City of Redmond builds stormwater ponds, a guided nature trail, salmon viewing sites, and plants native shrubs behind Safeway on Bear Creek trail.
Last year the city Department of Natural Resources constructed three stormwater ponds behind Safeway to treat dirty run-off from Bear Creek parking lot before it enters Bear Creek. Salmon run in the Fall. Now is an great time to walk or bike the trail to see how it is handling the recent heavy rains!
This Safeway stormwater facility cost several hundred thousand dollars and was funded mostly by grant money. Bear Creek provides stream habitat and spawning grounds for Federally endangered Chinook salmon. Slowing storm flows is critical towards protecting these fish. Last year the city Department of Natural Resources constructed three stormwater ponds behind Safeway to treat dirty run-off from Bear Creek parking lot before it enters Bear Creek. Salmon run in the Fall. Now is an great time to walk or bike the trail to see how it is handling the recent heavy rains!
The city will install storm ponds, plant native shrubs and curve the banks from straight ditching done years ago. On March 16th, Council approved $48,415 to study a plan to curve the creek and improve creek buffers further downstream.
Reported by Bob Yoder
Photos by Yoder