neighborhood resident and artist Cynthia Knox looked out her kitchen window onto Ronald Bog one day this spring and thought "the park keeps getting more and more beautiful with the restoration work that Dick Decker, Marty DeGrazia and volunteer crew keep doing. 

Wouldn't it be great to have a sculpture exhibition and neighborhood gathering in the park one day!". The next thing she knew she was chatting the idea up with Gretchen Atkinson, Meridian Park Neighborhood Association Board President.

Cynthia found out that Gretchen has long been an arts advocate for all things Shoreline and loved the idea of having the park dressed up for residents to enjoy. Having traveled to Europe and immensely enjoyed the art of Trafalgar Square in Britain, Gretchen had longed to have more art around her home city. 

Cynthia and Gretchen joined forces and began creating the event with the support of Ros Bird of the Shoreline Parks Department and Nora Smith of the Shoreline Office of Neighborhoods. The idea was presented and approved by the Shoreline Parks Board at the end of April. In May, Shoreline Arts Council came on board as co-sponsors of the event.

The project is called SummerSet Arts Festival: Celebrating Ronald Bog 
It has four components. 

  1. There will be a professional artists sculpture exhibition that will be up in the park for two weeks. 
  2. There will also be several sculptures made from gathered materials in the park that will remain over time to naturally disintegrate. 
  3. Thirdly, there will be a traveling community art-making table that will be showing up at the Farmer's Market, Top Foods Market Cafe, Ronald Bog Park, and other local places within Meridian Park Neighborhood. 
  4. To cap off the summer of art-making, a day of celebration is planned for September 15th from 1-5pm in Ronald Bog Park. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy a variety of live acoustic music including: jazz, rock, old-time music, and more, while participating in art-making with your neighbors and other fun activities.

SummerSet Arts Festival needs you! 
Meridian Park residents are needed to join the event steering committee, help make art for the exhibition, play music, be a park tour guide, work the welcome table, etc. Be a part of the fun and contribute your gifts to the neighborhood! All ages welcome. Contact Cynthia Knox or call 206-218-3302.



Read more...

Favorite Tree: "Eagle tree" falls at Ronald Bog

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

The "Eagle Tree" standing tall in 2008

Story and photos by Martin DeGrazie

It seems everyone in their life has a favorite tree. As a kid our family had a beautiful large Rainier cherry tree that adorned our front yard.

The tree was visibly leaning. 

As an adult my favorite tree lived across Ronald Bog from us. I learned to look at the tree as soon as I came out of our back door, sometimes missing the eagle right above my head in my own yard. 

I frequently took pictures of the tree, especially when I could capture its reflection in the still waters. 

Eagles built a nest but didn't stay

Birds would always flock to this tree. In 2023 I had mixed emotions when the Eagles started to build a nest in it. I considered purchasing a better camera to take pictures of baby eaglets but I was concerned for the other wildlife on Ronald Bog. I love all the critters in the water and did not want to see them disappear. 

Alas, my concerns were unfounded, as the eagles abandoned the nest. Canadian geese would enter the nest every now and then. This spring they were up there so much, I was afraid they would sit on eggs up there themselves. 

The tree is now lying in the water

This past weekend while I was out of town this beautiful tree fell into the water. 

I can't tell you how many times I looked over there and wondered if it was leaning more. We've had three trees fall into the water from our lot on the other side of Ronald Bog.

The stump was shattered

The silver lining is the tree in the water is a nice landing spot for other critters in the bog. Eagles, otters, turtles and other animals will all use it. But, I will miss it. 

I haven't been to that side of the bog in a long time and I am really impressed at all the new growth trees. They have really shot up. I expect we will see much more wildlife at Ronald Bog in the coming years. The end of an era, but a new one is on the way.


Read more...

Join Ronald Bog Park work parties on October 10 and 23

Saturday, October 2, 2010


Volunteers work at Ronald Bog.  Courtesy Meridian Park Neighborhood Association
 Help remove invasive species and plant native species at Ronald Bog Park in Shoreline during one of two work parties in October.

Local volunteers have already put in hundreds of hours removing blackberries and other invasive species from the park. The result is great views of waterfowl, turtles, and other wildlife at the bog. You can help continue those efforts. Ronald Bog Park is located at 2301 N 175 in Shoreline.

The first work party will take place on Sunday, October 10 from 10 am to 12 pm. Co-sponsored by the City of Shoreline, Meridian Park Neighborhood Association and Landau Associates, the event is part of 350.org’s 10/10/10 Global Work Party celebration.

