The River, Landmark Oak Trees, And Summer Fun

 

 Heritage Red Oak Tree in apparent distress during Senior Center construction.
(click to enlarge)

After a Vision Redmond 2050 meeting last night I joined Pam for some awesome "Hey Jude dancing" to the "Beatnicks." It was Rockn' on the River time!   

The Senior & Community building construction was nearby so we checked it out.  We first noticed the Heritage Red Oak Tree.  Not to alarm, but I'm concerned for its health.  Notice the mound of earth piled within the dripline root zone.  The roots are clearly disturbed.  Near the trunk a subsurface cement box is dug-out. Does the right side of the tree look somewhat shriveled/limp to you?  Why is the invasive work done in the heat of the summer?   

Worries out of the way, we then rushed to see if Council kept Red Oak 161. Yes, they did!  All three landmark Red Oaks are standing tall.  Three other good sized trees remain nearby.  

At a Council meeting (7/26) the Parks Director reported concerns that removing the tree will increase  impervious surfaces in the shoreline buffer.  In my opinion, pervious asphalt should be installed on the Center walkways within the shoreline buffer. Yes, it's expensive but if the city can install pervious asphalt on the entire Phase II Central Trail Connector they can certainly afford it on the State shoreline buffer.  

It was nice to see the white detention tanks for treating runoff.  They looked new, state of the art, and clean.  Only the best for the Sammamish River!

After Rockn' on the River was over we ran into Marty Boggs, Senior Center Administrator; he noted something extraordinary.  There wasn't a shred of litter on the lawns!  Said Marty, "It's like this every year, Redmond is a special place"   

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, 8/12/2022

Commissioner Gary Smith Given High Honors By Mayor Birney

Gary Smith teaching child about trees

July is "Parks and Recreation" month.  During "Special Orders of the Day"  Mayor Birney honored  four citizens for their contributions to the City Parks & Rec.  One of them is a friend of mine, Gary Smith.

Allow me to paraphrase the Mayor's recognition of Gary.

• Parks and Trails Commission (2018 - present) Chair
• Advanced Sustainably pushing forward the East Redmond Corridor.
• ADA stakeholder working to improve access to all users of Parks and Trails
• Green Redmond Forest Volunteer for many years leading and working numerous forest restoration projects. Gary is the Forest Steward at Westside and Idlewood Parks. 
• Gives valuable input on the "Tree Canopy Strategic Plan." 
• Significant contribution to the pond restoration at Smith Woods Park (and project manager of the program honoring the owner who gifted the land.)
• Advocate for fish and fish habitat in and around the City. 

The Mayor praised Gary noting "this only scratches the surface" of his contributions to the City.   A list of posts on Gary's contributions and activities are HERE. 

Gary spoke to the Council and audience after the Mayor's recognition.  He thanked the Parks and Trails commission saying "the commission was his platform for multiplying efforts I might have given."

Gary gave thanks to the "Green Redmond" program kindly saying it was "started by Mayor Rosemarie Ives fifteen years ago."

Gary Smith is a public speaker extraordinaire - intelligent, whitty, powerful voice, emotionally controlled, with great presence.  His likable personality, deep passion for  Redmond's environment and ecology, and long-time commitment to the community makes him very special.  Thank you, Gary.  

-- Bob Yoder, 7/7/2022

UPDATED: Council Studies Impact Of Construction On Drinking Water

Station House Lofts, downtown aquifer dig, 3/2017 / credit Bob Yoder

The  proposed goal of  the temporary de-watering regulations is "to ease tensions between "compact growth" and drinking water." (Jessica Alakson)

Downtown Redmond and Marymoor Village lies over a shallow, sandy aquifer from which the City  gets 40% of our drinking water.  Jessica Alakson, the City geological scientist gave Council a brief report on actions the City is taking to protect the aquifer from development of 1-2 stories of underground parking garages.   

The aquifer is mapped by "Critical Area Recharge Areas" (C.A.R.A.).  One day, Redmond Town Center will be redeveloped with 12-story buildings and one or two levels of underground parking. Town Center is in the high priority C.A.R.A. Type 1 zone.  The proposed "Nelson Village" is in the C.A.R.A. Type 1 zone, as well.

