City of Lake Forest Park Engineering and Storm Water Department: Storm Water

Streams and Stormwater

Neil Jensen, City Engineer, oversees engineering, stormwater, sewer and capital improvement projects. He can be reached at 206-368-5440.

Aaron Halverson, Engineering and Stormwater Technician, works with citizens and other jurisdictions toward solutions to stormwater issues in Lake Forest Park. He can be reached via email at ahalverson @ci.lake-forest-park.wa.us.

About Streams and Stormwater in our City

The City of Lake Forest Park has a beautiful tree canopy. These trees create a park-like feeling in a mature suburban community. Beneath the canopy there are two salmon-bearing streams that are prone to flooding and have elevated concentrations of fecal coliform and heavy metals.

Water Quantity and Flooding

Water quantity is a serious concern in the City of Lake Forest Park (LFP). LFP is a downstream city among cities that are growing rapidly; further decreasing water quality and exacerbating the flooding problem. LFP has experienced two serious flooding events in the last 10 years, flooding the LFP Towne Center and parts of the Sheridan Beach neighborhood. Staff and elected officials are working within our own jurisdiction and with upstream cities to find a solution to our regional stormwater issues.

In an effort to reduce the occurrence of flooding in Lake Forest Park, the City Council has hired Otak, Inc. to assist with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II Permit and to create a Comprehensive Surface Water Management Plan. This plan will utilize a model of the basin to identify projects and policies that can improve the water quantity situation in LFP.

Click here for more information about Western Washington NPDES Permits.

Otak Scope of Work for the Comprehensive Surface Water Management Plan

This document provides information about how Otak, Inc. will assist LFP to prepare Comprehensive Surface Water Management Plan identify projects that will improve our water quantity and quality and comply with the federal Clean Water Act and the NPDES Phase II Permit.

Click here for the scope of work from Otak, Inc.

Lake Forest Park Stormwater Management Plan

This document must be prepared each year and submitted to the Washington State Department of Ecology as a part of the NPDES Phase II Permit.

Click here for the LFP Stormwater Management Plan for 2007.

Click here for the 2007 LFP Annual Report.

Water Quality

Lyon Creek and McAleer Creek are salmon-bearing streams. Unfortunately, they flow through an urban and suburban area and are near an interstate. This results in elevated concentrations of heavy metals and fecal coliform. LFP staff and elected officials are continually working to improve water quality.

StreamKeepers of Lake Forest Park is a volunteer group that monitors water quality twice per year in Lyon Creek and McAleer Creek. Their activities include tests for benthic index for biotic integrity (BIBI), fecal coliform, pH, turbidity, temperature and dissolved oxygen.

Click here to see the StreamKeepers of Lake Forest Park website.

The City of Lake Forest Park is a NPDES Phase II permittee and is required to meet specific requirements that are intended to increase water quality. This process is ongoing and is intended to improve water quality.

McAleer Creek

McAleer Creek flows approximately 6 miles from Lake Ballinger in Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace under Interstate 5, through the northeast corner of Shoreline and unincorporated King County before it reaches LFP. McAleer Creek enters LFP in the northwest corner of the City and opens to a floodplain near the Towne Center and the Sheridan Beach neighborhood, eventually entering the northeast corner of Lake Washington.

Lyon Creek

Lyon Creek begins in south Snohomish County with a westerly fork in Mountlake Terrace and the easterly fork in Brier. The two forks join north of LFP and flow 3.8 miles through the center of the City. As Lyon Creek approaches Lake Washington, it opens to a floodplain behind the LFP Towne Center, flows east on near Bothell Way and enters Lake Washington through Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve.

