UPDATED: Cottonwood Controversy at Idylwood Park

Resident posts eagle notices
on city notice board

Thirty Cottonwood trees are scheduled for removal from Idylwood "Regional" Park sometime early this Spring.  The trees are prime perching and foraging habitat for park eagles and are highly valued.

I learned about the city's plans from a Letter to the Editor in the Redmond Reporter.  The city didn't hold a neighborhood meeting despite this being a regional park. Public notice was limited to two sandwich boards in the park and a blurb on the city website. Not good!

I called a phone number on the sandwich board. (The sign announced 30 Cottonwoods would be removed!)  David Tuchek, the Parks Operations Manager (and Parks "risk manager") kindly arranged a park tour.

David Tuchek in front of tree #10
 near Idlylwood Creek bridge

Mr. Tuchek was a city arborist at one time; and during the tour we discussed the following:

1)  The Bald Eagles spend most of their time in the Douglas Firs on the park's west side; there are no inhabited nests in the firs and no nests in the Cottonwoods. 2) Last year a serious summer drought caused the Cottonwoods to suck water into their branches, making them heavy and prone to falling. 3) Dave showed me a color picture of a large branch that fell on a park picnic table cracking it in half and landing on condo property. He noted two weeks later, a limb hit a park-goer sending her to Harborview. 5) Dave explained the 30 trees planned for removal were "target trees" that could hit people. 6) He pointed out the tape surrounding the Cottonwoods, saying falling limbs can "cartwheel" about 30 feet from the tree, 7) A mix of 60 conifer / deciduous replacement trees will be planted.  I recommended deciduous trees on the north side to provide shade from the southern sun. 8) Landmark Cottonwood #10 was growing in two riparian zones (river & lake) through which Kokanee salmon pass.  I noted how the tree was holding the bank. Dave indicated he would save as much of this target tree as possible. Besides mitigating erosion of the creek bank, the Cottonwood cools the water for salmon, and provides perching habitat.  9) The southern forested wetland will be enhanced and restored with replacement trees and shrubs.  The wetland will be fenced off and it's possible part of a Cottonwood can be saved for perching and bio-mass.

It was so kind of Dave to take me on this tour.  A few days later KING 5 reported on the city's plans, residents hired a lawyer requesting "cease and desist," (Read More,) and over 60 showed up at the Council's Audubon annual "Neighborhood Conversations" meeting - most of them emphatically objecting to the project. The final decision will be made by a Hearing Examiner. Yesterday, I took a video for posterity.

B. Yoder

Topped Cottonwood Trees on 90th Street NE almost make you gag

Topped Cottonwoods - "roadside attraction" on NE 90th Street

OPINION:  Last year, the city Council designated Cottonwoods as urban "garbage trees" because they crack open sidewalks, drop debris and the white cotton puffs blow around.  In 2011, the City ripped out all the Cottonwoods along southern NE 90th and replaced them with "street trees" and new sidewalk.  It looks pretty good.

The problem is they girdled and  topped these Cottonwoods growing in a stormwater facility further down the road.  Wildlife habitat is abundant here.  I just about gag everytime I have to pass them.  Anyone driving to Comcast, the Eastside Gym, Vertical Club, or any number of office buildings has to look at it. 

The City is setting a painful example to citizenry and students of what NOT to do with  trees.  Comments? 

By Bob Yoder
Photo by Yoder

City saves two mature cottonwoods at Idywood Park

City Park Operations Manger David Tucheck
in Idylwood Park with Cottonwoods

In August 2017, two separate large tree limb failures occurred at Idylwood Park. After the limb failures from drought, a visual tree risk assessment was performed on all trees in high use park areas by a certified arborist on City staff. As a result of the tree risk assessment, thirty (30) large cottonwood trees were identified as needing to be removed.

 March 19, 2018, City staff removed fourteen (14) cottonwood trees.
 March 27, 2018, a formal appeal regarding the project was filed. The tree removal project was put on hold during the appeal process.
 June 1, 2018, the appeal was dismissed by the Hearing Examiner The project was postponed until after Labor Day because of the busy summer beach season.

The City has hired a contractor to remove the remaining fourteen (14) hazardous cottonwood trees. Two (2) of the hazardous will be pruned to reduce risk and will remain. The project is scheduled to resume on October 8, 2018. Restoration of the tree removal areas will occur November 2018 – March 2019.

A community volunteer replanting event will be coordinated by the City. Volunteers and City staff will plant trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and install woody mulch. Replanting quantities include 66 trees, 291 shrubs, and 96 groundcovers.

Source:  Parks and Human Services Council committee memo, 10/2

Great Blue Heron with fish




JOHN REINKE / REDMOND NEIGHBORHOOD BLOG

"Great Blue Heron with fish." By John Reinke

John Reinke's heron is foraging under the Leary Way Bridge.  Painting or Photo?  Great Blue Herons are celebrated as Redmond's "Species of Local Importance".  They forage in the riparian habitat of Redmond's streams, wetlands and the Sammamish River. Redmond heron raise their young in the trees of  Issaquah rookeries and Marymoor Park cottonwoods.

Picture by John Reinke
Source:  Cathy Beam, Principal Environmental Planner, City of Redmond.

Top Foods was more than a grocer

Top Foods on Redmond Way is closing on Sunday.  What a bummer.  Today, one of our blog readers emailed they are giving 25% off on everything this weekend.  It was a good excuse & reminder to visit the store for the last time.  Top Foods is special from the rest.   The short-order restaurant atrium - with it's garage doors -  will be a sorely missed gathering place.  Sports teams and parents would meet-up before, and after.  Families.  Business workers.  I loved to bike the Bear Creek Trail, snack and rest-up.  Quite a few visited the Creek - you can see the Cottonwoods - from here.  (photo)

I bumped into the Manager today. With a strained smile he said he'd take a week off and go to Hawaii for two weeks; not certain what to do next. Others were offered jobs at nearby Top Foods stores or lost their unemployment insurance by saying "no".  One self-stocker was happy about his new job in the Kent store. He commutes from Puyallup.  The workers are all friendly.