Ms. Alakson said excavating the sandy aquifer artificially lowers the ground water-table. Water will be purchased from Cascade Water Alliance if water table significantly drops.  [When water levels drop significantly, it's my understanding the developer may have to pay for the difference.] 

Jessica stated "Temporary Construction Dewatering" will be amended to include the following limitations within the Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA):

 · Limit rate to 5,500 gallons per minute; and · Limit cumulative duration to a maximum of 1 year; and · Limit depth to a maximum of 9 feet below season high groundwater elevation. 

Council member Jeralee Anderson asked Jessica how long it takes to recharge the aquifer?  Jessica said if it's raining heavily, less than a month. The average recharge time is 2-4 months.  Ms. Anderson asked how many projects would be vested from the more restrictive regulations.  Jessica said hardly any.  

No decisions were made.

-- Bob Yoder, 7/6/2022

Source:  Council Committee of the Whole, Public Works, Presiding Officer CM Malissa Stewart

"The Challenge And Need for De-watering"  (a summary of all my posts on Redmond's water.)  BY

The Challenges Of Crafting Redmond Tree Regulations

AustinChronicle.com

It's been a long 24 years since a Redmond updated our Tree Regulations.  Trees are a big part of our culture.  They populate our parks, open spaces, trails, neighborhoods, and even downtown with greenery. They contribute to the riparian habitat of Bear Creek's salmon. We cherish them for their ecological benefits.  A few of our treed parks and trails are regional destinations. 

City Council, the Planning Commission, expert city staff, and community volunteers worked long and hard - 1.5 years in fact - to update the tree regulations.  Council was willing to approve the proposed regulations but unfortunately a Master Builder lawsuit against Kirkland's new tree regulations caused them to delay.  Read Mayor Birney's response at the end of this article.  

Redmond's proposed Tree Regulation Update took ~ 12 meetings!

The Update is a lot about tree replacements and penalties:   

• For every one Landmark tree (30 inches or more) removed, six "replacement trees" (saplings) must be planted either on-site, off-site, or fee in-lieu. ($2,000.) in that order.
• For every one "Significant" tree  (6 inches in diameter at breast height) removed three saplings must be planted either on-site, off-site, or fee in-lieu ($500) in that order.
• The idea is to build canopy.  Redmond's goal is 40% canopy.  Canopy provides  cooling, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, aesthetics, raises property values, improves mental health, lowers blood pressure and more. Most Washington cities have a 40% canopy goal.
• For each tree removed illegally by topping the contractor's penalty will be tripled. 
• Single Family Homes don't qualify for off-site or fee-in lieu options. Saplings must be shoe-horned into the parcel.  If an evergreen is removed, it must be replaced by a six-foot evergreen tree.  The requirements can never be enforced; no penalties. 
• Find the proposed updates here:  www.LetsConnectRedmond.com/Trees

The "Master Builders of King and Snohomish County" argument against Redmond's Update is, in part: 

1. "Redmond is at odds with another critically important goal for the community (and requirement under the Growth Management Act.); insuring adequate supply of housing."
2. "Concerned enhanced retention and replacement requirements will significantly increase review times and construction costs; hampering new home construction and driving up costs."  
3. "This will make it increasingly difficult for the City to meet it's own housing targets and provide a range of affordable housing options."
4. "The trees are getting the same protection as critical areas."
5.  "Reconsider a 40% canopy requirement since "American Forest" in 2017 no longer recognizes this as standard."  
6. "The Growth Management Act requires Redmond to responsibly provide dense housing totaling 8897 units by 2040."  

The Master Builder lawsuit against Kirkland's Tree Regulation Update as described by Mayor Birney (edited excerpt.)

Mayor Birney:  "The Master Builders claim Kirkland's tree protection ordinance violates the Growth Management Act (GMA) because it failed to consider private property rights, created vague implementation standards, treated trees like critical areas without consideration of Best Available Science and will decrease housing production. 

