“ THE GOOD  -  THE BAD  -  THE UGLY  ”

            

         A WALKING  TOUR OF FAIRHAVEN’S STORMWATER SYSTEMS

                       PRESENTED BY THE FAIRHAVEN NEIGHBORS                                                           ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

                                                            June 13, 2008

                                                                                                                                            reference

                                                                                                                                            materials

BEGIN TOUR :    The Fairhaven Transportation Center                                                 

                                                                         

Walking East along Harris Avenue:

– Note Haskell property to the South, GIS map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A

      Neighborhood will participate in a design charette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .L & N

– Note Port properties to the West and East, stormwater problems GIS map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A

     Coalition of South Neighborhoods (CSN) has requested new stormwater treatment systems,

      Replacement of impervious parking lots, new riparian areas on all sides of the lagoon. . . . . G

– Note Public Works new drains, get water off roadway and into lagoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  I

      Street and Stormwater Department in conflict.

STOP 1:    The Padden Creek Estuary and Lagoon

Discussion of pocket estuaries values, impacts of untreated stormwater

– Natal and non-natal ‘at risk’ pocket estuary essential for Salmon survival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C

– City owns lagoon, Port owns riparian, see photo-site map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B

– 1988 and 1989 Agreements; promises by City and Port not honored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  G

– flooded lagoon photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  U

– 27" storm pipe collecting Fairhaven, South Hill and Happy Valley stormwater . . . . . . . . . . . . H

        Outfall under Harris Avenue Bridge GIS map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A

– Park Department Estuary Restoration Study 1990, partially completed work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H

– Demonstration Pilot recommendations 4 highly rated habitat restoration projects not done . . . P

– Waterfront Futures Group Recommendations, adopted by Resolution 2005-04 . . . . . . . . . . . . R

         Restore 100' on each side of estuary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q

– City’s Pocket Estuary Report recommendation: Padden ‘most valuable for restoration’ . . . . .  K

– Walk south across Harris Avenue to trail adjacent to the estuary:

–Note: Park staff discussion January 2007 about trail too close to estuary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..H

–Note: Park staff planning a trail bridge across the estuary, to open up culvert. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  H

–Note: Neighborhood will work with Haskell to protect estuary and 100' riparian,

-request above ground bioswale stormwater treatment of development runoff

            -request all pervious walkways, driveways, and parking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   I & L

STOP 2:    8th Street and McKenzie Avenue

Note: Watershed directly upslope new impervious surfaces cover all land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D

Note: Storm events causing untreated  runoff, photos Park Dept temp fix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  U

Note: Settlement provides for 8th Street closure and public trail construction, per WFG . . . . . .  Q

    Trail should be pervious, should replace the west trail to protect the estuary . . . . . . . . . . . . .   J

Note: Ted’s original plan called for rain gardens, but was overruled in favor of a vault system .  I

STOP 3:    Walking the Fairhaven Village Streets

Walk along 9th Street to Harris, photos show repairs made to fix drainage GIS map and photos .U

Note: Harris Square: 2003 Bill Reilly (pers comm): no treatment needed - too close to the bay

    - Treatment vault for Harris Square, engineering drawings and GIS map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A

Walk along Harris to 10th Street, photos of flooding streets, and businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U

Walk along Harris to 11th Street, photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U

Walk east on Harris to 14th Note: stormwater piping GIS map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A

Walk east Harris to 15-16th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I

STOP 4:   Matthei Place Driveways and Parking Areas

Pervious driveways and parking lot protect Padden Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J

Stormwater from surrounding areas mostly discharged into Harris or 14th St. storm pipes . . . . . A

Walk along Harris Avenue, to16th St, past City firehouse w/ impervious surface driveways. . I & J

Walk west on McKenzie Avenue to 14th Street

STOP 5:   Rain Garden for Redeveloped Old Firehouse

Note: Stormwater treatment system recommended by Watershed Master Plan 1995. . . . . . . . . . I

Walk west along McKenzie along new development. storm drainage system? . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..I

Walk south along 13th Street, Note: leaking private water system.

