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Fall eNews 2014
IN THIS ISSUE:
Calendar Items
Board of Directors
LFPSF Annual Meeting
Backyard Streams
Public Hearing
LFPSF and PERK
LFPSF and WCC
New McKinnon Creek Trail
Rain Gardens Update
Go Natives! Plant Sale
Natural Yard Care
Wildlife Friendly Gardening
Grace Cole Park Update
Recycling Plastic at City Hall
LFP's Future
Mark Your Calendars: 
See details at right

October

Public Hearing, Lyon Creek Flood Reduction Proposal
October 28th, 6pm

LFPSF Annual Meeting
October 29th, 7pm   

November

Go Natives! Nursery End of Season Sale
November 1st, 10am-4pm 

   
 
LFP Stewardship Foundation Board Members

Mamie Bolender,
      President
Jean Reid,
      Co-Vice President
Rick Purn,
      Co-Vice President
Kim Josund, 
      Secretary / Treasurer

Julian Andersen
Jim Halliday
Doug Hennick
Jeff Jensen
Ed Kowalski
Dale Sanderson

Watch for spawning salmon in our streams!








































































































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We will have WA Conservation Corps workers battling ivy on public land again next year. To learn what you can do on your property, see our website.










Request a copy of the Noxious Weeds guide from www.nwcb.wa.gov
















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You're Invited:
LFPSF Annual Meeting  

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014, 7pm

Lake Forest Park City Hall, Council Chambers  

17425 Ballinger Way NE   

 

Featured Guest Speaker, Jim Freese, the Executive Director of Friends of North Creek Forest, will inspire us with the story of efforts to save 62 acres of forest, wetlands and streams in neighboring Bothell, and the development of a robust stewardship and education program there.  

 

The meeting will also include our Annual Report, Board election and refreshments.   

 

 
  

A Creek with No Name

 
Do you have a stream in your backyard? 
Lake Forest Park is home to many tiny creeks and streams; even that water in the ditch by your driveway likely leads to a stream. 
Do you know the name of that stream,
where it comes from, or where it flows to? 
Does it matter? 

"Our City has a peculiar history with environmental causes. Some of the creeks are home to salmon and trout. All of them used to be." This excerpt from A Salmon's Guide to Lake Forest Park highlights the dilemma we face here in our watershed. Lake Forest Park is blessed with the natural beauty of streams, forest and wetlands. But, as the Guide continues, "Time, and our ways of using land have not been kind" to our environment, "parts of our leafy little city, including the shopping center, are built on what once were wetlands. Filling and destruction were commonly permitted..." Today, the health of our waterways continue to be impacted by run-off from roofs and roads, siltation from development, pollution from pesticides and fertilizers, culverts and obstructions, and "hardening" of stream banks with stone or concrete. Each year, we see a few salmon and steelhead return to spawn in our City's two largest streams, McAleer and Lyon Creeks. Historic accounts say that these streams were once "clogged" with spawning salmon. With careful stewardship of our streams, we may one day see that again.

 

Why is it important to "bring the salmon back"? Salmon are iconic species of the Pacific. They are an integral part of our regional economy and cultural heritage. Even your tiny "no name" creek is likely home to young salmon, or 

 

could be. Salmon undertake heroic migrations, from their birth stream hundreds of miles to the ocean and back, navigating a multitude of threats along the way. Salmon are a symbol of renewal and hope, and an indicator of the health of our environment. A healthy environment brings quality of life for all of us.   

 

Please join the Stewardship Foundation at our Annual Meeting on October 29th to discuss

current conservation issues here in our watershed.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the meeting you may pick up a copy of our publication, A Salmon's Guide to Lake Forest Park. The booklet is a delightful brief account of the streams, wetlands, woodlands and parks of our extraordinary city, and includes a fold-out stream map.   

 

You may even discover if your creek has a name!  
 Public Hearing  
 
Lyon Creek Flood Reduction Proposal
Tuesday, October 28, 2014 

Residents and others interested in the Lyon Creek Flood Reduction proposal are invited to attend a public hearing before the City's Hearing Examiner at 6:00 p.m. in the LFP City Hall Council Chambers. The proposal encompasses the stretch of Lyon Creek from the new Whispering Willow Park to Lyon Creek Waterfront Park. Wetland and stream restoration and enhancement are included in the proposal.

 

For more information, see:

http://www.cityoflfp.com/civicalerts.aspx?AID=380 

 


  Stirring Up Trouble in North Lake Washington

  

It may be happening in the city next door, but the industrial activities in north Lake Washington impact air and water quality for Lake Forest Park, too. For several years, LFPSF has been working with People for Environmentally Responsible Kenmore (PERK) to press for environmental mitigation to protect water quality in the lake.