Mayor Birney:  "Although we do not believe these arguments have merit, staff want to take the "Growth Management Hearings Board" conclusions into account before finalizing the ordinance for Council approval. The final Board decision on the matter is expected in November.  In the meantime, staff are proposing to update the Redmond fee schedule for tree replacement and the enforcement codes to ensure that unpermitted removal is appropriately deterred until the substantive regulations can be finalized for Council adoption early in 2023."

Owing to the strength of the Planning Director's advice to Council, it was decided not to take action on the Proposal until November at which time the Kirkland law suit will be resolved. Council will wait until early January before implementing the new ordinance. In the process of this timeline, developers will be vested under the more lenient ordinance for over 2.3 years. Hmm, how much canopy will be removed before the new more restrictive ordinance takes place?

The Planning Director will not hire a "Code Compliance Officer."

-- Bob Yoder, 6/29/2022

For details on penalties for illegal tree removal, and to comment  "Read More"

Former Mayor Ives Challenges Staff On Puget Sound Energy Plan

Rosemarie Ives

Good evening Mayor and Council Members,

Rosemarie Ives, former mayor 1992-2007

I am speaking again against the Sammamish Juanita Transmission Line.  Though much information was provided,  I have one question:  why did City staff support Puget Sound Energy’s business interests over the environmental interests of the people of Redmond AND the Puget Sound region who have committed to preserve the Sammamish Valley farmlands and open spaces for decades? 

After becoming mayor in 1992, the  Comprehensive Plan  identified  the east-west Transmission line at NE 95th Street as the northern boundary for manufacturing and industrial uses and with everything north  remaining  rural.  The owners of the land north of that transmission line  approached the City with a proposal for a golf course that is Willows Run today.  After  extensive  negotiations, the City agreed to zone the property “urban recreation” with the understanding that this land would remain “open space,”  with the owners required to uphold a long list of environmental regulations and responsibilities, and that in perpetuity, the golf course would remain open to the public.  I believed strongly that zoning for a golf course was the best way to preserve the historically rural Valley, protecting it from any kind of business, manufacturing or industrial intrusion.

Detention Tanks Safeguard Sammamish River, WLWB Exit Dangerous

In this image, notice the beginning of  the West Lake Sammamish Blvd. exit off of SR-520.  Do you see the beginnings of  light rail construction on the right?  The train will run right over the exit ramp. 

This exit was one of the most dangerous for me in Redmond for a while, especially at night.  The "fake" stop light, further down the sharp ramp was very misleading. Did this exit frighten you too?  Finally, it's fixed.

The video shows two points of interest.  

1)  As you drive east on SR-520, notice how close the rail is to the highway.  

2)  Orange stormwater detention tanks are densely massed together for a good reason; the Sammamish River is immediately below the filthy construction site.  Detention tanks "filter" contaminated sediment from construction runoff. 

Sound transit is a steward of our environment.  

--Bob Yoder, opinion/ Video Yoder, 5/29/2022

Redmond's Threatening Spills Reported To Ecology

An excerpt from Redmond's Environmental Sustainability Action Plan Implementation Update

BACKGROUND: 

 • The City of Redmond and other agencies investigated 164 illicit discharge (spill) reports in 2021. Of these, 55 calls came through the City Spill Hotline.

• 46 of the spills were located within City rights-of-way. 25 of the spills we responded to were determined to “constitute a threat to human health or the environment” and were reported to the Department of Ecology. Four discharges resulted in water quality impacts to receiving waters and were also reported to the Department of Ecology.

• One City response was related to an illicit connection (associated with new construction) discovered by City staff.

• One hundred percent of the MS4 has been checked for illicit connections since the permit became effective (August 2019). These checks are integrated into biennial catch basin inspections.

-- Council Committee Of The Whole Memo, 4/27/2022

"Bear Creek: An Oral History of a Changing Landscape," Produced by Gary Smith

GARY SMITH

Gary Smith has been on the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council as a community organization representative for 15 years.  With the help of many partners, he set about compiling an oral history of Bear Creek and its salmon.  This project tapped seven people in the community, from creekside property owners in the Basin like Terry Lavender to representatives of local governments:  John Marchione, Ray Heller and Roger Dane (all now retired).  He also interviewed non-profit organization representatives like Tom Murdoch of Adopt-A-Stream and past presidents of WaterTenders.

