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

Water Tenders "Salmon Seeson" Cancelled, No Rain

Water Tender President Susan Wilkins at 
 Issaquah fish hatchery 

My daughter, Lexie, was the youth Water Tender Board Member while in high school.  She wrote a white paper on Bear Creek nimbyism and organized Key Club restoration work parties.  In 2023, she was promoted to Lead Environmental Scientist / Planner for a regional engineering company in Spokane.  Lexie's LinkedIn information.

At tour of the Salmon Fish Hatchery with Water Tender President Susan Wilkins. 

Every year from September - October during the "Salmon Seeson" you will find the Water Tenders at North Bear Creek educating children, families and adults about the life cycle of salmon.  This Fall was the 4-year cycle for sockeye so we were expecting a good run.  The Water Tenders put up sandwich board signs along Avondale Road to direct viewers to the creek. We usually see a lot of  returning salmon but this year owing to a prolonged drought there were none to be seen so the exhibit was shut down. Usually over 100 viewers walk up the trail to see coho, sockeye and chinook salmon.

Every year the Water Tenders pick up 1-2 Chinook salmon from the Issaquah fish hatchery for their Bear Creel exhibit.  Susan Wilkins, Water Tenders President says," this is an excellent way for viewers to see and touch the gills, scaling, and fins for show and tell."  Here's a picture of Susan at the hatchery standing by two chinook she was saving for the exhibit.

Salmon docent holding chinook 

According to their mission statement, "The Water Tenders are a group of individuals who care about the wetlands and streams in King County. We are your neighbors, friends, and family. All of us are willing donate our time and energy to preserving, protecting and restoring the wonderful natural  heritage of Washington State. We believe that it is our community’s responsibility to be good stewards of our natural resources in order to preserve them for the next generations. Water Tenders was founded in 1989 and is proud to have spearheaded and accomplished many efforts towards those ends."

A few other Water Tenders projects are removal of invasive Knotweed and Blackberry shrubs from wetlands and creeks, monitoring the Western Pearl Schell populations -- an indicator of stream health -- measuring rainfall within the Bear Creek Basin, and activism to protect wetlands and streams from proposed environmental sensitive land-use developments.   

If you'd like more information about the Water Tenders or want to join this non--profit ($25) please e-mail Bob at redmondblog@gmail.com  

 -- Bob Yoder, Fall of 2018
    Photos, Yoder

Water Tenders is resurrected

Key Club members help to restore a Bear Creek tributary
My daughter Lexie is far left; she recruited the Key Club
members.

Water Tenders is a group of people who care about the wetlands and streams in the Bear Creek area and King county.

The torch of Water Tenders (WT) leadership was passed from President Eric Soshea to Susan Wilkins at the WT Annual Meeting last week.  Many of the of the original tenders were present, including a relative of the founder. Leader Terry Lavender and past president Dick Schaetzel were out of town. Gary Smith was present. Debbie Aftebro from Novelty Hill had never attended a WT meeting yet she collects and measures rainwater for Guy Baltzelle's program. She wanted to meet Guy but unfortunately he wasn't at the meeting.  Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl was up front with Susan and Eric. Shirley was once President and is now the Treasurer, replacing John Reinke,who replaced Dick S.  One of the new board members, Heather Poe was president and secretary for WT in the Early 2000 - 2005 era (before Susan became a member.) Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl was also once a president along with five others. 

In her presentation, (video) Susan held up a map of the entire Bear Creek watershed. She was re-directing and expanding our attention to the entire Bear Creek watershed.  She states:

UPDATED: Bear Creek advocates hold meeting

Credit/ Water Tender John Reinke 

Water Tenders is a group of people who care about the wetlands and streams in the Bear Creek area and King county.

The torch of Water Tenders (WT) leadership was passed from President Eric Soshea to Susan Wilkins at the WT Annual Meeting last week.  Many of the of the original tenders were present, including a relative of the founder. Leader Terry Lavender and past president Dick Schaetzel were out of town. Gary Smith was present. Debbie Aftebro from Novelty Hill had never attended a WT meeting yet she collects and measures rainwater for Guy Baltzelle's program. She wanted to meet Guy but unfortunately he wasn't at the meeting.  Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl was up front with Susan and Eric. Shirley was once President and is now the Treasurer, replacing John Reinke,who replaced Dick S.  One of the new board members, Heather Poe was president and secretary for WT in the Early 2000 - 2005 era (before Susan became a member.) Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl was also once a president along with five others. 