How Residents Can Help

Nonpoint source pollution (NPS) is the nation's largest water quality problem. In fact, much of the pollution in Lake Forest Park's streams comes from failing septic systems, leaking cars, improper fertilization of lawns and gardens, car washing, improper disposal of animal waste, poorly managed construction sites and inappropriate disposal of chemicals. There are a few simple things you can do to reduce your impact. Please see the list of examples below:

Washing Your Car in the driveway may be the most harmful household chore you perform because it releases chemicals that have accumulated from driving including asbestos, heavy metals and oil directly into the drainage basin. In addition, the soaps used contain phosphates and other chemicals that can harm fish and other organisms. Next time you need to wash your car consider the following alternatives:
- Using a commercial car wash is an environmentally friendly alternative because the water is typically use more than once and is discharged into the sanitary sewer system for treatment.
- Wash your car on your lawn or any vegetated surface because the chemicals and soap will infiltrate into the soil rather than flowing directly into streams.

Improper Disposal of Animal Waste can have a profound negative impact on the environment. Animal waste contains harmful bacteria that can be hazardous to your health (especially children), and local streams and lakes. In fact, studies indicate that animal waste in urban areas is responsible for up to 20% of the fecal coliform in streams. Proper methods to dispose of animal waste are listed below:
- Scoop it and flush it down the toilet so it is treated, like human waste.
- Seal the waste in a plastic bag and throw it in the garbage.
- Bury it in your yard so it can decompose slowly. The way to properly bury it is to dig a hole 10-12 inches deep, place 3-4 inches of animal waste in it and cover the hole with at least 6 inches of soil. Keep the waste away from vegetable gardens and streams because it contains harmful pathogens and viruses.
Click here to visit the Washington State Department of Ecology pet waste website.

Failing Septic Systems release untreated waste into the groundwater and on the surface. The untreated waste contains viruses and pathogens that are harmful to human health and water quality. Indicators for a failing septic system include bad odors, wet spots, lush green grass over the system, and plumbing back-ups and gurgling noises from the plumbing or tank. If your septic system fails, you are required to connect to the public sanitary sewer system if it is available. Most properties in Lake Forest Park have sewer availability. If you are unsure, please visit the Sewer page.

Leaking Vehicles are a serious problem in urban areas. Fluids that leak from vehicles include oil, anti-freeze (heavy metals) which enter our streams and Lake Washington without treatment. To reduce your environmental impact you can fix leaking vehicles, drive less and regularly maintain your vehicles. Don't forget to recycle your used motor oil and other fluids.

Fertilizing Your Lawn and Garden improperly is a waste of your time and harms water quality. It is recommended that fertilizer be applied in small applications no more than three to four times per year (April 15, June 15, September 1 and once during the winter months) for a vigorous lawn. To reduce the need for fertilizing you can leave lawn clippings on the lawn after mowing, use organic fertilizers because they are have a slower release and are a more natural form, and lightly water within 24 hours after applying fertilizer to ensure absorption and avoid lawn burning. Never fertilize when a heavy or moderate rain is expected because much of the fertilizer will wash away, into our lakes and streams. Never apply a fertilizer/herbicide (weed killer) combination because it will put herbicides where they are not needed and are very harmful to the environment; spot treatment of particular weeds with a treatment specific to that weed is recommended.

Click for more information about Gardening in Western Washington.

Managing Construction Sites or exposed soil is easy to do and required by the Lake Forest Park Municipal Code. Stormwater from construction sites and exposed soils contains high concentrations of sediments that, when it ends up in streams and Lake Washington, smothers fish and other organisms. Use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) are required when soils are exposed in Lake Forest Park. Examples of BMPs include silt fencing around disturbed areas, visqueen or straw over exposed soil, use of settling ponds to encourage infiltration and hydroseeding when work is complete or during specific construction phases. Projects that include one acre or more require a permit from the Washington State Department of Ecology. Click here for the permit application. If you have questions about a project in Lake Forest Park call Calvin Thielman, Building Official, at (206) 368-5440.

Disposal of Chemicals properly is extremely important because many household chemicals are very harmful, especially if they are released into streams and/or lakes. Disposal of chemicals in an improper manner is a violation of local, state and federal laws. If you are unsure about how to dispose of household chemicals please see the link below.

Click here for more information about disposal of hazardous household chemicals.