You can learn of Bear Creek from those stewards as they tell their individual stories in audio and video interviews. Gary has also provided a narrative story of the cooperation between citizens, non-profit organizations, and local governments to mitigate the impacts of urbanization and to preserve the best of the natural world remaining in the creek basin. To view the full five-minute video.  To learn more about the projects. 

Source:  WIRIA 8 Newsletter 

Reported by Bob Yoder, 2/25/2022

UPDATED 2/11/2022: Observations And History Of Troubled Evans Creek

 

Stormwater run-off pond seeps contaminated water into Evans Creek, 2006, B. Yoder

This blogpost focuses on the pollution of Evans Creek from Redmond's SE industrial district. Evans creek will be relocated and land rezoned as a result. My "Evans Creek Relocation" input was unreported at the Planning Commission Hearing of February 9th, 2022 so I'm trying to catch up here. Hopefully, elected officials will develop a greater understanding and empathy for the industrial district and  health of the creek.  Evans Creek borders north and east of the district. The presence of an aquifer is significant.

In a 2006 hike along northern Evans Creek I stumbled into the rough-and-tumble industrial district. Trucks blew horns; a few pushed me into narrow dirt shoulders. Clearly, they wanted no part of me. Curious, I sneaked back often, specifically looking for the creek and sniffing around the oil trucks.  Below, is some of the damage I found: 

• All Wood Recycling (now DTG) recycles or did recycle piles of toxic chemically treated wood and polluting concrete. Alarmingly, a shallow, high value aquifer lies  six feet below the surface.  Large chunks of concrete spill into the north eastern riparian, possibly the  creek. 
• An unmaintained, filthy, clogged stormwater pond with a sheen of oil and log-jammed debris has a natural connection to the creek about 30 - 40 yards away. The pond is a tell-tale sign of how little the industries and our jurisdiction cared about the salmon and and aquifer back then. Just a modicum of care would have made a  big difference but the City buried its head. 
• Some of the oil trucks never moved off the buffer, slowly dripping toxic fluids.

I reported the environmental abuses to Redmond's Code Enforcement Officer, Carl McCarty. He called in 5 agencies, violations were identified, fines were paid. Mr. McCarty recorded the outcome somewhere in his files.

No question, today staff is fully aware of the aquifer, the underground streams and general hydrology.  They will be prepared for a healthy transition to commercial zoning.

Some history: At least 20 years ago Mayor Rosemarie Ives hired Jon Spangler as Natural Resource Manager. Jon mapped the  Evans Creek Relocation plan; primarily he managed stormwater run-off. Redmond is now proudly one of the regional leaders in stormwater management. Mayor Ives may have also hired Cathy Beam.  She's the environmental principle planner for development. Ms. Beam is called upon to evaluate the influence of development on the environment. As I remember, she wasn't exposed in a big way to the early industrial issues of Evans Creek. However, I ran into her on-site once. 

Attention elected officials:  For values of preserving the aquifer and protecting our fish, I urge the City to expedite the transition from industrial  to commercial. I'm confident Mayor Birney will make certain the stormwater facilities are upgraded and toxins monitored, as needed.  (It doesn't hurt the Mayor is a Biologist.) We are extremely fortunate Council values so highly our environment - including protection and restoration of our streams, clean water, fish, riparian trees and varied habitats.

Note: I'm not sure of the operating status of the industries so at times erroneously switch the present with the past.  Dates are approximate and inaccurate.

-- Bob Yoder, Opinion, 2/10/2022

UPDATED, 2/23/2022 Exciting Senior & Community Center Updates

 

  Do you see the black solar panels on the roof?  Will there be space for green roof tops?

Per Business Council meeting of 2/1/2022:  Senior & Community Center updates:  

1)  Vice President Vanessa Kritzer announced the possibility of Green (Roof) Tops at the Center.  President Jessica Forsythe has advocated for green roof tops for years.  Jessica asked staff for maintenance costs.  Eric Dawson, Public Works and project lead estimated a green top would cost about $15,000.  He felt it would easily fit in the budget. Hopefully, this will be the first of many green tops on City buildings.  