In her presentation, (video) Susan held up a map of the entire Bear Creek watershed. She was re-directing and expanding our attention to the entire Bear Creek watershed.  She states:

"The Bear Creek Basin is an exceptionally natural and healthy environment for our native salmon runs given that it is so close to a major metropolitan area.  We want to direct more community involvement into observing the stream habitat and collecting year-round data (such as rainfall, water temperature, stream flow) across the whole Bear Creek Basin.  We also want to carefully monitor land use planning by the local government jurisdictions to encourage preservation and protection of our land and water resources."

Five members who volunteered for the new Board met with Susan after the meeting.  The first order of business was to select officers.  Susan is the President, Mark Reynolds is the V.P. (he told a touching "avatar" story about the value of engaging children.)  Mark is a software engineer for Nordstrom and a "take charge" kind of guy.  He is working on a new website and very motivated for WT to make a difference for kids.  Me too.

Youth have been involved in WT over the years:

My daughter, Lexie Conley, was once a Youth Board member -- the first and last.  She wrote an article on the history of environmentalism that was published in the WT's 25th Anniversary Issue of the newsletter.  Terry recruited her to lead the Green Team in a Derby Day parade...and work the booth. Lexie recruited her Key Club members to help restore a forest in what is now the Redmond Bike Park site.  Notably, Dick S. attended that.  The Key Club also spent a day restoring a northern Bear Creek tributary -- an ongoing WT project.

Susan Wilkins actively engaged her children in the environment.  Her daughter was a docent for the annual WT salmon "SEEson" event.  In 2007 her children surveyed the Camwest Perrigo Heights preliminary plat's northern forest boundary ...in preparation for the citizen/council/mayor/Eric Campbell's woodland march to the proposed Steep Slope sewer location.

Colorful salmon cut-outs were made for children. (don't have the details.)  Kiosks were built to educate children and adults. Exhibits were held at REI.  Terry Lavender worked at the Redmond Medical Center from where the Derby Day Children's Parade started every year. She organized the kids and I think gave them a short education on salmon before they took off on their bikes. 

### 

A 5-minute YouTube of Susan Willkin's presentation at the Annual Meeting:  https://youtu.be/_SfMBTinhqg

A slide show of my daughter and her Key Club/ Bio-Chem classmates restoring the Bear Creek tributary.  

Witness the salmon journey through Redmond and Woodinville

Water Tenders educating children at Bear Creek in Woodinville on the Tolt Pipeline trail

Native salmon – sockeye, chinook, coho and chum – have begun their journey from the open ocean to their birthplaces in the streams and rivers that feed into Puget Sound. You may be able to witness their amazing journey at locations around King County.

Best viewing late September to mid-November (self-guided daily during KIS Farm hours)Bear Creek in Redmond, 12526 Avondale Rd. NE
For info on docent-led visits: Linda at 425-882-1846 or lyhussey@comcast.net 

Oct. 5 and 12 (3-6 p.m.); Oct. 8,9,15 and 16 (1-4 p.m.) Bear Creek in Woodinville, on the Tolt Pipeline trail 
More info: 206-437-8754
Sponsored by Water Tenders

Restoring Tosh Creek improves fish habitat and mitigates flooding in the Overlake neighborhood

City Planner Roger Dane (l) and Project Manager Steve Hitch book-end Tosh Creek

Susan, Bob, and Steve
Credit John Reinke

A few weeks ago Steve Hitch and Roger Dane of the City went out of their way to give Water Tenders’ Susan Wilkins, John Reinke, and myself a short tour of the Tosh Creek Restoration Project.   Do you see the creek running between Roger and Steve?  

Salmon fry and lamprey were found right at this spot in May.  Can you believe it? You've got to watch the City’s fascinating underwater video!    (removed.)

Tosh Creek is an important tributary to the Sammamish River. Its headwaters are actually in the Overlake neighborhood up the hill from West Lake Sammamish Parkway.  In 2013, the culvert running under the parkway was improved and the stream was re-aligned away from the road to be more "fish friendly," and to reduce sediment build-up near the culvert.  Willows and other native plants were planted to shade the creek and keep it cool. The $1.9M project was managed by Roger Dane and Mike Haley and funded primarily from city stormwater utility funds.

The Sammamish River's federally protected Chinook salmon and endangered Kokanee salmon need the cool water Tosh Creek provides to thrive and reproduce. Coho salmon and trout live in Tosh Creek. As small as Tosh Creek is, its flow is significant in the Fall when salmon are spawning and need cool water.  

But, the restoration of Tosh Creek does much more than improve fish habitat.  Serious erosion and flooding from stormwater run-off upstream is damaging the creek and threatening adjacent properties.  Thus, the city is installing an expensive stormwater detention system (vault) near 159th Avenue NE. and facilities in 4 other locations.  The cost for the vault is over $8M but the city was able to secure a  $5M grant and $1.6M low interest loan from the Washington State Department of Ecology. 

