How it Should Be
Here is a picture of Evans Creek as it should be, surrounded by wetlands or forests with plenty of room to move from side to side and adjust to beaver activity, as a natural stream. (Photo credit: Redmond Blog)
Evans Creek (Southeast of Union Hill Road)
How it Is
Instead, Evans Creek is constrained in a narrow channel with heavy industrial operations like construction yards, asphalt manufacturing, and concrete and wood recycling on both sides of the channel. (Photo credit: Redmond Blog) Can you guess where the creek is? It is tucked under a bridge where the orange candle stick construction barriers are located.
Evans Creek Industrial Area
Industry Along Evans Creek Wetlands
That heavy industry is important to provide us with the goods that we all need, but it may not be best environment for a natural stream. A strong manufacturing base creates a broad foundation on which the rest of the country’s economic sector grows. Manufacturing production and the workers they employ generate demand for other manufactured goods. Manufacturing also drives supply chain growth by generating innovation and creating new technologies throughout the country. This industrial area was set out on the edge of town long ago and expanded toward the streams and wetlands before those area were protected by environmental regulations and before residential development expanded toward those same areas.
What It Could Be
The City of Redmond hopes to one day relocate that stream away from the industrial area within the City and into the natural wetland area that you see before you. This wetland area is outside of the City limits in unincorporated King County and King County environmental regulations protect this natural area from development, so it makes for an ideal location for the stream. The proposed project would improve the stream habitat and at the same time improve the wetland habitat that is currently a monoculture of reed canarygrass.
Evans Creek Relocation Plan 2017
At GZ, you are standing at the preferred future location for Evans Creek. If you imagine a few years in the future, you may picture yourself standing on a bridge over the creek. The Evans Creek Relocation project is listed as a priority in the WRlA 8 Chinook Conservation Plan. That is because the large upstream watershed supports good wild Coho salmon runs, provides important Chinook salmon habitat and contains quality riparian habitat and corridor connectivity for other wildlife. The open space proposed for the new channel also contains the well-used Bear-Evans trail that passes over GZ, and so the stream project will benefit passive recreation opportunities.
Evans Creek Relocation Plan (2022)
WSDOT did their part, constructing a portion of the new channel on their property. Redmond is working through permitting to finish the job. Construction will start in 2023, adding 15-acres of planted stream buffer, building two new trail bridges, and enhancing fish habitat. Evans Creek will start flowing down the newly constructed channel in 2024.