Volunteers are needed to help with two upcoming invasive plant removal work parties – the first at Walker Preserve Saturday, Feb. 18 and the second at a stream in Burien Monday, Feb. 27.

Donuts, along with gloves and tools, will be provided, and workers are asked to bring:

• Your enthusiasm
• Clothing that will protect you from the rain and blackberry thorns
• Filled water bottle
• Gloves if you have them
• Pruners

Here are the specific details:

WHAT: Walker Preserve Invasive Plant Removal

WHEN Saturday, February 18, 2012, 9:30 a.m. – Noon

WHERE: SW 168th Street and 2nd Ave SW in Normandy Park, up the road from Normandy Park City Hall.  If driving, your parking options include:

• Three spaces in the small lot at SW 171st St. and Second Ave. S.W.
• On the street along SW. 168th St.

INFO: Stewardship Purpose: Improve habitat along the stream by removing non-native, invasive plants.

Activities:

• Seek out English ivy and remove it from trees and pull roots out of the ground.
• Seek out Himalayan blackberry plants, cut them back, and then dig out the root balls.

RSVP:  See below for what to bring and how to sign up.

The second event:

WHAT: Streamside Invasive Plant Removal in Burien.

WHEN: Monday, February 27, 9:00 am – 11:30 a.m.

INFO: Neighbors will meet at SW 158th Street near 7th Ave SW to remove ivy from trees along the stream.  This stream is a tributary to Miller Creek, which supports spawning coho and chum salmon. Please park along the street.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  There are no restrooms at either site.

CONTACT/INFO: Elissa Ostergaard, elissa.ostergaard@kingcounty.gov, 206-296-1909 (Day of event only: 206-707-6549)

Also, check the Volunteer Event Calendar for other stewardship opportunities in the basin.

These stewardship projects are a joint effort of the City of Normandy Park, the City of Burien, the City of Seatac, King County, the Port of Seattle, and the Miller and Walker Creeks Stewardship program.

A big milestone was reached injecting the grout into the tendons of the bridge spans of the new Sylvester Road Bridge construction.

Next, the “end diaphrams” will be framed and poured, then curbs, railing and approaches.

We’re getting there!

Completion date estimates are coming into view, maybe the end of February to the beginning of March.

The attention to detail is impressive and problem solving has been incredible – these guys are really good.

Here are some pics – click images to see larger versions:

(Upper Left) Casey Wagner (KC) foreground and Sam Bellah of King County monitor the grout mixing process by employees from ReBar International (RBI) Tony Raybell, Brandon Chevalier and Brian Benton. 440 fifty pound bags of Sika Grout (“powdered rock”) are used to make a “special sauce” that fills the 16 bridge span tendons sealing the suspension cables adding tremendous strength to the bridge spans.

(Upper right) Sam Bellah, Field Engineer for King County makes notes and records the details.

(Lower left) Brian Benton of (RBI) tests the flow of the mixture before the hose is attached to the tendons input valves. 100 pounds of pressure pushes the mixture through and (lower right) closes the valve at the far end when the mixture comes through.

(Upper left) Tony Raybell adds just the right amount of water to the mixing vat as Brandon Chevalier brings the 50 pound bags to the mixer.

(Upper right) Tony Raybell (RBI) loads the mixer.

(Lower Left & right) Casey Wagner, Quality Control Engineer for King County takes frequent samples of the mixture testing temperature and makes several grout cubes for testing. Two days later the cubes are break compression tested for strength. Typically 5,000 pounds is reached in 2 days and 26,000 pounds in 7 days.

Here are some other photos sent to us Feb. 4, courtesy Ron Laiminger, who adds “They have a cable all tensioned and are getting ready to pour the sidewalk and guard rails” (click images to see larger versions):

The recent snow and ice days set the completion date back a bit but progress is being made – click images to see larger versions:

Sub-contractors from RBI, Rebar International, Brandon Chevalier (topside) and Brian Benton lift and position the DYWIDAG (Dew EE Dag) hydraulic ram into place to tension the bridge span cables.

There are four spans with four tendons (tubes) in each, with 22 cables running 230 feet in length. Each girder has 3,850,000 pounds of lift.

The ram stretches each bundle of 22 cables about 15 inches with 5,000 pounds of pull. A Guide plate pushes each 3-part cable seating wedge into place anchoring the cable securely against the girder face.

