The first salmon of the season on Miller Creek was sighted last Saturday at the Cove in Normandy Park, and stream steward Dennis Clark is putting the call out for volunteers this Saturday (Oct. 17th) to “help create a more healthy stream for this fish and its buddies.”

Here are the details:

WHAT: Help plant 37 trees and do a final bit of weeding on Miller Creek (at South 144th St. west of Des Moines Memorial Drive) in Burien. You’ll work under the yellowing leaves of the cottonwoods and enjoy a classic fall day out-of-doors.

• Do you care about a healthy environment for your children?
• Do you want to improve Highline for fish, wildlife, and people?
• Do you like caring for trees that you’ll be able to watch grow year by year?
• Do you want to get rid of the stress of the workweek by whacking non-native, invasive weeds?
• Do you want to meet some of your Highline neighbors?

If so, recruit your friends and family and join us to help restore a section of Miller Creek!

We will weed and mulch around trees and shrubs planted in October 2007 and October 2008; we will plant some new trees

What do you need?

• An eager attitude
• Sturdy shoes or boots
• Water bottle
• Gloves (if you have them)
• We provide gloves, tools, and snacks!

WHEN: Planting time is 9am this Saturday, October 17. With enough volunteers, we can get the work done in two hours.

WHERE: South 144th Street, one block west of Des Moines Memorial Drive (northeast Burien, just north of SR 518 and east of SR 509 (see map below).

INFO: For more details, download the flier here (PDF)

RSVP: RSVP so Dennis can provide enough tools and doughnuts for all. If you are a student, please have your parent/guardian download and complete this form (.doc file).

Want to plant trees but can’t make this date? I have another planting project with a private group that would welcome other volunteers on Sunday, October 25, 9 a.m. Let me know if you’d like to join.

This project is a cooperative effort of the Cities of Burien, Normandy Park, and SeaTac; the Port of Seattle; and King County. These governments are working with residents to improve water quality and create healthy streams in the Miller and Walker Creek basins.

Advance sign-up is encouraged to help us plan.

For sign up and questions, contact Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward, dennis.clark@kingcounty.gov, or by phone at: 206-296-1909.

by Dennis Clark
Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward

On Monday (Sept. 21st), a merry band of men who never lost their childhood sense of joy in playing in streams set off down Miller Creek in Burien and Normandy Park. Their grown up mission was to carefully assess and, where necessary, remove debris jams that block upstream salmon passage. With coho salmon due to return next month, now was the time to do this work.

Stream steward Dennis Clark, assisted by enthusiastic volunteers Andy Batcho, Jim Buchman, and Dave Evans, organized the project. Accompanying them was a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, the aptly named Larry Fisher. The B-Town Blog’s own Michael Brunk, who thought he came along merely to take photos, also ended up helping to move the largest logs.

Click below to view his Photo Slideshow:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Salmon are persistent and agile fish and often can swim under, through, and over what appear to be complete blockages. However, in smaller streams such as Miller and Walker Creeks, some jams are complete blockages that would limit the ability of the fish to reach the upper parts of the stream where they would lay their eggs (spawn). At the same time, tree trunks and limbs in the stream provide an important role in creating pools where young salmon rear. Wood also provides shelter where young fish can hide from predators such as great blue herons. Consequently, the team carefully assessed each log/debris jam before deciding to take action. Larry provided the expertise and authority to determine which jams should be removed. Removal of jams in the stream – and most activities affecting the stream channel – require state approval. Based on their evaluation, the team disassembled two blockages. A third was too big for the equipment they had and they’ll return later this week to disassemble a part of that.

The debris jams on Miller Creek were on private property and the team thanks the various property owners who graciously granted property access.

This work complements ongoing efforts to improve streamside habitat, both by private property owners and through organized volunteer projects stretching from the Cove in Normandy Park to the restoration site on Miller Creek at S. 144th St. in Burien. October offers volunteer restoration opportunities on Miller and Walker Creeks on three Saturdays:

• Oct. 3rd
• Oct. 10th
• Oct. 17th

Learn more at the volunteer webpage here.

If you’re interested in volunteering on future stream blockage removals, contact Dennis at 206-296-1909, or via email: dennis.clark@kingcounty.gov.

This month’s Shorewood cleanup event is scheduled at Shorewood Park on Saturday, June 20th from 10am – 12 pm.

Please just show up if you’re interested – bring pruners and gloves if you have them.

Shorewood Park is located at 28th Avenue SW and SW 118th Street (follow Ambaum to 116th Street, turn left so you are heading west on 116th Street and follow to 28th Avenue SW make a left and go 2 blocks, the park entrance is on your left side.)

The group may be spreading mulch in the lower half of the park so follow the short trail around.

Last fall, a hardy band of volunteers ventured down into the ravine beneath the Sylvester Road bridge in Normandy Park, where they worked to clear hundreds of pounds of garbage around Fox Creek, a tributary stream to Miller Creek. While these folks removed most of the trash, some remains, and more hardy souls are requested to help haul the rest of this garbage out this Saturday, May 16th between 9am and 11am.