Walk west to 12th Street

Walk south along 12th Street across Old Fairhaven Parkway

STOP 6:    12th Street Village Development

Stormwater Treatment System, see schematic and GIS map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A & E

Private ownership problems to operate and maintain, personal communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U

Walk east to 14th Street

STOP 7:    City alley with pervious paving

Only one of its kind in Bellingham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I & J

Note: Mention 2200' stormwater tunnel from 17th to 22nd   further east. Project #9 in

            Stormwater Funding Strategy, 2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  F & S & T

Walk south on trail connector, point out 12th Street outfall, and photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A & U

Note: 14th Street outfall, GIS map and photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A & U

STOP 8:  Walking the Lower Padden Creek Corridor Trail from Fairhaven Park to 4th

              

- Walking discussion of stormwater impacts to Padden Creek, and

  monitoring reports of failed water quality tests year after year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C

- Note: 2000 Stormwater Funding Strategy designed to address existing stormwater problems

             Three projects along Padden Creek #5; #9; #13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  O & S & T

west on trail: point out subsidence during 12th street Village construction, photos . . . . . . . . . . . U

west on trail: street outfalls on the south, direct discharge without filtering, GIS map . . . . . . . . A

west on trail: fish ladders need redesign, Jim Johannessen - personal communication

west on trail: to 10th and Donovan, junk car in ravine, City promised to restore 1994 . . . . . . . .  G

west on trail: to McKenzie Square outfall from vault- no above ground pervious surfaces . . . .   I

west on trail: to culvert that may become a foot bridge. Park staff communication

west on trail mention alternate nesting site for Great Blue Heron Colony,

            needs surrounding buffer zone of 100 meters. Colony Assessment, May 2000. . . . . . . . .C

west on trail: stormwater repairs along trail after Park staff meeting, Jan. 2008,  photo . . . . . . . U

STOP 9:   Larrabee Marsh Stormwater System

Edgemoor storm drainage and filtering system - 1973,  GIS map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  A & M

Discussion of 1980 Plan stormwater design recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A & M

Discussion of 1993-1995 COB Watershed Master Plan recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   I

Discussion of 2006 letter from14 scientists re: the 5 principles of watershed protection . . . . . .  J

Walk trail to 4th Street

Time permitting: Walk south to top of bluff for orientation of area

Note:  Post Point and Marine Park shoreline restoration work by

Jim Johannessen and Coastal Geological Services

Walk trail north to Harris Avenue

END TOUR at Fairhaven Transportation Center

Tour presented by the Fairhaven Neighbors  Environment Committee

Members:   Susan Kaun, Glenn Denkler,  Shelly Pravda,  Jim Johannessen

FN President, Vince Biciunas

REFERENCE MATERIALS CITED ON STORMWATER TOUR -

A.). COB GIS Map of Stormwater Utility in Fairhaven (outside cover)

B.)  Port  Site Plan C1.0 for Padden Creek Estuary and Lagoon (inside cover)

C.)  Landscape Functions of Bellingham’s Pocket Estuaries

          from Kaun’s List of 21 Best Available Science studies and reports          

        

D.)  Fairhaven Commercial District Parking Map - showing development

E.)  Site Plan, 12th Street Village - stormwater systems

F.)  Map of Padden Creek partial Watershed, indicating 1880's shoreline, and             2200' stormwater tunnel

G.)  Promises from public officials in City and Port 1988 and 1989.

H.)  Park Dept. Padden Creek Estuary Area Planning Study, 1990, (partial)

I.) COB Watershed Master Plan, 1993 and 1995, Padden Creek Watershed (partial)

J.)  Letter to the Puget Sound Partner from 14 scientists, outlining the 5 principles          of watershed restoration, October 26, 2006

K.) Management Recommendations for COB Pocket Estuaries, February 2006

L.  The Seattle Times - Neighborhood and developer reach agreement

The following reference materials are available upon request:

M.)   Neighborhood Plan, Fairhaven, 1980, (partial)

             

N.)  COB 1989 Shoreline Master Program (partial)

O.)  COB Storm and Surface Water Utility, Funding Strategy, August 2000,  (partial)

       

P.)  COB Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot, 1999, (partial)

Q.) Waterfront Futures Group Recommendations, December 2004, (partial)

 

R.)   COB Resolution 2005 - 04 adopting WFG recommendations

S.) Presentation to Bill Reilly, Manager, Storm and Surface Water Fund,

      by FN Stormwater Committee of past, present and future stormwater issues in                   Fairhaven, May 1, 2006

T.) Draft report from FN Stormwater Committee to FN Board, “Follow the Money”

       September 6, 2006, provided to Council Members B. Ryan and J. Beardsley.

     

U.  Kaun’s tour  photo