Eastside salmon habitat improvements

Credit / John Reinke 

A 95th Street Bear Creek Enhancement project will install six log jams, two backwater channels, 230-feet of alcoves and enhance almost 3-acres of buffer. The project is on the Chinook Recovery plan for WRIA 8 because of its high benefit to spawning and rearing habitat in Bear Creek.

The project is located south of the 95th Street bridge on City of Redmond owned property. The $143,490 grant will help pay for construction costs associated with the installation of four log jams in the stream, one backwater channel and approximately 180- ft of alcoves. The remaining part of the project is designated as mitigation and will be entirely paid for by the stormwater Capital Improvement Project budget. The construction target is 2019 pending receiving Army Corps permits.

-- Council Committee meeting, 11/13

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Lake Sammamish State Park has grown by more than 5 acres after land was donated to the park by a local company.

Lakeside Industries recently donated a 5.3-acre parcel of property adjacent to Lake Sammamish State Park which will let the state and city of Issaquah expand habitat restoration along Issaquah Creek. The property is located on the east side of the creek between Alpine Animal Hospital and the Microsoft campus. It includes more than 1,100 linear feet of creekside, a critical habitat for young salmon.

Mountains to Sound Greenway stewardship program manager Mackenzie Dolstad said restoration work will include removing invasive weeds and planting native trees and shrubs along the creekside. That work will provide shade for young Chinook salmon that use the creek near Lake Sammamish as a safe haven as they grow before moving into Puget Sound. Issaquah creek is one of the highest priority creeks for Chinook salmon and houses the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery further upstream.

-- Issaquah Reporter, 11/2