The Bear Creek Large Woody Debris (LWD) project at Keller will enhance a 4,000-foot
reach of stream on the former Keller family farm property. To date, 60 gallons of Roundup has been sprayed on Keller Farm to remove invasives. Councilmember Varisha Khan was concerned about contamination to the groundwater feeding into Bear Creek salmon habitat.
In 2015, the City of Redmond purchased 83-acres from the Keller family for the future Keller wetland mitigation bank (KWMB). Because the KWMB is focused on restoring wetlands on the old farm fields, the city committed to separately funding the restoration of the adjacent reach of Bear Creek.
The city’s Bear Creek LWD project is located mostly on the former Keller property, and immediately adjacent to the KWMB along Bear Creek. The Bear Creek LWD project and the KWMB project are separate but interrelated because of their proximity to one another. The projects were designed in coordination with one another to maximize habitat benefits and to maintain zero flood rise.
The city’s Bear Creek LWD project is funded through Redmond stormwater fees and from a $340,000 Cooperative Watershed Management (CWM) grant.
The reach of Bear Creek is an important migratory and rearing corridor for salmon. The enhancement of this reach is listed as a priority in the WRIA 8 Chinook Recovery Plan. The Bear Creek LWD project will install 37 log jams in the stream and plant about 3-acres of buffer. This work will complement the 80-acres of planting, wetland creation and enhancement, creation of stream channels and off-channel habitat provided at the KWMB. Construction will be coordinated between the projects, with both being constructed this summer and planted in the fall and winter.
The 3-acres of planting for the Bear Creek LWD project will be implemented by the city’s Washington Conservation Corps crew, adjacent to the KWMB along Bear Creek, and will not be included in the bid package.
The main element of construction for the Bear Creek LWD project will be the installation of the log jams by a contractor on City property, WSDOT property and within existing Native Growth Protection Easements. The log jams will improve instream habitat conditions for adult salmon migrating upstream to spawning grounds and will provide rearing and refuge for juvenile salmon moving downstream. When grown, the planting will eventually provide shade for the stream and improved habitat for wildlife.
The two projects are part of a broader multi-year restoration effort in the Bear-Evans corridor that will connect hundreds of acres of restored habitat for fish and wildlife and provide long term environmental benefits. Another significant near-term project is the relocation of Evans Creek, moving the stream out of the industrial area in SE Redmond.
-- Council Committee of the Whole, Public Works, 6/9/2020
In 2015, the City of Redmond purchased 83-acres from the Keller family for the future Keller wetland mitigation bank (KWMB). Because the KWMB is focused on restoring wetlands on the old farm fields, the city committed to separately funding the restoration of the adjacent reach of Bear Creek.
The city’s Bear Creek LWD project is located mostly on the former Keller property, and immediately adjacent to the KWMB along Bear Creek. The Bear Creek LWD project and the KWMB project are separate but interrelated because of their proximity to one another. The projects were designed in coordination with one another to maximize habitat benefits and to maintain zero flood rise.
The city’s Bear Creek LWD project is funded through Redmond stormwater fees and from a $340,000 Cooperative Watershed Management (CWM) grant.
The reach of Bear Creek is an important migratory and rearing corridor for salmon. The enhancement of this reach is listed as a priority in the WRIA 8 Chinook Recovery Plan. The Bear Creek LWD project will install 37 log jams in the stream and plant about 3-acres of buffer. This work will complement the 80-acres of planting, wetland creation and enhancement, creation of stream channels and off-channel habitat provided at the KWMB. Construction will be coordinated between the projects, with both being constructed this summer and planted in the fall and winter.
The 3-acres of planting for the Bear Creek LWD project will be implemented by the city’s Washington Conservation Corps crew, adjacent to the KWMB along Bear Creek, and will not be included in the bid package.
The main element of construction for the Bear Creek LWD project will be the installation of the log jams by a contractor on City property, WSDOT property and within existing Native Growth Protection Easements. The log jams will improve instream habitat conditions for adult salmon migrating upstream to spawning grounds and will provide rearing and refuge for juvenile salmon moving downstream. When grown, the planting will eventually provide shade for the stream and improved habitat for wildlife.
The two projects are part of a broader multi-year restoration effort in the Bear-Evans corridor that will connect hundreds of acres of restored habitat for fish and wildlife and provide long term environmental benefits. Another significant near-term project is the relocation of Evans Creek, moving the stream out of the industrial area in SE Redmond.
-- Council Committee of the Whole, Public Works, 6/9/2020
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