Ecology invites the public to review and comment on the report and its proposals and to attend a community meeting next month.

The 51-square-mile watershed includes much of Redmond – where Bear Creek empties into the Sammamish River – and nearby parts of King and Snohomish counties. Tributaries include Evans Creek and Cottage Lake Creek. Water from the creeks eventually enters Puget Sound.

Ecology’s monitoring efforts have so far confirmed that water in at least nine stretches of the watershed’s streams doesn’t have enough oxygen to meet state clean-water standards for oxygen content. In addition, 18 areas of the creeks have been found to be too warm. High water temperatures harm salmon, trout, and other fish and decrease the oxygen-carrying capacity of the water. Oxygen is critically important for fish and other aquatic life.

Causes of low oxygen and high temperatures in streams include:

• Lack of vegetation to provide shade along streams.
• Diminished groundwater flows – which provide cool water to creeks during the summer – partly due to runoff from developed areas.
• Nutrient pollution – such as from failing on-site septic systems and lawn fertilizer – which leads to increased oxygen consumption by bacteria.

Ecology urges citizens to maintain and repair their septic tanks, conserve water, keep stock and other animals out of streams and get involved in stream and wetland restoration projects through local organizations and governments.

The proposed cleanup plan would incorporate new and existing state and local initiatives to lower stream temperatures and maintain oxygen levels, including:

• Restoration of streamside vegetation and wetland areas, including preservation of existing high value habitat along waterways.
• Programs to help keep more water in the ground for recharging streams. Education and technical assistance for livestock and equestrian facility owners for proper manure management.
• Monitoring streams to track progress.

Ecology will host a public meeting to provide information and answer questions about the Bear-Evans Watershed Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen TMDL/Water Quality Improvement Report on Mon., Aug. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m., in the Woodinville Public Library at 1705 Avondale Rd. NE.

The report is available on the Internet at www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0810058.html; at public libraries in Redmond, Sammamish and Woodinville; and at Ecology’s regional office at 3190 160th Ave. S.E., in Bellevue.

Ecology is accepting public comments through Aug. 22. Send comments to Sinang Lee, Department of Ecology, 3190 160th Ave. S.E., Bellevue, Wash., 98008, or by e-mail to sile461@ecy.wa.gov. 

Contact:
Larry Altose, Media Relations, 425-649-7009; pager 206-663-1785
Sinang Lee, Water Quality Specialist, 425-649-7110