Kenmore is home to one of the last industrial sites on the lake, nearby to areas where residents swim and fish. This is striking to anyone who's ever traveled that stretch of the Burke-Gilman Trail: the trail passes through Log Boom Park with its dock and playground, then continues past cement and asphalt plants. On the adjoining Kenmore Industrial Park jutting out on the lakeshore, Kiewit /General/Manson (KGM) is constructing pieces of the new 520 floating bridge under contract with the State. The heart of citizen 
concerns centers on dealing with existing contamination in that part of the lake, and not making it worse by promoting increased industrialization without environmental review.
 
The industrial park is on the site of a former 45-acre disposal dump and landfill. The known chemicals of concern at this site are petroleum hydrocarbons - diesel and oil, and selected metals -- arsenic, barium and lead. The Department of Ecology (DOE) rated it among the highest contaminated sites in the state 11 years ago. In 2011 the Army Corps of Engineers found high levels of cancer-causing dioxins at a marina near the Kenmore Industrial Park. According to the DOE, dioxins adhere to sediment particles and do not affect the water column, unless disturbed. Tugboats and barges related to the 520 bridge project have been documented stirring up sediment in the shallow channel. In December 2013, the DOE issued a Notice of Violation for sediment disturbance to Kiewit/General/Manson (KGM) tugboats. It is unclear whether KGM has changed its activities after the violation notice. Now, federal agencies are moving forward with planned maintenance dredging of the "navigation channel."
 
We are concerned that proposed dredging operations will result in the disturbance of lake sediments and consequent increased transport of toxic contaminants into the water column where they pose a risk to humans and wildlife. Recent studies have documented dioxins and other chemicals in the navigation channel and surrounding areas. PERK and LFPSF have asked the City of Kenmore and relevant state and federal regulatory agencies to ensure that sediments are properly sampled and analyzed for contaminants, and to impose appropriate restrictions if dangerous levels are found, prior to dredging the channel.

Given that north Lake Washington is widely used by the public for water related activities and is habitat for fish species listed under the Endangered Species Act, we believe that the health and environmental risks may preclude dredging. Dredging supports activities associated with the barging, asphalt production, and construction on the Kenmore Industrial site (an unlined toxic dump). Increased industrial activities of this sort on the lake shore are not consistent with other beneficial uses, including fishing and swimming. The recent addition of asphalt production at the cement plant, with its associated fumes, also poses risks to anyone who lives or works in the vicinity.

LFPSF and PERK continue to push for appropriate environmental review and mitigation to protect the health of residents and the Lake Washington ecosystem.

If you are interested in getting involved in this
or other local environmental issues,
please come to our Annual Meeting on October 29th,
or contact us at info@lfpsf.org
LFPSF Volunteers &
Washington Conservation Corps
Restore Parks & Natural Areas

The Stewardship Foundation's amazing local volunteers have put in more than 50 hours since July 1st keeping our parks and public natural areas free of noxious weeds. We have also done some work on private property if home-owners need help with that responsibility. During several work parties, volunteers dug out Himalayan blackberries, pulled English Ivy from trees, and treated English Holly and English and Portuguese Laurel.

We've again had great assistance from the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) this past summer. With oversight and assistance of the Stewardship Foundation, these hardy young workers logged about 242 hours of labor in Lake Forest Park public spaces during four weeks of July.

In the natural areas of Pfingst Animal Acres Park, five WCC workers spent a week removing noxious weeds from the forest. They spent 4 hours in a pouring rainstorm inoculating Japanese knotweed in the park along McAleer Creek, and also upstream of the McAleer Creek culvert on Perkins Way. Injectant and tools were provided by the City of Lake Forest Park, with additional tools borrowed from King County Noxious Weed Control. Removal of invasive species of plants from surrounding areas is very important to salmon-bearing streams like McAleer Creek and its tributaries. Clearing non-natives allows native plant growth to provide organic materials to feed the macro-invertebrate species upon which juvenile fish will feed when they are hatched.

This year, for the first time, WCC worked along the new McKinnon Creek Trail, which the City has constructed in an effort to connect neighborhoods and to create more  walk-able areas. WCC cleared more than 640 square feet of stream buffer of non-native vegetation. Some re-vegetation was recently carried out by our local volunteers.

In Grace Cole Nature Park our local volunteers have concentrated recently on the blackberry infestation, Ivy and Holly in high visibility areas near the board walk and 28th Avenue. We also perform light maintenance of the trails and signs provided by LFPSF for the park.

The Foundation will help finance re-vegetation where necessary, in areas we have cleared of invasives. Donations from the Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Tour make it possible for us to do this. As always, volunteers are necessary and so very appreciated in all these efforts to improve habitat and keep our parks and open space enjoyable to all.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email info@lfpsf.org.
McKinnon Creek Trail 

This new trail is in an idyllic forested ravine alongside the creek, starting at the end of NE 184th. Since there is no parking area, the trail is best accessed on foot from Ballinger Way. Still much work remains to be done on this trail. A wetland area at the top end of the constructed trail will need some protection to prevent foot traffic from destroying the native wetland plants growing there. Please remember when enjoying this trail to stay on the path and out of sensitive areas, leave no litter, and pick up after your dog.
 