2)  Design costs of the Center are increasing with inflation.  The cost will be $52,000,000 if Council passes an ordinance to cover a $4,000,000 shortfall.  Public Works "value engineered" the project saving $2,480,000.  

3) Most of the funding is collected from the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) $17,116,000 and a "councilmanic" bond. The CIP is funded by taxpayers. 

Total debt payments on the councilmanic bond are $32,217,000 over twenty years. Cumulative interest over twenty years is $8,264,000. The interest rate is 3%. President Forsythe was concerned about the rate rising.  Councilmanic bonds are not voter approved. 

Here's some upbeat news.  The councilmanic bond can be spent as one-time money for construction of the Center.  President Forsythe questioned having enough one-time money to "go around" towards other projects.  Parks Director Carrie Hite wasn't too concerned stating the 2022 CIP was "robust." The final decision is expected in June.

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, photo, Internet, 2/1/2022

OPINION:  Director Carrie Hite was released or resigned from her position just recently.  Council decided not to use the councilmanic bond to fund construction of the Senior/Comm. Center. Council may have decided the 2022 CIP was not robust and perhaps didn't like staff making budget decisions. Council President Forsythe was concerned the 3% interest rate would increase with inflation.  My guess is she has other places to use the bond in the immediate future. Losing Director Hite is a big loss IMO.

Bear Creek Floods Behind Safeway Closing The Trail

The photo below shows Bear Creek spilling onto it's floodplain after an "atmospheric river" deluge the first week of January, 2022.  The photo was taken behind Safeway on the "Bear Creek Trail and Greenway." The creek crested ~ Friday. This photo was taken on Sunday. You're looking at floodplain not the creek. The creek is in the distance.  Nearby Avondale Way bridge is a great place to see salmon in September and October when spawning.

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

The City did a great job posting interpretive signs along the trail. This one explains flooding.  I saw evidence of a deer in the creek riparian. It's amazing urban downtown Redmond is home to these critters!  (Of note: A family was having lunch on the Creekside picnic table.)

(The rains and snow were so bad last week that all five passes were closed; Leavenworth declared a state of emergency calling in the National Guard. Another atmospheric river is expected the week of 1/10/2022.  I'll take another picture on Thursday when I think the creek will crest.) 

VIDEO UPDATE: Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved a Salmon Stream

"Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved A Salmon Stream, 1980 - 2020,"

Redmond Historical Society.

Redmond Historical Society: "Bear Creek a small stream east of Seattle – some Redmond residents don’t even know it runs through town ending at the Sammamish River between Marymoor Park and Redmond Town Center -- but Bear Creek is notable for its historically strong runs of wild salmon. In the past half-century those runs have declined, especially that of the threatened Puget Sound Chinook. That trend is sadly common in Northwest waterways, but in this case the decline has been slowed by local efforts to support the fish."

GARY SMITH, a standout Redmond volunteer, Parks Commission Chair, Water Tender Board member and WRIA 8 appointee compiled a research project and supporting materials interviewing the following stewards of Bear Creek, most of them Water Tenders:

Interview with Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl  -- Water Tender President & Board member with long family history of life at  Paradise Lake, the headwaters of Bear Creek.  

Interview with Terry Lavender, *Founder of Water Tenders and Board Chair. Terry describes her long experience on Bear Creek working with citizen groups and county officials to preserve and rehabilitate property on and around the creek.

Interview with Mayor John Marchione.

Interview with Dick Schaetzel, past President of Water Tenders (1991.)  Very active. Dick's home is 30 feet from Bear Creek. 

Interview with Tom Murdock, Executive Director of "Adopt A Stream."  

Ray Heller, King County Basin Steward for Bear Creek, 91-93

Written Q&A with Roger Dane C.O.R. Public Works.

