Subscribe to the blog
-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives
- March 2024
- February 2024
- December 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- September 2011
- May 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
Categories
Meta
Knickerbocker Restoration Would be "First In The Nation"
The Knickerbocker Floodplain Project on Thornton Creek will include innovative subsurface restoration techniques that would be the first of its kind in the nation and part of a studied, living laboratory, according to Mike Hrachovec of Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). Mike, known to everyone as “Rocky,” is a SPU engineer who has been designing the floodplain restoration on and off for seven years as funding came in leaps and starts. He gave an enthusiastic talk Thursday night at Sacawajea Elementary School as part of SPU presentation for local residents about the project which is planned to begin construction next summer.
Nearly two dozen members of the public attended including the original Knickerbocker family the site is named after (they sold the first parcel to SPU and the Parks Department including their house just south of NE 100th which has since been demolished). Cheryl Eastberg with the Parks Department began the meeting by describing the history of the project and acquisitions of property around Thornton Creek including the Rossi property on the south side of Thornton Creek that was accessed via the wooden bridge at the end of NE 100th Street (which will be replaced by a rock ford once the project is done).
Katherine Lynch then talked about the funding that made the project happen. Although the city has been interested in creating the floodplain for the past seven years, funding had all but dried up two years ago just as plans had finally been developed. A grant from the King County Conservation District helped move the project forward, while the Thornton Creek Watershed Oversight Committee sought out further funding which finally came from the Washington State Department of Ecology, the EPA, and most importantly Sound Transit which kicked in for floodplain mitigation as part of its Northgate Light Rail station project.
The main goals of the Knickerbocker project are 1) improve instream and riparian habitat, 2) optimize floodplain storage and slow peak flows, and 3) serve as a demonstration project. “Rocky” then began describing the process of engineering which he called, “an incredibly complex design.” Using the area of the creek just west of NE 102nd as a model for what the Knickerbocker site should look like (though with more large wood), he said the city needed to correct what been engineering dogma throughout the 50s and 60s, namely taking out any large trees and installing retaining walls. “We shattered the habitat in the process,” he said. The Knickerbocker project will rip out the rockeries and retaining walls, remove 9,000 yards of dirt and replace it with logs (mainly under the surface) and create a floodplain. Restoration will not only occur on the surface (with indigenous plants and rerouting and widening the creek), but under the surface as well by rebuilding the entire subsurface, a first-in-the-nation effort. He admitted it would be “a radical experiment in stream ecology,” and “we’re just making educated guesses,” but as part of an ongoing plan the area would be monitored and studied extensively with adjustments made where needed. If you would like to see an extensive 30-page technical drawing of the project, check out this pdf from the city.
Project manager Arnel Valmonte talked about scheduling. Right now the project is at “90% design.” If any changes are to be made, now is the time. They hope to finish the design work by May 2013 and have all the permitting done. The earliest they could begin is June 2013 and wrapped up by the end of October. They need to work around the fish window giving them between July 1st and August 30th as the creek is diverted into pipes while the construction goes on. An 80 foot bridge will replace the current one over Thornton Creek (part of the 20th Ave NE walkway), and they are timing it not to interfere with the school year as many students use it to access Sacawajea from Victory Heights.
Contractors in theory work from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday but have the discretion to work past those hours and on weekends. Neighbors will be kept informed of activity if it impacts them. There will be noise and vibrations associated with the work, and the city will attempt to deal with problems with nearby residents.
Finally, Deb Hayden talked about the future of the site after construction is completed. “Our intention is to let the site grow naturally,” she said, but other than noxious weeds and invasive species being managed they want to remain hands-off. Sound Transit would assume responsibility for managing and maintaining the site (i.e. be paying the bills) for the first five years, after which it would be the domain of the Parks Department. “We’re open to feedback,” was the message.
Visit the City’s official Knickerbocker Floodplain website.
This entry was posted in Community, News, Thornton Creek, Wildlife Habitat and tagged Flood plain, Knickerbocker, Parks Department, Seattle Public Utilities, SPU, Thorton Creek. Bookmark the permalink.
Pingback: Knickerbocker Floodplain Work Begins July 1st | Victory Heights Blog
Pingback: Knickerbocker Project Brings More Truck Traffic | Victory Heights Blog