Each face has an injection port for grout which protects and strengthens the cables. As the cables are tensioned the bridge should arch slightly upward so the “false work” metal support structures can be removed.

Concurrently, bridge rail and curb forms are being constructed.

A recent article in the Highline Times illustrates how little we as humans really understand of nature and salmon recovery: http://www.highlinetimes.com/2012/01/09/news/csi-highline-investigation-uncovers-more-salmon-s. This year Miller Creek has shown a remarkable amount of salmon returning to the creek.  There are far more fish returning than the Port of Seattle, the Cities of Normandy Park and Burien and the citizens of the area ever expected to count. When the third runway was under dispute, the Port of Seattle claimed that there were no fish in Miller Creek and therefore claimed there was nothing worthy of protection in the creek. Only through the constant efforts and insistence of the two groups-Trout Unlimited and CASE-was the Port forced to do a study on the fish populations in the creek. When the scientists came out to do an electric shock treatment on the creek, they found that Miller Creek was a creek that had fish population worthy of saving. Of course those of us who have lived around the creek-citizen scientists-knew this from their own personal observations.

While more fish are returning to the creek than ever expected, there are still some big problems for the fish. 40% of the fish are dying before they can spawn due to polluted storm water.For sure Burien needs to improve its Storm Water management system. Burien has known this for a long time but simply has not allocated the adequate funding to do the job correctly-to keep the waters clean. As individual citizens we can still do our part to help in the recovery of Miller Creek and the entire Sound. Please follow these simple practices in your own neighborhood and help to keep the fish that manage to make it back to the creek alive and spawning in Miller Creek.

HOW TO MINIMIZING SURFACE AND STORM WATER RUNOFF:

• Preserve plantings next to streams, lakes, wetlands and the Sound.  Plant trees and shrubs native to the Northwest whenever possible.
• Control pet access to streams and lakes.  Pet wastes-poop-degrade water quality.
• Maintain your vehicle regularly.  Leaking substances from vehicles contains toxic metals and are a major source of water pollution.
• Wash your vehicles on the grass, over dirt or at a commercial car wash.  Keep suds out of streams, lakes and the Sound.
• Recycle your motor oil at the nearest gas station.  Don’t dump it down the storm drain or pour it on the ground.
• Sweep your walks and driveway instead of hosing them down.  Dirt, gravel and debris from these paved surfaces contain contaminants that pollute water.
• Reduce the use of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers.  If you fertilize your lawn, use a fertilizer with the lowest numbers available.  Try to use a fertilizer with a zero as the middle number-example 3-0-3.  The middle number is the amount Phosphorus in the fertilizer and it is this element that causes toxic algae problems in the shorelines.  By the year 2014, this element will be outlawed in fertilizers.
• Maintain your septic tank.

Sincerely,
Linda Plein

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A large, two story home caught fire in the 1400 block of SW Miller Creek Road in Normandy Park late Friday night (Jan. 20), and was extinguished around 3:15 a.m. by the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department along with help from North Highline, SeaTac and South King Fire.

“The call came in at about 9:30 p.m.,” said spokesman Doug Leudeman. “It was a fireplace-chimney fire that spread into the attic and burned off about 1/3 of the roof with about 300k damage. The folks living there are going to be displaced for a while. Our crews were on the scene until about 3 am and there were no injuries to the residents or the firefighters.”

The first fire engine to arrive (from the Normandy Road station), reported heavy fire involvement of the attic and second story of a large, two-story residence.

“Someone cut the locks off of our storage container and stole camp stoves, backpacking tents, a Honda generator, food, and other items,” said Tod Bookless, Assistant Scoutmaster. “As you probably know, the Boy Scout organization is a 101-year old non-profit and all of the gear that was stolen is used by the local boys on campouts.”

If anyone knows anything about this crime, or has any leads on the stolen equipment, you are asked to call the Normandy Park Police Department non-emergency line at (206) 248-7600.

Since 2008, volunteers in Walker Preserve have removed large amounts of invasive plants and planted many native trees and shrubs. Walker Preserve is in the City of Normandy Park, along Walker Creek, and has spawning coho and chum salmon each fall. Restoring native vegetation along the creek benefits salmon and other wildlife.