Many thanks to the Redmond Historical Society for initiating and publishing "Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved a Salmon Stream," 1980 - 2020  (7/13/2021)

-- Bob Yoder, 1/7/2022

"Osprey" Building Provides Opportunity For Strong Gateway Feature

Design Review Board hasn't approved this project yet (12/16/2021)
The Osprey site is surrounded by fencing. You're looking at the Heron Rookery Park evergreen trees.  They will be obscured by the new building. "Osprey" provides an opportunity for a strong gateway feature from Leary Way to the downtown. 

The proposed project involves the construction of an 88-unit mixed-use multi-family residential development on .62 acres of land.  According to the Design Review video, a 2,500 sf green roof will be installed.

The new 88-unit building is comprised of: 

• Approximately 145,000 total gross square feet; 

• 1,000 square feet of commercial area; and 

• 80 parking stalls accessed from 159th PL NE Site & Background

The site is located in the River Bend Zone near the entrance of downtown Redmond along Leary Way. The property is adjacent to the Heron Rookery park and across the street from  Dudley Carter Park and the Sammamish River Trail.  Adjacent land uses consist of commercial, multi-family, and public park land. The site currently hosts an auto repair shop. (now torn down.)

The River Bend district is one of four distinct mixed-use residential/office districts in the Downtown Neighborhood intended to provide for significant residential growth, as well as opportunities for growth in professional, business, health and personal services. It is intended to be one of the densest employment and residential area in downtown also providing supporting retail, service and entertainment uses. 

Primary streets are intended for active, pedestrian friendly and activating commercial uses. The River Bend zone acts as an entrance to downtown requiring streetscape improvements.  The River Bend zone also preserves the “green gateway” on Leary Way at the south end of Downtown.

The property’s irregular shape and prominent location at the corner of 159th PL NE and Leary Way provide opportunity for a strong gateway feature to the downtown from Leary Way. 

This 88-unit building helps achieve the City’s stated comprehensive plan goals of creating a vibrant urban center downtown capable of accommodating one-third of Redmond’s planned housing growth by 2030. 

###

With the addition of Osprey and the future Fredrick's site "Heron Canyon" continues to grow.  In 2-3 years, Fredricks Appliances will be torn down for a new 6-story building directly across from Osprey.  A Fredricks salesperson said they'd move to the Willows area or first floor retail. 

###

I've noticed developers during Design Review like to tie the history of Redmond to their project.  

The Osprey architects wrote:

"The applicant has a solid start in the design concept acknowledging the history of the region’s indigenous populations with its strong roof forms, reminiscent of the Haida house across the street in Dudley Carter Park, the City’s early timber industry with its choice of wood and stone material, and the City’s future as a modern technology hub with the building’s irregular shape and significant glazing."

-- Excerpt from a Design Review Board memo, 12/7/2021  Photos, Yoder

"Porch + Park" Multi-Use Building Plans "Green Roof Porch"

 

Besides shrubs and potted trees, the roof is set with chairs, tables, benches and a BBQ for luxurious outdoor eating.  One other apartment building in Redmond (Horizon) is designing a Green Roof.  The City should emphasize Green Roofs in their "Vision 2050" plan, with particular attention to the Nelson Master Plan.

-- Bob Yoder, 11/232021

    Photo, Porch + Park website

UPDATED: Evans Creek Relocation Improves Fish Habitat, Makes Redevelopment Feasible

 

City engineer Emily Flanagan gave Council an overview of the Evans Creek Relocation project November 9th 2021.  She quoted a total cost of the project at $18,450,000. Grants totaled $850,000.  In 2013, $910,868 was approved for a relocation consultant at a Council regular meeting  

Thus, the total price tag for relocation, including grants is 18,510,868 (not counting legal fees from lawsuits with "Union Shares." The $910,868 was paid for a preliminary design and to secure permits to relocate 3500 feet of Evans Creek channel out of SE Redmond Industrial area into adjacent open space to the north and east.

BENEFIT:  Redevelopment of some aspects of SE Redmond Industrial will be economically feasible with removal of the stream and buffer from it's present location.  In addition, passive recreation along the Bear-Evans Creek trail to Perrigo Park will be enhanced since the new channel will share the same open space with the trail. 