I had heard rumors why Top Foods was closing. The Manager filled me in. It was a combination of things: 1) Traffic is excellent to the Plateau but the store is set-back and unseen. 2) The city wouldn't permit a "pillar sign" on Redmond Way. 3) Redmond Town Center owns the property; many leases tripled.

I'll miss this place: it was more than a grocer.  I wonder what will replace it?

By Bob Yoder
IPhone photo

City to restore Idylwood Park

Idylwood Park cottonwood trees / King 5

Redmond, WA –In March and April of 2018, the City removed 14 cottonwood trees in Idylwood Park after a risk assessment identified the trees as a public safety hazard. The remaining high-risk cottonwood trees were scheduled for removal following the busy summer beach season.

In the summer of 2017, two separate large limb failures resulted in injury to a park patron and damage to private property. These incidents prompted the risk assessment.

Removal of the cottonwood trees started on October 10. Large trees will remain in natural areas along the waterfront away from high-use areas, and permanent fencing will be installed in areas to limit access and protect future restoration plantings.

During this project, the City has been working with numerous organizations and a citizens group to create a restoration plan that would preserve and maintain natural habitats while offering safe, enjoyable experiences for all parks users. Over 60 trees, nearly 400 shrubs and groundcover will be planted which aligns with the City’s commitment to restoring and maintaining the urban forest for present and future generations.

The Redmond community values our trees, and we have programs in place to protect this natural resource, but public safety is our top priority. The cottonwood trees scheduled for removal are in high-use areas and are public safety hazards.

The robust mitigation and urban forest enhancement plan is scheduled for the winter months. The City will coordinate a community volunteer planting event.

Council "Neighborhood Conversation" at Audubon Elementary

Paige Norman, founder of "Education Hill Neighborhood Association" (EdNHA,) videoed Council's "Neighborhood Conversation" at Audubon El last Tuesday.  Affordable housing, the Overlake build-out, Overlake transportation, lots of discussion about removal of the Idylwood Park Cottonwoods.and the eagles there.   

The mayor said 1700 housing units have been built today, 1300 are under construction and 800 are in the permit review process. Hopefully the public will be notified of the status of these permits so we can comment to the Design Review Board before project approval. There's not enough color or architecture in our downtown buildings. 

Idylwood Park tree restoration was a total success

Idylwood Park restoration/ Photo Yoder

Last year, most of the cottonwoods in Idylwood Park were removed owing to danger from falling limbs.  This Saturday GreenRedmond sponsored a restoration project to restore and enhance the park landscaping.

In this photo, councilmember Hank Myers is in the foreground along with 4 other volunteers. Dr. David Morton is digging in the backgound.  Hank leads on most of the City's environmental projects.  Besides restoration, Hank is an expert and advocate of Redmond salmon and their habitat in Lower Bear Creek. I've heard him present at Redmond Kiwanis and was blown away by his knowledge.

Over 70 trees and 350 shrubs were planted that day by 50 residents, including kiddos. We were blessed with beautiful, sunny weather.  It was so rewarding to watch the toddlers plant.  In the future we will need these little ones to help us battle climate-change.

-- Bob Yoder
    3/17/2019

Dr. David Morton Accepts the Climate Action Challenge

Replacing dying cottonwoods with new trees at Idylwood Park.  Dr. David Morton is digging

 (far right) in the background.  Councilmember Hank Myers is in the foreground.

The Redmond Climate Action Challenge makes it easy and fun to reduce your environmental impact. By taking the Redmond Climate Action Challenge on October 4, 2021, my wife Gail and I have reduced our annual greenhouse gas emissions by 4.8 metric tons. We selected the actions specific to our journey, tracked our progress, and watched our carbon footprint decline as we made changes at home.  Here are some actions we’ve taken:

1.      Reducing air travel by 9,000 miles per year saves us 7,200 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents per year. We mostly stay local, but in 2021, Gail made a round trip to Portland in her 2018 Hyundai Ioniq hybrid, and I made two round trips to Renton in my 1990 Geo Metro XFi. Zoom and Microsoft Teams make it unnecessary to do a lot of flying and driving.
2.      Nature has replaced 3,000 square feet of our lawn with drought-tolerant plants like buttercups, dandelions, clover, and blackberry. Although they are non-native and invasive, they require zero watering, minimal mowing with a manual reel mower, and provide nectar and pollen for bees. This saves 42,600 gallons of water a year and earns 4,260 “Sustainability points.” The 40,000 sq. feet of forest that we have been allowing to grow on our property since 1994 has removed more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than our cars have released into it.
3.      By adopting smart driving habits, we save 110 gallons of gas and 2,960 pounds of CO₂ equivalents a year. Avoiding heavy acceleration, coasting when possible, light braking, and driving the speed limit help a lot. I turn off my car when stopped at traffic lights; Gail’s hybrid does that automatically. My car has no gas-guzzling air conditioner. And I regularly service our cars and keep their tires properly inflated.

Fall colors

Fall colors

My wife, Pam, is standing in front of our beautiful Palmataum Japanese maple tree. With great sadness we lost this cherished tree two years ago to severe back-to-back annual droughts.  It thrived on our property for 43 years. Other's in the neighborhoods lost their trees. The City also had to cut down some of their street trees and cottonwoods at Idylwood Park owing to drought.   

Bob Yoder