The City of Shoreline will provide hand tools and some gloves, but please bring your own gloves and tools if you have them. Enjoy free food, drink and live music from The Brambles, a local Shoreline band. An event photographer from TPK Photography  will be on hand to document the event. Landau Associates will also be giving away free canvas bags to all volunteers. Please RSVP at the 350.org website.

Photo by Martin DeGrazia.
Landau Associates is an employee-owned firm that provides environmental science and engineering services in support of project development in the western United States. They have offices in Washington and Oregon. Landau Associates have made commitments to help improve the communities where they live and work and to help others who are in need. For more information about Landau Associates, go to their website.

350.org is an international campaign that works to build a global climate movement. 350.org is named after the goal of reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere from its current level of 390 parts per million (ppm) to below 350 ppm, the safe upper limit according to the latest science. For more information on 350.org’s work, go to their website.

There will be another opportunity to volunteer at Ronald Bog on Saturday, October 23 from 9 am to 12 pm. This event will be co-sponsored by the City of Shoreline and the Meridian Park Neighborhood Association and will continue the restoration work from the earlier work parties.

For more information about either work party, contact Nora Smith at (206) 801-2253,

Read more...

Shoreline council members question tree removals; city says an earthquake could cause 175th to “slip and slide” into Ronald Bog

Friday, April 5, 2024

By Oliver Moffat

At the April 1, 2024 meeting, some Shoreline city council members raised concerns about tree removals for the 175th Corridor Project. City staff told the council that 175th could “slip and slide” into Ronald Bog during an earthquake. To make the road safer, the city must rebuild the roadway which will require tree removals.

Councilmember Annette Ademasu asked staff for more details about tree removals planned for the 175th project especially at Ronald Bog Park

Councilmember Annette Ademasu raised a 175th corridor project agenda item up for discussion at this week’s council meeting. She questioned the proposed removal of 213 significant trees to make way for the road project. “At Ronald Bog there are three large conifers and a Japanese cherry. Is there anyway to save those at Ronald Bog?” she asked.

In response to questions, Public Works Director, Tricia Juhnke said, “In an earthquake, 175th would most likely slip and slide and fall into the bog. 175th is identified as one of our top emergency corridors for connection throughout the city.” 
Making the road safer requires regrading the roadway and building walls on each side to contain the new substrate. “It is also a reason we were able to get an $8 million grant from FEMA to improve the infrastructure,” Juhnke added.

Councilmember John Ramsdell raised concerns about transparency and asked why the 175th arborist report had not been published earlier

Councilmember John Ramsdell said, “I’m concerned about the lack of transparency and communication with the community. I was really hoping to see more transparency. What concerned me is that the arborist report wasn’t done until October.”

City staff reiterated a promise made in September of 2023 to provide more transparency on tree impacts and said the city is still “playing catch up” on projects that have been in the planning phase for many years.

Cross section of preferred concept from Meridian Avenue N to I-5 (facing east)

In recognizing that the 175th project has been in planning since before the city recently reprioritized in favor of increased tree preservation, Mayor Chris Roberts said, “as nimble as Shoreline is we are still a relatively large ship and we can’t turn on a dime”

On Monday April 15, the city council will hold a public hearing and discuss Shoreline’s Transportation Improvement Plan. The plan, which serves as a six-year roadmap for transportation projects in the city, is updated each year.


Read more...

Photos: Otter Pops

Monday, December 26, 2016


Photos by Martin De Grazia

Martin De Grazia calls the top photo "Otter Pops". Ronald Bog had a thin covering of ice in last week's cold weather. Martin, who lives near the Bog, enjoyed watching the otters pop up through the ice.

December is apparently a good time to otter-watch. Martin laments the photos he didn't get, but these are the best I've seen in the years I've been collecting photos of local wildlife.

Otter at Ronald Bog

These are fresh water otters, cousins to the salt water variety. They live in Ronald Bog, Echo Lake, McAleer Creek, and probably every local body of fresh water.

Otter at Ronald Bog

Otter at Ronald Bog

Usually these guys are quite elusive, which is why these photos are so special.

--DKH



Read more...

Storm aftermath - not as bad as it could have been

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

by Diane Hettrick

I am sensing a tone of relief from our cities and county in the wake of this last storm. Having over three inches of rain in 48 hours, into ground already full of water, could have caused serious problems, but didn't.