BENEFIT:  Evans Creek is a Class One salmon bearing stream but is impacted by adjacent industrial development with untreated run-off and untreed, paved buffers less than 50 feet wide in some places.  Class One stream buffers are supposed to be 200 feet wide but 50 foot buffers have been grandfathered in SE Industrial Redmond.   Evans Creek  Relocation is listed as a priority in the WRIA 8 Chinook Conservation Plan owing to the wealth of habitat in the upper reaches of Evans Creek.  With the relocation Chinook and Coho will be able to swim from the confluence of Bear-Evans Creeks to the upper reaches of the watershed. 

According to Ms. Flanagan, the project will take two summers to complete.  Expected completion time is 2024.  

In 2013 it was estimated the total cost for the relocation is $7.6 Million and is funded by City of Redmond Capital Improvement Projects fund.  That's a far cry from $18M.  CM David Carson didn't give the source of the funds.  

-- Bob Yoder, 2013 Council memo, 11/9/2021, Council Committee meeting.

It's about time (2021) Evans is relocated away from this industrial mess!

Years past, I was obsessed by the filth draining into Evans Creek. It's one of the reasons I decided to blog.  Years ago, I arranged a tour of the site for KCC Kathy Lambert, CM David Carson, and CM Hank Myers.  Jon Spangler, the City Natural Resources Manager gave the tour.  I thought they were interested in the pollution but it was more than that. Myers and Carson left the tour early when we got close to the All Wood Recycling office.   B.Y.

UPDATED OPINION: Redmond's Tree Canopy Is Decreasing

Redmond tree canopy in ~2017

 The tree canopy webpage has been updated to include information on suggested trees, tree selection, planting tips, care, and watering along with volunteer opportunities. 

 Updates to the Redmond Comprehensive Plan, describing the 40% canopy goal, timeline, and key strategies were adopted by City Council on November 17, 2020. 

 The 2021-22 budget included $150,000 for Carbon Footprint Reduction/Tree Canopy Expansion in the biennium. To date, 1.71 acres have been cleared in the Monticello watershed with 1.21 acres planted (540 trees) in the spring of 2021. The remaining .5 acre will be planted in fall/winter 2021-22. Additional plantings are being considered on park properties. 

Two mature Cedars will be removed during King County's sewer line replacement.  Will King County or the City try to repurpose them for salmon habitat? Beavers are gnawing down quite a few alders this year. Will aerial photographs account for these losses?

 In 2021, Public Works has planted 150 trees at Keller/Bear Creek using stormwater funds and over 100 trees will be planted at Smith Woods through Parks/Stormwater funds. 

 In 2020, the following number of trees were planted on City owned land:

o Natural Resources planted 1,240 

o Parks 230 

o Forterra (Green Redmond Partnership) 509 

o Adopt-a-Stream Foundation 840 

o Total trees planted: 2,819 Strategy 

C: Increase Planting on Private Property. 

 City-led Planting: Staff has conducted research on a variety of incentive programs to provide trees or discounts to purchase trees along with estimated costs to manage the program based on current models in use around the region. Opportunities are being evaluated to propose a program in the 2023-24 biennium. 

 The Green Redmond Partnership planted nearly 2,000 plants and engaged 438 volunteers across 17 parks for a total of 1,264 hours of volunteer engagement. As noted above, they planted 509 trees in 6 parks in 2020.  

According to the website, only two Green Redmond planting events were planned for this Fall. According to Zoe of Fortera ,the two October events were "sold out" by September 30, (some exceptions were made for officials). In years past, Green Redmond held multiple events. Not too long ago, Parks Director Hite said one of the limiting factors this year was the cost of trees.  

 Earth Corps has also been a partner on planting and community engagement. 

 Current Tree Canopy Coverage: The most recent analysis in late 2020, shows that Redmond’s 2019 tree canopy coverage is 37.9%, this includes parks within the incorporated City limits but not contiguous city limits. (The Watershed Preserve (800 acres) is counted as canopy?) This represents a decrease of .2% or (24.7) acres from 2017. This amount of loss isn't terribly bad considering our considerable development. It's clear the City is doing what they can to preserve our canopy. The changes in canopy cover occurred within the contiguous city boundary. The tree canopy coverage in the contiguous city boundary is 32.9%, down from 33.2 (24.7 acres).  Does street trees and off-site mitigation with saplings count towards canopy?

