Lower Bear Creek Rehabilitation project progresses

Roger Dane (left) - City of Redmond Planner - explains Lower Bear Creek Rehabilitation Project.  The channel is in the background. 

 

The WIRA 8 Committee stopped in Redmond to hear city planner Roger Dane explain the progress of Lower Bear Creek rehabilitation.  A 4,000 foot meandering channel is being built to improve salmon habitat.  The channel is viewable from the south side of Bear Creek Parkway.  The new channel is expected to be complete with plantings by next year with possible water flows the year following.   The mouth of the new channel will have a gentle gradient and be located further south of the existing creek.  Three "backwater" loops will be installed to facilitate salmon rearing.  The project was held up for two years by an archeological finding - the largest west of the Cascades.  It's being funded mostly by the WSDOT and City of Redmond, with some WIRA 8 funds.  The current bicycle/pedestrian trail was moved further away from the channel towards Bear Creek Parkway to increase the stream buffer.

By Bob Yoder