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Restore & Preserve Wildlife | Restore & Preserve Forests | Restore & Preserve Parks |
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Restore & Preserve Wildlife | Restore & Preserve Forests | Restore & Preserve Parks |
Schmitz Park Creek Restore seeks to restore aquatic life to Schmitz Park Creek by reconnecting it to Alki Beach. Reconnecting the creek through a surface channel will restore life to Schmitz Park Creek and to the ravine that holds the Schmitz Park forest. Aquatic species of all types, including likely a salmon run, previously thrived in
Schmitz Park Creek Restore seeks to restore aquatic life to Schmitz Park Creek by reconnecting it to Alki Beach. Reconnecting the creek through a surface channel will restore life to Schmitz Park Creek and to the ravine that holds the Schmitz Park forest. Aquatic species of all types, including likely a salmon run, previously thrived in Schmitz Park Creek and its shoreline lagoon that lay where Alki Playfield is now. Tragically, city development diverted these artesian creek waters into its storm drains right where the creek emerges from the Schmitz Park ravine. With this creek diversion the lifeline that once ran between this ravine to the Salish Sea/ Puget Sound was cut short just a few city blocks from Alki Beach. The creek still disappears into that drain, and as a result, there are currently no fish or other significant aquatic species observable in the entire Schmitz Park Creek system. The diversion blocks all species passage and also deprives shoreline species of the benefits of fresh water mixing and flow. The successes of recent “daylighting” and watershed and aquatic life restoration at nearby Longfellow and Fauntleroy Creeks demonstrate that similar success will likely be possible for restoring salmon runs and other aquatic species to Schmitz Park Creek.
Salmon were recently observed entering Longfellow Creek and spawning there for the first time in decades; this occurred even before streambed restoration work there was finished. Schmitz Park offers pure creek water and a largely pristine watershed. To paraphrase: “if we restore it, the fish will come.” Bringing aquatic species to the creek will return life to the very roots of a pristine ancient forest. The restored food source will benefit Park animals. Their feeding and droppings will enrich park soils. The restored creek will bring fresh, pure water to Alki Beach. This will benefit the many shoreline species there including birds, marine mammals, salmon, trout, lampreys, sculpins, shellfish and other species. Restoration and reconnection will return aquatic life to Schmitz Park Creek and is a vital cornerstone of the Project.
Schmitz Park Creek Restore also seeks to preserve, protect, and restore Schmitz Park’s 53 acres of largely undisturbed native old-growth forest. The forest flourishes despite being surrounded by modern Seattle. It stands much as it has always stood. It was first revered for centuries by generations of the area’s indigenous people. As Du
Schmitz Park Creek Restore also seeks to preserve, protect, and restore Schmitz Park’s 53 acres of largely undisturbed native old-growth forest. The forest flourishes despite being surrounded by modern Seattle. It stands much as it has always stood. It was first revered for centuries by generations of the area’s indigenous people. As Duwamish Councilman Ken Workman recently stated “some of the trees are [so] old that those roots are still going down and touching the bones of those people that are here—and in the wood are our ancestors”. After 1851, despite extensive logging practices elsewhere throughout the new city, this singular ancient forest was set aside and revered by Seattle’s non-indigenous settlers. The visionary land grant in the early 1900’s by the pioneer Schmitz family to the City of Seattle has continued this preservation into modern times. Under this grant, trails are allowed but no other cutting of trees or development has been permitted. As a result, the forest continues to thrive, and is largely untrampled and undisturbed. Sadly, however, increasing population pressure, non-native species incursions, and other factors now pose real threats to the forest’s long term health. The steps contemplated by Schmitz Park Creek Restore will see to it that the forest survives and thrives for enjoyment by future generations of all Seattleites.
Schmitz Park Creek Restore will work alongside Seattle Parks and other entities in all its efforts. These measures include removal of non-native species and prevention of further incursions. Some of the first activities planned by Schmitz Park Creek Restore are the removal of invasive species by well-trained volunteers overseen by
Seattle Parks.
The Project will also seek to enhance and rationalize the existing trail system to better reveal and protect the forest’s unique features. This will include special protection of its largest and oldest trees and the forest’s rarest species. Also, it will include preserving and enhancing visibility of those places where natural forest regeneration is at “nurse logs” and “nurse stumps” and other micro-habitats. There will be adequate and informative signage that will guide visitors to the Park’s special features and educate them as to the forest’s unique status and fragility.