 Staff updates tree canopy coverage on a 2-year basis in even years. The data is updated using aerial photographs that are captured in odd-years (2019) and the data is available in even years (2020). The next update would be in 2022.

Source:  Edited Council Committee of the Whole Parks memo, 10/29/2021

Opinion, Bob Yoder

Councilmember Vanessa Kritzer Hefts A Monster Salmon

Redmond Councilmember Vanessa Kritzer says on Facebook: 

"This is probably one of the coolest things I've done all year: got to help with salmon spawning at FISH (Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery)! What a great way to see the returns on our chinook salmon by actually wading around in a pool and handling them. Grateful for the work of this mostly volunteer-powered group!" V.K.

Councilmember Vanessa Kritzer, hefting a Chinook   

Ms. Kritzer represents the City of Redmond on the WRIA-8 Cedar Council (for salmon recovery.)

 9/29/2021

 

Senior & Community Center Taking Donations For Solar Power

 

Become a Solar Champion

Leave a green legacy! Help Redmond become carbon neutral and ensure the sustainability of our environment by purchasing a solar panel to power up the new Redmond Senior & Community Center.

Benefit to Champions:

• Solar Champion Sticker
• Name recognition as a Solar Champion on the website
• Your name/organization listed on a Solar Champions plaque in the lobby of the new Redmond Senior & Community Center
• Businesses: Recognition through social media (over 10,000 followers) and one feature on our Parks and Recreation eNewsletter sent to over 28,000 subscribers
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Environmentally Sensitive Light Rail Construction Underway

 

Construction of the Downtown Redmond Light Rail Extension will impact a swath of trees and riparian habitat along Bear Creek in the vicinity of the Overlake Urgent Care Center west to Creekside Crossing and Redmond Center Open Space.  Clearing and grading permits are required to remove 144 trees to accommodate the rail, Bear Creek "restoration," and construction access. Most of the trees will be planted off site because they won't survive in the wetland areas. For each significant tree removed, 6 saplings will be planted; for each landmark tree removed 18 saplings will be planted. A section of Bear Creek will have to be dredged to create a "back channel" for flood control and wetland habitat. Back channels are also valuable for salmon rearing.

Overall, approximately 500 linear feet of Bear Creek will be "restored or enhanced" when all is said and done.  The Design Builder is encouraged to reuse previously removed trees for onsite habitat features. In addition, Sound Transit plans to purchase off-site wetland mitigation credits at the Keller Farm site further upstream along Bear Creek for any restoration that cannot be accommodated on-site.

All the work near Bear Creek described above is subject to review as part of the City’s shoreline and clearing and grading permits, the Army Corps and the tribes.  Construction is over 3 years out.  

  -- City Council Study Session, 5/28
      Meeting memo (map)

* In 2020 I took a tour of the site with City staff.  They said the light rail will run five feet over Bear Creek.  B.Y.  

UPDATED: 60 Evergreen Saplings Planted Along The Ashford Trail

Ashford Trail evergreen saplings

The Ashford Trail is not far from my Education Hill house; I walk it often...sometimes to Avondale Road.  The trailhead is at the Bike Park.

Last week, I was surprised and happy to see a planting of ~60 evergreen sapling trees on the south side of the trail. Most of them were hard to spot but the orange tape helped.  Can you see the three trees in this picture?  After much back-and-forth Customer Service confirmed they were planted by the Green Redmond Partnership three years ago.

Two City of Redmond water barrels were visible in the woods. City staff probably tied on the orange tape to mark for watering.  Despite severe heat this summer the trees looked healthy.  It's nice to know the City and Green Redmond forest steward (?) are looking after the saplings.

Additional Green Redmond Community tree planting programs are planned for the Fall of this year:

9/25, Smith Woods / 10/30, Smith Woods / 10/30, Ferrel-McWhirter

-- Bob Yoder, 9/5/2021