There is also an abundance of invasive English ivy that has grown up many of the trees. If left unchecked, this invasive weed will kill the trees and deprive the stream of the benefits they provide. Volunteers will girdle the ivy at the base of the trees, greatly extending their lives.

So, once again the call goes out to watershed citizens who will brave the steep slopes of Fox Creek ravine to care for this ecological resource and improve water quality downstream:

WHAT: Fox Creek volunteer garbage/ivy removal in the ravine below Sylvester Bridge

WHEN: Saturday, May 16th from 9am to 11am

WHERE: Meet at the hairpin turn on 11th Place SW just down the hill from the intersection with Sylvester Road, Normandy Park.

INFO: Please RSVP via email to Dennis Clark so he can plan accordingly and to guarantee your doughnut!

WHAT TO WEAR/BRING:

• Shoes with gripping soles and good ankle support – we’ll be on steep slopes
• Clothes that can get dirty if you slip
• Layers of clothing – you’ll warm up quickly moving up and down the slope or gathering trash along the creek
• Hard hat if you have one – I have plenty if you don’t
• Sun glasses or safety glasses if you wish to use them (primarily due to bushes)
• A water bottle

PARKING:

• Parking is limited. If you can carpool, walk, or bike, that would be great. We will meet at the hairpin turn at the top of 11th Place S.W., just below the intersection with Sylvester Road. If you aren’t familiar with this location and need to MapQuest or Google it, use the following as your destination address: 16856 11th Pl. S.W., Normandy Park, 98166.
• If you drive, proceed down 11th Place S.W. past the hairpin and park as far off the road as you can. Take care to avoid blocking driveways or damaging the neighbors’ vegetation.

STUDENT PARTICIPATION:

• Students 16 and older are welcome.
• Those under age 18 should download and complete this form with a parent or guardian’s signature to allow their participation. Those over 18 do not need to fill out the form; they can sign in on Saturday.

Just got word from Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward, that Workshop #3 on monitoring coordination for Miller and Walker Creeks has been changed from this Wednesday, Nov. 19th to Thursday Dec. 4th.

The new date is Thursday, December 4, 7 – 9 p.m.  The workshop will run from 7pm-9pm and will be at the ERAC Building, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW.

This date change will allow more interested people to participate.

To catch everyone up-to-date, Workshop #2 focused on coordination of monitoring of water flow, water quality, and habitat conditions on Miller and Walker Creeks. Workshop #3 will continue those discussions.

WHAT: Miller/Walker Creeks Monitoring Coordination Workshop #3

WHEN: Wednesday, November 19, 7 – 9 p.m.

WHERE: Educational Resource and Administrative Center, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W., Burien (note – this is  new location for these workshops).

INFO: New participants are welcome.  However, if you did not participate in Workshop #1 (Sept. 24th) and/or Workshop #2 (Oct. 29th), please review the materials for and from the first workshops:

• Workshop #1 Agenda (Word .doc)
• Workshop #2 Agenda (Word .doc)

Reviewing these materials in advance (along with others located here) will make your participation more productive for both you and the rest of the participants.

Workshop #3 will focus on:

• Finalizing and prioritizing answers to question #1 discussed at Workshop #1: What water quality/quantity/habitat issues are we concerned about?
• Brainstorm ways to better manage and coordinate monitoring

Please let Dennis know if you have any questions or suggestions:

Dennis Clark
Dennis.Clark@kingcounty.gov
206-296-1909

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Last Saturday (Oct. 25th), ten adventurous area residents braved the deep ravine beneath the Sylvester Bridge in Normandy Park to do some serious cleaning of Fox Creek.

According to Basin Steward Dennis Clark, the volunteers removed what may have amounted to a ton of trash from the ravine.

The ravine is home to Fox Creek, a tributary that flows to Miller Creek, joining it at the Southwest Suburban Sewer District plant.

Years worth of illegal dumping had left a serious mess below the bridge. In fact, this area was the only known serious trash problem in the entire Miller/Walker Creek stream system.

While some of the litter along Fox Creek was simply unsightly, other trash such as car batteries and electronics contain lead that had the potential to leach into the water.

King County Fire District 2 crew members Ernie, Dave, and Jim helped out by installing ropes to the bottom of the ravine, using their winch to haul up 13 (!) tires, and belaying Jim Burrows so that he could safely clean a steep slope. City of Normandy Park Public Works crew will dispose of the trash, recyclables, and hazardous waste (TV monitors, car battery).

The following citizens volunteered: Andy Batcho, Councilmember Clarke Brant, Jim Burrows, Tony Cassarino, Dave Evans, Brett Fish, Chris Gower, Councilmember George Hadley, Stuart Jenner, and Colin Nardine. Washington Conservation Corps member Liz Esikoff also participated.

