Story and photo by Doug Petrowski
MLTnews.com

The Mountlake Terrace City Council gave its OK last week to a Special Substantial Development Permit that allows the city to build a new vehicle bridge/culvert for McAleer Creek at the Nile Shriners Golf Course. If the project gets final approval from the U.S. Department of Ecology and Army Corps of Engineers, construction could begin next summer, with completion slated in September.

The 30-foot concrete box bridge/culvert would replace the current roadway over the creek that sits in between the third green and fourth tee of the golf course.

The City of Mountlake Terrace Public Works Stormwater Division initiated the project to allow for a freer flow of water through McAleer Creek, enhance fish passage through the area and minimize stream maintenance. Cost of the project is $880,024 ($155,024 for design and $725,000 for construction) and would be funded by the city’s Storm Water Fund.

“Since it’s within our municipal boundaries, the city will be paying for the construction,” City Manager John Caulfield explained at the City Council’s Nov. 1 work/study meeting.

“It’s a good project; it’s something that needs to be done,” said City Councilmember Doug McCardle. The council approved the permit unanimously.

Once in place, the larger culvert should allow for storm water from Lake Ballinger to flow down McAleer Creek without backing up and flooding portions of the Nile golf course upstream and the shoreline around the lake, said Caulfield.

“The people who live along the water should see a difference,” added Council member Kyoko Wright Matsumoto.

“This project is going to be highly beneficial to our citizens and the neighboring communities,” said Councilmember Rick Ryan.

Some believe the project will also result in an increase in the salmon population in the Lake Ballinger watershed. “McAleer Creek and Lake Ballinger provide Coho salmon breeding areas in the currents, so I’m wondering if this will help with that,” Ryan said. “Maybe we can start a new industry or sporting event in Mountlake Terrace and capture some people who would like to come (fish for) Chinook, steelhead and Coho salmon. Maybe not in my lifetime, but maybe on and on this is going to be a great thing for the environment.”

The project is on somewhat of a tight schedule since the state only allows construction over McAleer Creek during specific time frames. “The project schedule anticipates design and permitting by the end of 2012 to early 2013, with construction beginning in July 2013 and completion by September 2013, which is the construction window authorized by Department of Fish and Wildlife to work in creeks and streams,” said Caulfield.

The replacement of two smaller bridge/culverts downstream over McAleer Creek at the Nile Golf Course is also in the works. New construction would replace existing bridges currently used by golfers, golf carts and course maintenance vehicles, and enlarge the size of the creek culverts at those bridges.