City Of Redmond Completes Bear Creek Enhancement Project

Last week Tom Hardy, the City of Redmond's stream and habitat planner, gave me a tour of the 95th Street Bear Creek Enhancement Site. It's an exciting place. (Find the project site here.) The project extends 300 feet south of the 95th Street bridge.

Tom's plan is to improve as much of Bear Creek habitat as possible. A few years ago he restored Mackey Creek, a tributary on the northern border of Ferrel-McWhirter Park; and years before that he was involved in the restoration of Lower Bear Creek. It's my understanding he's planning to do some work in or around the Keller Farm Habitat Mitigation Bank.

The construction of this 95th Street enhancement project was very involved. Six log jams and "alcoves" had to be anchored into the banks with large woody debris (logs.) 3,000 native plants, trees and willow cuttings were planted. Watch the video to learn more. The project was expensive but a $140,000 "Cooperative Watershed Management" grant from King County more than paid for the design.

Bear Creek has enormous environmental value to Redmond. One could say "it makes Redmond, Redmond." Federally protected Chinook and other salmon spawn here. In fact, on the tour Tom pointed out a spawning area a Chinook used. The vegetation boarding the creek (riparian habitat) provides excellent birding and wildlife opportunities. We saw a young Pileated Woodpecker actively foraging 15 feet away from us!

Bear Creek is part of our culture. Thousands of years ago Snohomish indians lived and fished on its banks. These days, residents view the natural wonder of Bear Creek salmon during "Salmon Seeson."

--Bob Yoder, Redmond Neighborhood Blog