More info and photos available at Dennis Clark’s blog.

You know what lies under the Sylvester Bridge in Normandy Park?

Did you know that there’s a creek down there?

And um…this:

Here’s a call for help from BTB friend and Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward Dennis Clark:

Local mountain men – and women – are wanted for an urban adventure this Saturday morning, Oct. 25th!

There’s a decade of trash in the ravine beneath the Sylvester Bridge in Normandy Park. Microwaves, TVs, computer monitors, bicycles, shelving, and variety of other detritus limited only by the imagination of the dolts who threw it off the bridge are at the bottom of the ravine.

With the exception of the trash, which is concentrated in a small area, the ravine is a pocket of green and gold vegetation both attractive and peaceful. The ravine also is home to Fox Creek, a tributary stream to Miller Creek and getting the electronics out will reduce the chance of lead leaching into the creek.

Strong and agile volunteers are needed to pack stuff out of the steep-sided ravine. Safety equipment and donuts will be provided. Volunteers need to wear shoes with good traction and ankle support and wear clothes that can get dirty.

The work will begin 9 a.m. on 11th Place SW just below Sylvester.

Interested volunteers should RSVP with Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward, 206-296-1909, or via email: Dennis.Clark@kingcounty.gov.

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The monthly Shorewood Park gardening/cleanup event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18th, from 10 am-12 pm.

No need to RSVP on this one – please just show up if you’re interested, and bring your trusty pruners and gloves if you have them.

Shorewood Park is located at 28th Avenue SW and SW 118th Street (follow Ambaum to 116th Street, turn left so you are heading west on 116th Street and follow to 28th Avenue SW make a left and go 2 blocks, the park entrance is on your left side – map below).

The group may be working in the lower half of the park so follow the short trail around.

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From local resident and YouTube User (and frequent nature videographer) 98166n comes this rather provocative video rant about graffiti and its effect on Burien:

“I support the City’s efforts to clean up graffiti, and the revised graffiti ordinance could be a useful tool.

The City of Burien could show leadership in this effort by cleaning up City properties.

The City has spent millions of dollars to improve our quality of life and also the perception of Burien in the minds of others living around the Puget Sound region.

Graffiti covering our public parks, the public face of the City most often seen by citizens and visitors, undermines all our efforts to improve our city.

This video inventory of graffiti in Burien Parks gives City managers and their contractors a place to start.

Some of it has remained for many years.

I look forward to revisiting these locations 10 days from now and finding all this graffiti removed.

When City leaders ensure that the City follows its own laws, they set an example for the citizens and speed the attainment of our collective goals.”

[WARNING: SOME NON-FAMILY FRIENDLY LANGUAGE WITHIN THIS VIDEO:]

It’ll be interesting to see what happens next – will the City respond?

Or will we see another video record and rant soon?

Hey Cityfolk…you still reading this here Blog?

NORMANDY PARK – This Saturday, March 22, from 9am – Noon, volunteers are needed to help eradicate ivy from the Walker Preserve along Walker Creek in Normandy Park.

Here’s a Q&A courtesy Burien Parks:

Q: Why are we doing this stewardship project?
A: English ivy is creeping into the Preserve.  Ivy is bad because it:

• Strangles trees
• Creates more weight and “sail area” that can topple trees in high winds
• Provides a home to rats
• As ivy kills native trees, it opens up areas for more non-native weeds to invade the exposed ground.  This prevents new trees from getting started.  If left unchecked, ivy will destroy the urban forest along Walker Creek.

Q: What will the volunteers do?
A: Stewardship on March 22 will focus on removing ivy from the lower trunks of trees and creating ivy-free rings around the base.  We’ll also remove other weeds such as Himalayan blackberry.  We’ll use a mix of hand tools to perform these tasks.  Volunteers of all ages are welcome but children need to be accompanied by a parent or an adult.

Q: What do volunteers need?
A: The requirements are simple:

• An eager attitude
• Sturdy shoes or boots
• Leather-palmed gloves (if you have them; we also will have plenty to loan)
• Filled water bottle
• We provide tools and snacks!

Q: Who’s organizing this event?
A: This project is a cooperative effort of the Cities of Normandy Park, Burien, and SeaTac; the Port of Seattle; and King County.  These governments are working with residents to improve water quality and create healthy streams in the Miller and Walker Creek basins.

Driving and Parking
To avoid causing street access problems during the event, volunteers who are driving should park at Normandy Park City Hall (801 S.W. 174th St.).  We will run a shuttle to get you to and from the Preserve.  This shuttle will be available throughout the event if you need to leave early.

Sign Up and Questions
Advance sign up is encouraged to help us plan.  Please contact Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward ASAP via email dennis.clark@kingcounty.gov, or call 206-296-1909. 

This is a great opportunity for people in Burien and SeaTac to see a hidden part of the stream basin downstream from their communities.

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