King County Executive Dow Constantine pointed out that the damaged homes shown in the media were not those which had been permitted or built in the last ten years.

“Policies to limit construction on steep slopes and protections for flood hazard areas are doing a better job of making our homes and neighborhoods safer and more resistant to damage from severe weather.”
 Shoreline
Ducks enjoy the Cromwell Park storm retention pond.
Photo by Tom Downer.
Shoreline has been working for several years to solve and prevent flooding. Cromwell Park, which was completed this summer, was designed to hold storm water and prevent it from flowing into Ronald Bog. In previous weather events, Ronald Bog overflowed its banks and routinely flooded a section of homes to the south of the Bog. One year it even covered a block of Meridian Avenue.

Ronald Bog overtopped its banks but did not flood Meridian.  
Photo by Janet Way, courtesy Of Paramount Importance blog


This year, while the Bog filled to the brim, it apparently did not flood nearby homes. Incidentally, the City obtained old aerial survey photos of Shoreline and discovered that the homes by Ronald Bog with the flooding problems are built on an area which used to be part of the Bog.

Shoreline Public Works had 22 calls related to flooding.
"While this is not an insignificant number, it is significantly lower than what the City has experienced in the past during a major storm event. A number of areas in the City that historically had severe flooding issues did not have any problems with this storm."
Shoreline did a lot of work ahead of the storm which they feel minimized the damage.
"City crews prepared the week before with street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, and jetting of problem lines. City crews will continue to take preventative steps throughout the winter."
Lake Forest Park
LFP built a sandbag wall to keep Lyon Creek in check.
Photo courtesy City of Lake Forest Park

Lake Forest Park has a much more serious problem. The Towne Centre sits at the outflow of two watersheds - McAleer/Ballinger and Lyon Creek. McAleer Creek comes from the joining of streams flowing out of north Shoreline and Lake Ballinger. Lyon Creek comes from the watershed to the north, which includes Lynnwood. The two streams are within feet of each other at the Mall. The Sheridan Beach neighborhood is in the path of these streams as they head for Lake Washington.

Flooding in Sheridan Beach.
Photo courtesy City of Lake Forest Park
Several years back, when flooding was rampant and hillsides were sliding, 40 homes in Sheridan Beach either were flooded, or worse, filled with sewage when the sewer lines filled with storm water and backed up into the houses.

That year, several homeowners told me, it happened so fast they barely had time to react. They went outside to look at the flooding and went back inside to a home full of sewage.

This year, knowing the potential problems, LFP was right on top of it.
"Staff joined the fire department to go house to house in the Sheridan Beach area, informing citizens about the flooding and to check on people. There was one sewer back up and the City responded with a pump to divert flows from one trunk line to another."
Part of Bothell Way was underwater.
Photo courtesy City of Lake Forest Park

Solving the upstream problems is complex and will be very expensive. The Lake Ballinger Watershed Consortium, which has included representatives from five cities, two counties, state and county officials, has been meeting for several years, working on solutions for flooding and pollution problems in that watershed. There is no consortium for the Lyon Creek Watershed.

Lake Forest Park is applying for Federal grants for flood control for an estimated three million dollars.

In the meantime, here is the link for the LFP sandbag depot and emergency information.

A final word of warning from County Executive Constantine,
“As our population grows and the recession eases, pressure will build once again to allow new business, residential and infrastructure investments in the floodplain,” said the Executive. “We need to keep in mind that we've had 11 Presidentially-declared flood disasters since 1990, and we must continue to site development and infrastructure in a way that will be economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and safe."

Other articles of interest:
Impacts of Big Storm on Shoreline Area by Janet Way, Of Paramount Importance blog

Read more...

Ronald Bog Park and the right lane on eastbound NE 175th to close two weeks for Sound Transit trail work

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Ronald Bog park
Photo by Steven H Robinson
Ronald Bog Park closure and right lane closure on eastbound NE 175th between Interstate-5 and Meridian Ave N

On Monday, October 26th, Sound Transit will close the entrance and parking lot for Ronald Bog Park and the right lane on eastbound NE 175th between Meridian and I-5 to work on the trail for the park.

Trucks will be entering and leaving Ronald Bog Park. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic and assist pedestrians throughout the closure.

Work is scheduled to begin as early as Monday, October 26, 2020 and will last for approximately two weeks.

Lane closures will occur during work hours, from 9:00am to 5:00pm but will be open outside of work hours.



Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP