Cemetery Pond Wetland Protection and Restoration

Please send us your ideas for the Cemetery Pond Stormwater Park

See an update on the Cemetery Pond restoration work and what is included in the 30% design for the stormwater park and wetland restoration in this presentation slide deck.

Do you have ideas for this wetland restoration project? Provide your comments here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TQRGP99.

• What would you like to see at the park for human and animal visitors?
• What public amenities would you like: walking path, a bench or specific place to view wildlife, parking, educational signs, etc.?
• Do you have concerns or questions about this natural wetland area?

Translation and interpreter services are available. Alternative formats available 206-477-4800 or 711 (TTY).

Se dispone de intérpretes. Llame 206-477-4800 o teletipo 711 (TTY).

Our design team is available to attend community meetings, schools, or other events in the broader May Creek and Cemetery Pond wetland areas. Do you have a meeting you'd like us to come to? Invite us to attend at mmcnair@kingcounty.gov.

What is a capital improvement project 30% design?

An initial draft design that shows the major project features to help inform stakeholders on the project and start conversations on how the design can be improved to accommodate all visitors. The design provides a platform to help us discuss the approach with stakeholders like you!

Background

May Creek is a stream where Chinook salmon begin their lives and return to spawn. Chinook salmon are a keystone species; a species that hold together the web of relationships in an ecosystem. They play a critical role in supporting and maintaining ecological health, are key to resident orcas’ diet and in the social fabric of First Nations and tribal culture. Chinook salmon (also known as king salmon) are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Value of restoration and protection

The table below gives examples of why it is important to protect and restore the Cemetery Pond wetland.

Problem	Benefits achieved by restoring the natural wetland
Flooding and pollution	Wetlands filter and trap sediment and pollutants. Wetlands soak up large amounts of water and release water more slowly into downstream systems, keeping streams flowing, and recharging groundwater aquifers Restoring the Cemetery Pond wetland will slow and filter rainwater runoff, making it safer for people, fish and wildlife.
Degraded habitat for salmon and other wildlife	Wetlands provide fish and wildlife habitat. Protecting and restoring streamside vegetation (buffers) on the wetland helps support the food web and improve water quality. By developing a long-term plan to fight invasive species at places like Cemetery Pond wetland, we will protect our investment in this healthy stormwater and habitat system.
Equitable access to greenspace and parks	Everyone in King County deserves access to greenspace in their communities. Green space, parks and restoration areas provide health benefits for human visitors, habitat for animals, and a buffer against climate change. Protection of green spaces promote healthy communities, one of King County’s Clean Water & Healthy Habitat goals.
Climate Change	Protecting and restoring flood resistant ecosystems like wetlands helps protect homes, businesses and other economic infrastructure. Wetlands improve climate change resiliency by absorbing large rainfall events, preserving trees and vegetation and cooling the area around them

Investigation, design, and permitting phase

The County started the site investigation, design, and permitting phase of this effort to protect and restore the wetland in 2022. This phase will improve stormwater management by designing options to remove about two acres of historic fill.

The goal is to expand the wetland and restore required planting buffers while reducing maintenance cost through sustainable design practices and community stewardship.

The existing wetland is approximately 7.6 acres with 5.4 acres of buffer. The project will remove about two acres of fill, depending on the results of community co-design, permitting, and construction funding.

Project goals

• Help restore the wetland. The project will restore the natural functions of soils and native plants that help slow and absorb rainfall, reduce flooding, and provide habitat and green space.
• Provide amenities for the community. During development of the design, the County will work with neighbors and the community on the design of stormwater park amenities for the Cemetery Pond wetland restoration. The project will consider improved public access, and stormwater park amenities (educational signs, benches, waste bins, etc.).
• Create a stewardship plan for long term maintenance of the wetland area. Continued community stewardship will improve habitat by removing invasive species from the wetland and buffer to help native plants thrive and supporting a high-functioning wetland habitat. We welcome participation in the protection, restoration and maintenance of this important wetland.
• Expanded protection through continued property acquisitions with interested landowners. If you are interested in discussing the sale of your property with King County please contact King County Open Space Acquisitions. We are committed to reaching out to neighborhood property owners and other interested partners.

Timeline

Project Benchmark	Community Engagement	Targeted Date
Site Investigation	Community kickoff meeting and Fall work party Spring 2023 work party	October 2022 - March 2023 December 2022 June 10, 2023
30% project design	Design Open House to collect community input Onsite fall 2023 work party Onsite spring 2024 work party	June 2023 August 22, 2023, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. October 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. TBD*
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)	Winter work party Stewardship plan	September 2023 October-December 2023 December 2023
90% project design	Bi-annual onsite work party	April 2024 2024 and ongoing*
Construction (dependent on permitting and funding)		2025-2026

*Announcements for community work parties and design input sessions will be sent through email. Sign up here to get on our email list.

Partnerships

• Key community partners include the Community Alliance to Reach out and Engage (C.A.R.E), a group associated with the Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council organization, other community groups, local residents, and neighbors.
• This project is funded by:
  • Washington State Department of Ecology Stormwater Financial Assistance Program and Centennial Clean Water Program grants
  • King County Transfer of Development Rights (TDR)
  • King County Conservation Futures (CFT)
  • King County Parks Levy
  • King County Department of Local Services Participatory Budget
  • King County Surface Water Management (SWM) Fee
• King County’s Community Investment Budget Committee awarded the Cemetery Pond wetland restoration project $85,000 in funding to support continued acquisitions of the wetland and its buffer, which supported the most recent parcel purchase made in September 2022. This funding added more than an acre to the wetland restoration project site. Learn more about the Community Investment Budget Committee's involvement with this Cemetery Pond project in this video.
• Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8)
• King County Capital Services Unit, Water Quality Capital Program
• The Cedar River, Issaquah Creek Basin Steward, Judy Blanco, works with residents to answer questions about best management practices, regulations, wildlife concerns, land conservation, habitat restoration, and water quality concerns. For more information, email jublanco@kingcounty.gov or call Judy Blanco at 206-263-8445.

We welcome the community’s partnership to advance stewardship of this critical natural resource and will continue reaching out to neighbors to encourage participation in the restoration and maintenance of this wetland.