Note that The Project also seeks to restore the creek and cove that once connected the forest to the Salish Sea. All reasonable steps to restore fish and other species to these waters will occur and these restorations will further preserve, protect and restore the forest. The revitalized and healthy forest will in turn foster healthy fish by providing a protected habitat supporting the creek, cove and Salish Sea. Restoration will improve access to the Park and interest in its remarkable natural features by and for the communities served by the Park.
As noted above, as part of aquatic species restoration, Schmitz Park Creek Restore seeks to reconnect Schmitz Park Creek with Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. This is a critical step to protect the forest and to restore aquatic species to Schmitz Park. The creek is worth all the effort. Schmitz Park Creek is a sizable, year-round creek o
As noted above, as part of aquatic species restoration, Schmitz Park Creek Restore seeks to reconnect Schmitz Park Creek with Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. This is a critical step to protect the forest and to restore aquatic species to Schmitz Park. The creek is worth all the effort. Schmitz Park Creek is a sizable, year-round creek of pure water, almost exclusively maintained by artesian springs. These springs arise in the upper (mostly southerly) portions of the Park and consist of groundwater flowing down through the glacial till from which the Schmitz Park ravine has been eroded. There are three major creek branches and also several smaller rivulets that contribute to the flow. All of the sources of the main creek appear to arise in forested areas and due to prior wise actions by Seattle Parks, the water sources appear to have little or none of their flow coming from surface water outside the
Park boundaries.
The creek bed is largely intact and undisturbed for much of its length. Alas, it is currently devoid of much aquatic life. It will need bed and bank repair and protection in some trampled areas. When it reaches the Park boundary the creek water empties into a storm drain where it mixes with impure waters and is discharged into Elliot Bay. For decades this diversion has negated the creek’s natural purpose and foreclosed aquatic and other species from using the creek. Laws now exist to require remediation of such diversions. Schmitz Park Creek Restore will seek remediation funding from appropriate agencies of the City, County, State and Federal Governments to support the creek restoration project.
For the stream to reach Alki Beach and Puget Sound, a new bed for the creek will need to be restored and protected. This would occur near several blocks of urban landscape that are built on top of or near the former creek bed. The task sounds daunting, but may well prove easier and less costly than might appear at first blush. There is a usable corridor, all on public land that, used smartly, may allow a restored creek to flow directly to Alki Beach close to its original route. Because public land underlies the entire route, work to restore the creek could likely occur with minimal additional land acquisition or neighborhood disruption. No final route is yet decided; and other alternatives exist. Schmitz Park Creek Restore intends to work side by side with the Duwamish Tribe, and the entire community, to create a wise and feasible proposal for this critical part of the Project and for aquatic species restoration. Through cooperation and coordination, Schmitz Park Creek Restore will create the pathway to bring the creek from Schmitz Park back to nature, Alki Beach, and the Salish Sea.
The creek corridor would include a natural, green riparian corridor and trails to follow the creek. This would require small changes in use for existing parkland and several adjacent streets. Such a flexible approach could create a protected stream bed right to Alki Avenue. From there, a culvert or other means would channel the creek under Alki Avenue and to Alki Beach. As noted, other alternatives exist. These would require limited acquisition of easements or small plots of unused land from private landowners. Further planning will have much to say. Schmitz Park Creek Restore will work diligently to recreate a living creek between the forest in Schmitz Park and the Sea.
Schmitz Park Creek Restore will pursue the creation of a cove and delta on Alki Beach near where the waters of Schmitz Park Creek originally met Puget Sound. History teaches us that an extremely productive natural cove or lagoon existed at the mouth of Schmitz Park Creek near where 59th Avenue currently terminates at Alki Avenue. As env
Schmitz Park Creek Restore will pursue the creation of a cove and delta on Alki Beach near where the waters of Schmitz Park Creek originally met Puget Sound. History teaches us that an extremely productive natural cove or lagoon existed at the mouth of Schmitz Park Creek near where 59th Avenue currently terminates at Alki Avenue. As envisioned, a cove and adjacent wetlands will be created by restoring the creek’s flow directly onto the beach. Natural plantings and watercourses, and educational signage, will highlight and protect the “Forest to Sea” pathway of the creek. Public facilities will allow viewing while also protecting the cove waterway. The signage and other exhibits will highlight history, and the plants and animals that connecting the creek to the cove will restore, protect and enhance. The green corridor thus established will soften the character of Alki Avenue making it much more than traffic corridor and commercial strip. It will highlight the parklands and natural beauty that already exist in this popular historic and recreational setting. Plans are also afoot to site the popular Alki Stone Cottage (www. save the stonecottage.org) near the cove and Park as an exciting and historic addition to the Alki Beach community.
