City expects to alter Bear Creek channel this summer



Aerial View of Redmond Town Center, Bear Creek and SR520 - before widening
Historic Bear Creek 100-year Flood Plain in blue (Macy's is red box)



In 2008 WSDOT decided to widen SR520 from 4 lanes to 8 lanes.  The widening occurred in 2009 on the northside of SR520 towards Bear Creek.  The impact to Bear Creek and Redmond Town Center's flood plain was significant enough to warrant realigning (relocating) the creek away from the widening project. 

Earlier, Councilmembers Richard Cole, Kim Allen, and Nancy McCormick traveled to Olympia to request funding to relocate the Creek.  State Finance Chair Ross Hunter allocated $8 Million towards the project.  The City Department of Natural Resources and WRIA (watershed agency) funded another $2 Million.  The project has been held up by the Army Corps of Engineers. 

Yesterday, Roger Dane, Redmond Natural Resources wrote:

"The City continues coordination with the Army Corps in order to secure permit approvals. We believe the agency and their partners are working towards approval, and at this point we expect to be under construction in summer 2012."

Bear Creek is a protected  "Shoreline of the State."   Chinook, a federally-protected Endangered Species live and spawn in it's channels and backwaters.  According to local experts, the salmon run was poor this year.  If you have any questions or suggestions for the city, contact Roger Dane at rdane@redmond.gov.  Word has it the funding is contracted for 5-years before it expires.

The aerial flood plain photo is courtesy of Susan Wilkins, a citizen-geologist.  Sue published  the photo in  her "OPINION: THE SR520 EXPANSION BETWEEN THE SAMMAMISH RIVER BRIDGE AND REDMOND WAY - From 4 lanes in 1992 to 8 lanes in 2008. But at what cost? "