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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels (former Mayor)
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor Nickels Celebrates Schmitz Park Creek Restoration
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
5/21/2003 12:33:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Office of the Mayor (206) 684-4000
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Mayor Nickels Celebrates Schmitz Park Creek Restoration
Daylighted creek provides more natural and inviting habitat
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today joined community members to dedicate a newly restored portion of the creek in Schmitz Preserve Park in West Seattle. The creek had been buried underneath a parking lot for more than half a century but was recently daylighted by Seattle Parks and Recreation.
"Creeks are part of Seattle's heritage. The City is committed to enhancing creeks to achieve the best possible environmental, community and drainage benefits," said Nickels.
Restoration work included creating a new creek bed with stones and tree stumps found throughout the park. All non-native plant species in the project area were removed, which improved habitat for native plants. Schmitz Preserve Park is the only place in Seattle with old-growth Douglas fir, Western hemlock and Western red cedar.
The project also creates better drainage for heavy seasonal storms, improves habitat throughout the streambed for bugs, amphibians, and birds, and provides a pleasant and more natural environment for park visitors.
The City devotes more than $4 million per year to restore creeks throughout the city. Creek restoration improves habitat and drainage and creates more natural and inviting open spaces for people.
Recent improvements to City creeks include:
- removing barriers to fish passage on Thornton Creek at Lake City Way
- increasing storm water detention at the Jackson Park Golf Course to control volume and improve water quality in Thornton Creek
- restoring stream channels and adding native vegetation along Longfellow Creek
- adding woody debris to eroding areas in Taylor Creek
- preserving open space adjacent to creeks at Yancy Street in West Seattle and along Thornton Creek
For more information about creek restoration in Seattle, go to www.seattle.gov/mayor.
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Office of the Mayor
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