On Saturday (May 16th), a dozen volunteers from Burien and Normandy Park descended into the sun-dappled depths of the Fox Creek ravine on the Burien/Normandy Park city boundary on a mission that didn’t involve spray painting graffiti!

Here are some pictures taken by Photographer Michael Brunk::

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The Creek, which flows beneath the Sylvester Road bridge, tumbles down to join Miller Creek at the Southwest Suburban Sewer District plant.

Last October (see our coverage here), volunteers removed a ton of trash from the bottom of the ravine along the creek, including many electronics that were leaching metal into the stream.  The task this last Saturday was to remove the remaining trash, which consisted of 500 pounds of electronics, broken furniture, and many bottles and cans that the thoughtless have thrown off the bridge over the years.

After dragging the litter out of the ravine between the pillars of the bridge, the volunteers also stripped English ivy from the base of trees in the ravine.  When ivy, an invasive plant, climbs into the canopy of a tree, it competes with and physically weakens the tree.  Girdling the ivy at the base of the trunk causes the plant to die, sparing the tree a premature death.  In two strenuous hours, the volunteers did their bit to improve the urban forest and stream of this part of Highline.

The project was organized through the Miller/Walker Creek stewardship program that is jointly funded by the cities of Burien, Normandy Park, and SeaTac; the Port of Seattle; and King County.

Special thanks for Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward, for sending us the update!

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.

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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