neighborhood villages

Gary Smith teaching restoration at Idylwood Park / Credit Forterra In August 2017, two separate large cottonwood tree limb failures occurred at Idylwood Park. The City hired a contractor to remove fourteen hazardous cottonwood trees in October 2018.   Two remaining hazardous trees have been pruned or are currently being evaluated. Restoration Plantings:  Restoration of the Idylwood Park tree removal areas will occur February � March 2019.   A community volunteer replanting event will tentatively take place on Saturday, February 9 . Volunteers and City staff will plant trees, shrubs, groundcovers... Source:  Council business meeting, 1/15 memo Bob Yoder

Credit / John Reinke  A 95th Street Bear Creek Enhancement project will install six log jams, two backwater channels, 230-feet of alcoves and enhance almost 3-acres of buffer. The project is on the Chinook Recovery plan for WRIA 8 because of its high benefit to spawning and rearing habitat in Bear Creek. The project is located south of the 95th Street bridge on City of Redmond owned property. The $143,490 grant will help pay for construction costs associated with the installation of four log jams in the stream, one backwater channel and approximately 180- ft of alcoves. The remaining part of the project is designated as mitigation and will be entirely paid for by the stormwater Capital Improvement Project budget. The construction target is 2019 pending receiving Army Corps permits. --  Council Committee meeting, 11/13 ### Lake Sammamish State Park has grown by more than 5 acres after land was donated to the park by a local company. Lakeside Industries recently donated a 5.3-a...

Before the journey begins � students learn about life cycles at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery Nov   6   2018 Third grade students at Wilder Elementary School are learning about the life cycles of salmon. The students saw Coho and Chinook salmon up close during a visit to the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery on October 12. During a tour, they learned about salmon habitat and how the hatchery operates. They also learned how to tell the difference between Coho and Chinook, and whether a fish was male or female. The salmon complete their grueling journey from the sea to spawn in Issaquah Creek in the fall. LWSD website

Green heron spearing a frog  (credit; Reinke) Here is a list of birds and animals John Reinke has seen this year in the 90th Street retention pond with the three lopped trees:   - A group of five otters seen together there all at the same time earlier this year;    - great blue herons are fairly common  - took a picture of one swallowing a large catfish   - green herons   - blue kingfisher  - beaver -  I have a photo of one I took back around 2011 or 2012 - invasive bull frog   - black mink - I saw one there years ago - ring necked ducks  "Isn't it remarkable the variety of wildlife we have here in suburban Redmond?"  - John Reinke,  11/7

Residents can enroll in PSE's Green Power program   and with an additional  $10 payment on their electrical  bill can reduce 12,420 pounds of CO-2 emissions annually to 231 pounds per year.    Redmond, WA  � The City of Redmond is partnering with Puget Sound Energy to purchase 100 percent of its electricity for government operations from dedicated, local, renewable energy resources.  Green Direct , PSE�s innovative renewable energy product for governments and commercial entities, consists of a combination of wind and solar. Redmond is joining Green Direct in its second phase. Phase one included a new wind project in Western Washington and was fully subscribed in 2017. Phase two will include a new solar project in south-central Washington, which is expected to be completed in 2021. By subscribing to Green Direct, the City of Redmond is taking an essential step in reducing its carbon footprint and meeting the goals of its  Climate Action Plan ...

I'm so happy our schools are taking this innovative hands-on approach to learning, What do you think?

Water Tender President Susan Wilkins at  Issaquah fish hatchery  Every year from September - October during the "Salmon Seeson" you will find the Water Tenders at North Bear Creek educating children, families and adults about the life cycle of salmon.  This Fall was the 4-year cycle for sockeye so we were expecting a good run.  The Water Tenders put up sandwich board signs along Avondale Road to direct viewers to the creek. We usually see a lot of  returning salmon but this year owing to a prolonged drought there were none to be seen so the exhibit was shut down. Usually over 100 viewers walk up the trail to see coho, sockeye and chinook salmon. Every year the Water Tenders pick up 1-2 Chinook salmon from the Issaquah fish hatchery for their Bear Creel exhibit.  Susan Wilkins, Water Tenders President says,"this is an excellent way for viewers to see and touch the gills, scaling, and fins for show and tell."  Here's a picture of Susan at ...

"yours truly" Save the date to plant trees with the Green Redmond Partnership!  Join us at Juel Park on Saturday, October 27th, 9 am - Noon to help keep our forests healthy and green. Everyone can help! All ages welcome, no experience necessary. Green Redmond will have all gloves and tools for you to use, as well as coffee and snacks to get the morning started. Planting events will be held at two other park sites this year.  Advanced registration is strongly encouraged as some sites will fill up.   Find your favorite park and sign up via the link below! We only have a few more spots open to volunteer with us on Oct 27th, so please email us below if you would like to sign up.  Sign up at  www.greenredmond.org . -- Bob Yoder Source:  redmond.gov

Idylwood Park cottonwood trees / King 5 Redmond, WA  �In March and April of 2018, the City removed 14 cottonwood trees in Idylwood Park after a risk assessment identified the trees as a public safety hazard. The remaining high-risk cottonwood trees were scheduled for removal following the busy summer beach season. In the summer of 2017, two separate large limb failures resulted in injury to a park patron and damage to private property. These incidents prompted the risk assessment. Removal of the cottonwood trees started on October 10. Large trees will remain in natural areas along the waterfront away from high-use areas, and permanent fencing will be installed in areas to limit access and protect future restoration plantings. During this project, the City has been working with numerous organizations and a citizens group to create a restoration plan that would preserve and maintain natural habitats while offering safe, enjoyable experiences for all parks users. Over 60 trees, nearly...

Fall colors My wife, Pam, is standing in front of our beautiful Palmataum Japanese maple tree. With great sadness we lost this cherished tree two years ago to severe back-to-back annual droughts.  It thrived on our property for 43 years. Other's in the neighborhoods lost their trees. The City also had to cut down some of their street trees and cottonwoods at Idylwood Park  owing to drought.    Bob Yoder

Click image to see the trees The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is cutting down numerous 80 - 100 year old cottonwood trees growing along SR520 next to Bear Creek. The agency says these trees pose a hazard falling onto SR520 in high winds.  The trees are on WSDOT property, not the City of Redmond's property as many think. For environmental reasons they are topping ...not removing....the trees to provide habitat for birds and other animals. The procedure creates an ugly outcome.  The Mayor said in the Regular Council meeting of 10/2 the tree logs will be scattered along Bear and Evans creek to improve salmon habitat.  Source:  WSDT blog