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Bear Creek Watershed Management Study
The Bear Creek Watershed Management Study report outlines recommendations to restore Bear Creek to existing and designated uses, so that it provides a healthy environment for the community and aquatic species.
The Study of the Bear Creek Basin in the Greater Lake Washington (WRIA 8), formerly referred to as a Watershed-Scale Stormwater Plan, was completed in 2018. The goal of the Study is to link stormwater management and salmon recovery and identify recommendations to ensure hydrologic, water quality, and stream channel habitat conditions fully support existing and designated uses.
Partnership
King County led the planning process in collaboration with Snohomish County, City of Redmond, City of Woodinville, and the Washington State Department of Transportation to develop the Bear Creek Watershed Management Study report.
Goals of the partnership:
- Demonstrate the ability of multiple jurisdictions to collaborate on a watershed basis: Establish multi-jurisdictional partnerships focused on working together to restore Bear Creek.
- Holistically assess existing conditions of in-stream habitat, near-shore buffer integrity, wetlands, and watershed/stormwater characteristics: Look at existing data and studies; initiate the collection of new data; and develop the necessary mapping for accurate watershed characterization.
- Model existing conditions and future conditions: Develop the analytical tools to estimate both hydrologic and water quality issues.
- Model potential solution suites: Identify the land use and stormwater management strategies to achieve established goals for restoring Bear Creek, while recognizing possible economic constraints.
- Collaboratively develop recommendations that transcends jurisdictional boundaries.
- Complete recommendations that are realistic and achievable by all local governments involved.
Study area
For watershed-scale stormwater planning purposes, the Bear Creek watershed is defined as including Bear Creek and lands that drain to Bear Creek, with the following exclusions:
- Evans Creek basin (a tributary to Bear Creek)
- Bear Creek downstream of the confluence to Evans Creek
- Cottage Lake and the area that drains to Cottage Lake.
Project documents
Permit required documents
Note: In 2018, the Bear Creek Watershed-Scale Stormwater Plan was renamed the Bear Creek Watershed Management Study.
- King County submittal letter to Ecology
- Bear Creek Watershed Management Study (10.5 MB)
- APPENDIX A: Prioritization: Water Quality and Quantity Strategies (14.2 MB)
- APPENDIX B: Instream Habitat Project Identification and Prioritization (2.7 MB)
- APPENDIX C: Prioritization: Wetland Strategies (1.5 MB)
- APPENDIX D: Prioritization: Riparian Corridor Strategies (1.0 MB)
- APPENDIX E: Public Engagement Summary (0.3 MB)
- APPENDIX F: Identified Structural Stormwater Strategies for Entire Study Area (0.5 MB)
- APPENDIX G:Potential Strategy Implementation Schedule and Budget (0.5 MB)
- APPENDIX H: Permit Crosswalk (0.4 MB)
- APPENDIX I: Snohomish County Comments (0.3 MB)
- ALL Appendices (20.3 MB)
- Complete report with all appendices (30.3 MB)
- Selection letter of Bear Creek for the Watershed-scale Stormwater Plan (474 KB)
- Coordination Plan for NPDES Phase I & II Bear Creek Watershed-scale Stormwater Plan (859 KB)
- Scope of Work Bear Creek Watershed-scale Stormwater Plan (4.3 MB)
- Letter from Ecology approving the Scope of Work for the Bear Creek Watershed-scale Stormwater Plan (691 KB)
- A Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan for Bear Creek Watershed-Scale Stormwater Plan (2,691 KB)
Technical reports
Specific reports for Bear Creek Watershed-scale Stormwater Plan
- Bear Creek Watershed-Scale Stormwater Plan: Existing Water Quality Conditions (8.0 MB)
- Analysis of Long-term Trends in Bear Creek Water Quality (12.5 MB)
- Assessment of Bear Creek Watershed Riparian Areas (1.6 MB)