“Please join us this Saturday, January 14, to continue this work!” said Elissa Ostergaard, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward. “We also have several monthly community weeding projects scheduled through the winter to remove ivy and other invasive weeds, and plant native trees and shrubs along the trail and stream in Walker Preserve and other areas in the basin.”

This stewardship project is a joint effort of the City of Normandy Park, and the Miller and Walker Creeks Stewardship program.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Walker Preserve Invasive Plant Removal work party.

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 14, 9:30 a.m. – Noon.

WHERE: SW. 168th St. and 2nd Ave. SW. in Normandy Park, up the road from Normandy Park City Hall.

If driving, your parking options include:

• Three spaces in the small lot at SW 171st St. and Second Ave. S.W.
• On the street along SW. 168th St.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This park does not have a restroom.

Stewardship Purpose:

• Improve habitat along the stream by removing non-native, invasive plants

Activities:

• Seek out English ivy and remove it from trees and pull roots out of the ground.
• Seek out Himalayan blackberry plants, cut them back, and then dig out the root balls.

What to bring:

• Your enthusiasm
• Clothing that will protect you from the rain and blackberry thorns
• Filled water bottle
• Gloves if you have them

We provide:

• Gloves
• Tools
• Donuts!

Sign up and questions:

• Elissa Ostergaard, elissa.ostergaard@kingcounty.gov, 206-296-1909 (Saturday, January 14 only: 206-707-6549)

This volunteer event is an opportunity to visit a pleasant park along Walker Creek. The City of Normandy Park recently rebuilt the footbridge over the creek, and neighbors and other volunteers have made a lot of progress restoring the native plant community in this park. This work will help create areas for native plants to go in later this winter. Please sign up if you can, or decide to show up at the last minute!

Read the full story here.

This series is aimed at Jr. High School students and parents, and is endorsed by Oprah, according to a press release.

The event will be moderated by Reverand Dr Lon Rycraft and Susan Andresen, certified trainers.

Here are the details:

WHO: Parents of teens intersted in joining a conversation about SEX today

WHAT: OWL – Our Whole Lives

WHEN: Informational Session Jan 17, 7-8 p.m. and/or Jan 22, 12-1 p.m.

INFO/RSVP: For questions or to sign up, please call Dr. Rycraft at 206 334-7267

A parent who attended a previous OWL class commented:

“The information presented in the OWL programs is straight, honest talk about respect for one’s self, friends and community. OWL provides answers to basic questions and offers many opportunities to digest and reflect on what it means to be a healthy teen. How wonderful is that, as a caring church community, we can offer so much to our children in a safe learning environment.”

For more information, check the NPUCC website here.

A resident of Normandy Park in the vicinity of Normandy Road SW recently contacted City Hall regarding extremely high water pressure in their home. Other neighbors in the same area of Normandy Park reported broken water pipes. While the City of Normandy Park has no control over water services, we want to make sure residents are aware of this potential problem before it is too late.

If you have high water pressure in your home, it can cause damage to the pipes and fittings. It can wear away the piping and can also cause water leaks due to the sheer pressure of the water. This can leave you with pipes that clang and bang, taps that drip, and can even cause your water heater to leak. Water flowing at a stronger than necessary rate to satisfy normal appliance demands can be damaging. This can reduce the life expectancy of the equipment in the system. Most important to the average homeowner, it can add to the cost of water, energy and waste water bills.

Checking your water pressure is a rather simply task and does not require a plumber. Find a store that sells plumbing supplies, an irrigation store would be ok too. Ask them for a water pressure meter. Tell them where you are hooking it up to and they will provide the right adaptors to hook up the meter. Typically, the easiest place to hook up a pressure meter is at an outside hose bib. With the water turned off, hook the meter up, turn the water on and read it. Turn the water off and detach the meter (it will leak some water out). The reading will be in P.S.I (pounds per square inch). A meter reading of 80 P.S.I. or below is within an acceptable range. If the meter reading is above 80 P.S.I., a water pressure reducer valve is needed.

Installing your own water pressure reducer valve is fairly easy with the right tools, and can save you a lot of money. However, if you install the water pressure reducer valve wrong, it may also be an expensive problem so if you are not comfortable with do-it-yourself home improvements you might be wise to call a plumber.