John Reinke / Redmond Neighborhood Blog |
Photo by John Reinke, Redmond photographer
Source: Cathy Beam, Principal Environmental Planner, City of Redmond.
News and Opinion on Neighborhoods, Schools and Local Governments of Redmond, WA.
John Reinke / Redmond Neighborhood Blog |
Credit/ John Reinke |
Credit/ John Reinke |
Credit/ John Reinke |
Installation Site on NE 40th and 172nd Ave. |
Plants and gravel outflow area positioned on site |
The Crinkle-leaf Creeper |
![]() |
credit: John Reinke |
![]() |
Credit: John Reinke |
Credit/ John Reinke |
Credit / John Reinke |
Credit/John Reinke |
This is an environmentally friendly road that filters stormwater and recharges the groundwater / John Reinke |
These four Great Blue Heron juveniles in Marymoor Park are almost "fledged" Credit, John Reinke |
Marymoor Park rookery Credit John Reinke |
![]() |
Photo by John Reinke, 10/17/2022 |
The City of Redmond is fortunate to have diligent resident, John Reinke, who monitors beaver activity and their habitat. Above, is a photo of an alder tree on the Sammamish River Trail felled by a beaver. The Sammamish River is closeby on the right. It looks like someone may have pulled it off the trail.
John reported the downed tree to City stream specialist Tom Hardy and the Mayor. Mr. Hardy immediately removed the tree and the Mayor thanked John at a public meeting. Mr. Reinke often reports beaver activity to the County.
John likes to insert puns' into the end of his stories! 😉
"Finally, let me say that if I were a beaver, I'd give a dam, or at least try to make one!"
"It was swimming steadily toward me when I suddenly heard a loud "thwack", and saw the creature's hind legs suddenly rise straight up into the air, before immediately sliding down beneath the roiling water." (I guess we could call it a “slam dunk”…)
-- Bob Yoder, 10/23/2022
Western Screech Owl on Powerline Trail / John Reinke |
Credit/ John Reinke (click photo) |
Redmond Historical Society 25th Anniversary Celebration in the new Senior & Community Center |
President John Oftebro of the Redmond Historical Society (RHS) did a fabulous job producing, directing and emceeing the Redmond Historical Society 25th Anniversary Celebration and Social. Over 120 attended. The event was held on Saturday, October 28 at the new Redmond Senior and Community Center. John's an excellent fund-raiser and superlative jack-of-all trades.
Laura-Lee Bennett, the Executive V.P. oversaw the event. RHS Co-founder Miguel Llanos flew up from Los Angeles and gave a 30-minute interactive slide show. John Couch, Redmond's Park & Rec. Director of 30 years dressed-up as Mayor Bill Brown. Chris "Hurricane" Himes, Redmond's first Strong Mayor gave a charming, short speech. Former Mayor Rosemary Ives was on Block Island attending to her family.
Board member Deborah Oftebro assembled lead-members to work the coffee cake and cookie table: Judy Lang, Jo Ann Potter, Deb Akerstrom and a Morelli? My wife Pam and I got to sit with good friends, John Reinke, Gary Smith and Terry Lavender. John Reinke gave the entire audience a holler as he sang along.
![]() |
The wire mesh protecting this alder from chewing beavers was pulled away. |
Thanks for the photos John Reinke. Yes, sometimes the beavers figure out a way to get over/under or crush the caging we put up, especially older cages. Because of all the recent beaver activity along the trail, over the next few weeks, the City’s WCC crew will be installing some new cages and improving older ones between Redmond Way and 90th Street. This has more to do with public safety along the trail versus trying to stop the beaver from felling trees altogether.
All of the Red alders along the trail and Sammamish River are volunteer trees (planted by mother nature not us), and for the most part we are ok with those being taken down. It makes the shoreline more complex and provides a little more space and light for the long-lived conifers. Because the beavers are chewing a lot of trees right along the trail though, we are going to try and encourage them to leave those alone and choose trees that won’t fall onto the trail.
Happy Holidays,
Tom
Tom Hardy Stream & Habitat Planner, City of Redmond |