- Assessment of Bear Creek Watershed Wetlands (1.3 MB)
- Bear Creek Watershed Juvenile Salmon Habitat Use (6.7 MB)
- Benthic Macroinvertebrate Status and Trends in the Bear Creek Study Are (6.2 MB)
- Stormwater Regulations History and Existing Stormwater Infrastructure in the Bear Creek Watershed (1.7 MB)
- Bear Creek Watershed Modeling report (40.2 MB)
- Scope of Work (2015) for the Bear Creek Watershed-scale Stormwater Plan (4.2 MB)
Workshop documents
Public Meeting #3, March 7, 2018
- Meeting Agenda (0.3 MB)
- Frequently Asked Questions handout (3.1 MB)
- Study summary (3.1 MB)
Presentations
- Bear Creek Watershed Management Study Update (10.6 MB) – Jeff Burkey and Tamie Kellog
Posters
- Bear Creek Watershed informational posters (15.3 MB)
- Four Ways to Restore and Protect the Bear Creek Watershed posters (28.9 MB)
Notes
- Public Meeting #3, Meeting Summary (0.3 MB)
Technical Workshop #2, March 29, 2017
Presentation
- Technical Workshop Overview and Exercises (16.9 MB) – Jeff Burkey
Participant Agenda and Packet
- Technical Workshop Agenda (0.1 MB)
- Participant packet of materials and background (2.1 MB)
Notes
- Technical Workshop Notes (0.4 MB)
Technical Webinar #2, December 12, 2016
Presentations
- Bear Creek Watershed-scale Stormwater Plan - Project Introduction/Overview (5.1 MB) – Jeff Burkey
- Bear Creek Water Quality Assessment (5.1 MB) – Tim Clark and Eric Ferguson
- Macroinvertebrate Diversity in the Bear Creek (5.1 MB) – Steven Brady
- Assessment of Bear Creek Watershed Wetlands (5.1 MB) – Jen Vanderhoof
- Riparian Assessment in Bear Creek (5.1 MB) – Jen Vanderhoof
Notes
Technical Webinar #1, November 15, 2016
Presentations
- Bear Creek Watershed Modeling Approach and Inputs (2.4 MB) – Jeff Burkey & Scott Miller
- Land Use Conditions (2.5 MB) – Jeff Burkey
- Bear Creek: Regulations and existing Stormwater Infrastructure (2.5 MB) – Mark Wilgus
- Juvenile Salmon Habitat Use in Bear Creek (1.2 MB) – Josh Kubo
Notes
Public Meeting #2, October 13, 2016
Agenda and Healthy Watershed handout (1.1 MB)
Presentations
- Bear Creek Watershed-scale Stormwater Management Plan Update (2.5 MB) – Jeff Burkey
- What we've learned about Bear Creek (2.5 MB) – Eric Ferguson
- Solutions "Tool Box" to make Bear Creek Healthy (2.5 MB) – Andy Rheaume
Posters
5 Things to Create a Healthy Watershed
- Natural Streamflow and Good Water Quality
- Habitat for Fish and Animals
- Tracking Progress
- A Solutions Toolbox
- Stewardship and Partners
Notes
- Public Meeting #2, Meeting Summary (0.5 MB)
Public Meeting #1, February 25, 2016
Presentations
- Project Overview & Objectives (9.2 MB) – Jeff Burkey
- Existing Conditions, Modeling, Strategies & Implementation (5.6 MB) – Jeff Burkey
Posters
- What's a watershed? (4.0 MB)
- Study Area of Bear Creek Watershed-Scale Stormwater Plan (7.7 MB)
- Stormwater conveyance, existing conditions, future landuse, and Onsite Site Septic systems map within Bear Creek Plan study area (16.1 MB)
- Wetland mapping within the Bear Creek study area (0.9 MB)
- Habitat mapping sites within the Bear Creek study area (3.3 MB)
- Salmon distribution mapping within the Bear Creek study area (2.7 MB)
- Modeling overview of Bear Creek Watershed-Scale Stormwater Plan (0.7 MB)
Notes
- Public Meeting #1, Meeting Summary (0.3 MB)
Technical Workshop #1, November 04, 2015
Presentations
- Project Overview & Objectives (1.1 MB) – Jeff Burkey
- Existing Conditions Assessment (1.0 MB) – Eric Ferguson
- Modeling Framework (0.8 MB) – Olivia Wright
- Strategies Under Consideration (0.4 MB) – Andy Rheaume
Posters
- Project Public Involvement Schedule (0.6 MB)
- Project Milestones (0.2 MB)
- Study Area of Bear Creek Watershed-Scale Stormwater Plan (4.1 MB)
- Existing Data within the Bear Creek study area (2.5 MB)
- Stormwater conveyance, landuse plan zoning, fish use, and 303D listed stream segments within Bear Creek Plan study area (1.8 MB)
- Modeling overview of Bear Creek Watershed-Scale Stormwater Plan (0.7 MB)
Notes