Where, Oh Where, are the
Rain Gardens? 

The Stewardship Foundation regrettably has had to step back from our campaign to install demonstration rain gardens. Momentum stalled due to lack of municipal support, difficulty in obtaining matching grant funds, and obstacles in siting publically-accessible rain gardens where originally planned. We thank the owners of Town Center Hardware, who were willing to work with us to provide necessary rain garden supplies, and to local contractor, Lisa Harbert, who volunteered her time conducting feasibility studies and providing preliminary garden designs for three proposed sites. We will continue our collaboration with 12,000 Rain Gardens to promote rain gardens as an important part of stormwater control and seek new strategies to bring more rain gardens to our watershed.  
Go Natives! Nursery End of Season Sale 

November 1st,10am-4pm
2112 NW 199th, Richmond Beach, Shoreline WA

Go Natives! offers more than 170 species of native plants from the Pacific NW! Our inventory includes a wide variety of rain-garden plants like Juncus effusus, Kelsey dogwood, Carex obnupta, Eleocharis palustris,and many others such as skunk cabbage, nodding onion and Myrica gale.

Email for information: don@gonativesnursery.com  
Natural Yard Care is
for the Fishes!

Remember any chemicals you use in your yard may end up in our streams and lakes carried by run-off and groundwater, so take care with your yard care!
 
Wildlife Friendly Fall Gardening

As daylight hours shrink, temperatures drop, and the urge grows to "batten down the hatches" in the yard and garden, here's an easy "to do" list from your local wildlife "family": 
  • Leave some "dead heads" on your flowering plants to provide seeds for some of us birds and other animals;
  • If you must rake leaves off grass lawns, just pile them under some shrubs, bushes or other nooks and crannies to provide homes for those insects that we birds love to eat; leaves make great mulch to help your plants, anyway!
  • Keep that dead or dying tree right where it is (unless, of course, it's truly a hazard to you), so we can feast on the insects in the rotting wood or make winter roosts or dens in its cavities;
  • Give yourself and your mower a rest for at least a portion of your lawn so we've got a patch of taller grass to hide and forage in;
  • Save just a little of that dead bramble thicket for us - it makes great winter cover and we don't need much! Fall is a good time to plant shrubs, so replace invasive exotic Himalayan and cutleaf blackberries with native plants of higher wildlife value like blackcap (native black raspberry) or red raspberry; native currants or gooseberries found in your area; or native roses such as Nootka or baldhip.
  • Pile up any brush or rocks you clear around your place to give us another option for nests and dens;
  • Take it easy on yourself and let go of the "perfect" garden image; we wild animals like less tidy, "fuzzy" places because there's usually more food and shelter there;
  • Get yourself a comfortable chair, sit back, and congratulate yourself on having made a home for wildlife and a haven of relaxation for yourself!

    Reprinted from Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Crossing Paths Newsletter  
Solution to a Slippery Problem at Grace Cole

Our wet weather often makes for slippery conditions on the boardwalk at Grace Cole Nature Park. The Stewardship Foundation is purchasing galvanized steel hardware "cloth" for installation over the boardwalk. This material is used at many parks, including on Camano Island where it's been in place for 10 years and still looks good and is functional to prevent slips.

Watch for this park improvement coming soon, but in the meantime, please take care on the boardwalk when visiting the 14-acre nature park (located on 30th Ave NE and NE 166th).   
Recycle Plastic Film
at City Hall

The City of Lake Forest Park is hosting a plastic film recycling challenge through January. There are 2 bins located outside of City Hall for collection of plastic materials, which include: Grocery bags, Bread bags, Case overwrap, Dry cleaning bags, Newspaper sleeves, Ice bags, Wood pellet bags, Ziploc and other recloseable bags, Produce bags, Bubble wrap, Salt bags and Cereal bags. All materials must be clean. If the City recycles enough plastic film, a free recycled bench by Trex will be donated for the new Whispering Willow Park. Thank you to volunteers on the Environmental Quality Commission for collecting, transporting and tabulating plastic collections totals. 
Get Involved in Visioning
LFP's Future 
Join the conversation about the 
future of your community!

The City invites ideas from as many people as possible as to what Lake Forest Park should look like in 2035. There have been several public meetings, presentations to community groups and a telephone survey, but it's not too late to send in your comments.
 
Lake Forest Park's Comprehensive Plan includes nine Elements: Land Use, Housing, Transportation, Capital Facilities, Utilities, Environmental Quality and Shorelines, Economic Development, Human Services and Recreation and Open Space.



Thank you for your interest and commitment to our local environment!

We hope to see you at our Annual Meeting on October 29th
       


For more information, to volunteer or donate, please visit our website:

www.lfpsf.org

 

And LIKE us on Facebook! 
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The LFP Stewardship Foundation Newsletter is committed to keeping you informed about environmental concerns and opportunities in LFP WITHOUT inundating your inbox.