This is a bit more than a fish story!  At the end of our tour we saw a doe and two fawns wandering south from the creek. Hmmm.... I wonder what they were doing? 

 If you want to participate in the planning process of the vault and treatment facilities, Steve is hosting two September meetings.  For details, GO HERE. 

Bob Yoder

"Sustainable Redmond" Spring Speaker Series

Evans& Bear Creek Restoration to be Featured at April 16 Meeting

Sustainable Redmond Spring Speaker Series Continues at Redmond Library

 Sustainable Redmond will hold the second of its Spring Speaker Series at 7pm on Thursday, April 16^th at the Redmond Library.  This meeting is open to everyone and all are welcome to attend.

 Water Tenders, a local group focused on Bear Creek and its tributaries. will provide the featured speakers for this informative meeting.  Among the topics will be Evans Creek, particularly as it traverses the new Keller Farm Wetland Bank where it joins Bear Creek, and the recently-completed restoration efforts to preserve the water quality and habitat values of Bear Creek as it makes its way north of State Route 520 to join the Sammamish River just west of Redmond Town Center.

 

Bring your friends to learn more about these important environmental initiatives and the continuing efforts of Sustainable Redmond.  The meeting will conclude at 8:30pm.

 

For more information, see Sustainable Redmond on Facebook or contact the program organizer by email -- tom@thinmanassoc.com.

City of Redmond signs Purchase and Sale Agreement for Keller Farm

A member from Water Tenders sent me a copy of a Purchase and Sale Agreement that was signed on August 5, 2014 between the City and the Kellers of Redmond.  "Closing shall be on or before 1/22/2015."  In the agreement the City agreed to buy 83.25 acres of the Keller Farm located between Avondale Rd NE and NE Union Hill Rd.  The Kellers will retain a 78,503 square foot parcel and house located at 18816 NE 84th Street.  The City agreed to pay the Kellers $2,520,000 for the Farm  ($30,000 per acre). 

The Keller Farm is a crucial piece of wetland-agricultural land important to the ecology of our Redmond area.  The farm will be used as a "wetland bank" for off-site mitigation of wetlands lost to development within Redmond.  As wetlands are destroyed by development in the City the developers must purchase rights to replace these wetlands on the Keller Farm so that there will be "no net loss" of wetlands owing to development.  Wetlands are an important natural resource for Redmond since they help to recharge and purify the City aquifer which is tapped for potable well-water. 

Reported by Bob Yoder

 

Water Tenders report on Indian artifacts found in Lower Bear Creek

WaterTenders, a grass roots organization of people dedicated to preserving and protecting the Bear Creek and King County watershed celebrated their 25th Anniversary in 2013.  Click HERE http://www.watertenders.org/Newsletters/Fall%202013%20newsletter.pdf (regrets this link is broken)to view their anniversary newsletter issue where they talk about the geo-archeological finds in Lower Bear Creek.  Did you know that a 10,000 year old Indian artifact was found in Lower Bear Creek just south of Redmond Town Center?

Learn how to become a member of Water Tenders and read all their newsletters by visiting www.watertenders.org

Water Tenders: Lower Bear Creek is Relocated

Water Tenders is a local grass roots organization dedicated to the stewardship of Bear Creek streams in King County.  Their Fall Newsletter HERE has a great article on the recent relocation of Lower Bear Creek by Redmond Town Center.  Enjoy!

And don't miss their 25th Anniversary newsletter edition here.

I apologize: the links are broken

Water Tenders open an exhibit at the Woodinville Library

Guy Baltzelle (left) and Dick Schaetzel at the Woodinville Library Water Tender Exhibit/ JOHN REINKE

The public is invited to stop by the Woodinville Library to view the new Water Tender exhibit featuring the behavior and biology of Bear Creek's salmon and fresh water mussels.  Water Tenders reach out to educate the community on the value and presence of local salmon and shellfish and monitor the health of their ecosystem.  Learn more about the Water Tenders at the library or by visiting their website at www.watertenders.org 

Water Tenders and onlookers spot about 35 salmon on Bear Creek this weekend

I thought you might be interested to see these photos of some hard working Water Tender volunteers at the booth set up on the Tolt Pipeline at the end of 148th St off of Mink Road close to Bear Creek on this weekend. 

One photo shows the very informative kiosk that was erected by Water Tenders some years ago.  That's Gary Smith in the background on the left, peering into Bear Creek with some local residents.  Free waterproof colorful fish ID cards were handed out to anyone who wanted one, along with paper frame polaroid 'glasses' to help see the salmon.

 61 people on Sat the 28^th and 85 turned out on the 29^th.    It was guessed 5-10 kings and 20-30 sockeye came through on Sunday ...  The Watertenders will be back next weekend. 

Reported and Photographs By John Reinke