First it was Perrinville Creek and now it is Shell Creek that is losing its natural functions and salmon habitat — this time because of neglect and inaction by city administration in Edmonds’ Yost Park.
In the case of Perrinville Creek, the loss of salmon is due to both inaction to implement a watershed restoration plan (as promised by Mayor Nelson in a press release over two years ago), and an apparent illegal action the city took in January 2021 to totally block salmon access to Perrinville Creek.
Shell Creek, which starts in Yost Park and flows to Caspers Street and then out to Puget Sound on Cary Road, has a struggling natural population of both coho and chum salmon that spawn in the creek each year. Their survival in this creek, like many other urban streams, is dependent on municipal actions to properly manage excess stormwater flows and take necessary action when excess flows cause damage to stream habitat.
And now the mayor is repeating the Perrinville Creek salmon disaster in Shell Creek by allowing his staff to continue to delay action (requested well over a year ago) on a potential hillside collapse and serious erosion problem at an old weir at the west end of Yost Park. Prior to a heavy rainstorm in December 2020 that sent a torrent of stormwater into Yost Park, Shell Creek flowed over the top of an old Yost Water Company weir at the west end of Yost Park, creating a picturesque waterfall. The December 2020 rainstorm flow not only cracked a section of the concrete weir downward, but it changed the creek channel to flow around one side of the weir with the eroding force of the water against a hillside. Now, two-and-a-half years later, the creek has eroded the hillside to the point where the underside of the roots of large trees are exposed threatening tree falls and hillside collapse. And, with respect to salmon survival, this eroded sediment has been depositing downstream covering the gravel where salmon spawn.
Salmon require cool, oxygenated water and clean gravel to lay their eggs in. The lower reaches of Shell Creek used to have all three of these required conditions. Salmon surveys conducted annually by the Edmonds Stream Team since 2016 indicate much of the lower reach spawning gravel in Shell Creek is being covered by sediment with few or no salmon present in areas where they spawned in past.
In spite of the fact that the Edmonds City Council amended the 2023 budget to provide funding specifically for addressing the erosion issue at this weir in Yost Park, city administration has done nothing but put up bureaucratic obstacles and refused to implement the 2023 budget as directed by the city council. And now, city administration’s excuse for inaction (and killing salmon eggs) will likely be the ‘window’ for working in-stream closes on Sept. 15.
I’ve made the impacts on salmon in Shell Creek known to both the parks and development services directors by telling them that “those salmon eggs that die this coming winter due to sediment will be on your shoulders.” The mayor, as usual, has not responded to public concerns, but he did ban city staff from attending any further meetings on resolving the Yost Park problem.
I can only hope the current mayor wakes up to the fact that his lack of leadership and lack of supervision of his department directors is killing our salmon.
— By Joe Scordino
Joe Scordino is the project leader of the Edmonds Stream Team.
Thank you for informing the public about this. What can be done to help?
Shouldn’t the parks director be all over the Yost Park issue? She must have a lot on her plate!
Thank you Joe. If one wants to know …. follow Joe!! He’s the voice of salmon habitat and estuary environment in our area!!
ALL must SUPPORT this important issue.
Joe,
Thank you for your continued volunteering support to all our streams.
Yes – all of our watersheds are stressed and need immediate attention considering the geomorphic events occurring these last three years.
More importantly the ARPA money spent for the Civic Field mitigation to build that infiltration system at Yost is untested and maybe problematic with ground water saturation. A hydrology review should occur at that weir section.
But, on a side note – the fact that the Mayor excluded me and scientists from the Perrinville Creek discussion with Rep Larsen regarding that watershed is confusing and disrespectful at best. I’m not a scientist, but have sat on the WRIA Grant funding committee for more than eight years and have read more than 200+ grant proposals.
The pipe that is salmon bearing for Perrinville Creek is plugged with rocks and debris and needs to be cleaned out now! And since the City “plugged” the upstream creek so that it empties into two detentions vaults salmon can’t jump that structure. More importantly, it’s a dangerous liability to City workers that have to keep them clear when these extreme weather events occur.
Restoration techniques are needed.
At the Aug. 22 City Council meeting, Councilmember Dave Teitzel read off 11 “essential items” on the City’s list of near-term priorities. Number 6 is “establish plans to restore our watersheds and estuaries (including Perrinville Creek, Shell Creek, the Edmonds Marsh estuary, etc) to support healthy salmon populations and enhance public enjoyment of these spaces.”
I think CM Teitzel got it exactly right. The City of Edmonds needs to focus on essentials for a while~ get those under control before venturing off on speculative new projects, especially one as risky and expensive as the Burlington property.
Fixing Shell Creek in Yost Park is clearly one of those essential City priorities. Joe Scordino has defined the problem in vivid detail. I hope it gets the attention it deserves before the next heavy rainstorm.
This is so sad and infuriating. The Mayor’s approach ,which is preventing the City staff from attending further meeting on solving the Shell Creek problem, is typical of his approach to governing. He has his ideas about how things should be done and doesn’t want to hear any dissenting opinions. I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t problem resolved.
Thanks so much Joe. Keep up the good work.
Bob
Let su s know how we can help Joe.. thank you for your efforts in saving salmon.
It does not help the erosion problem in Yost Park when mountain bikers are allowed to skid down the park’s steep trails and build their own ramps, berms, and new trails, or when groups of children are allowed to play in the sand (at the site of Mr. Scordino’s photograph), or to wear down the forest floor in other places to expose bare earth, thus exacerbating the erosion. I’ve attempted to bring some of these and other matters to the attention of Parks and Recreation and City Council. At best, there has been brief, quasi-earnest hand-wringing, but then only the sound of the can being kicked down the road. Over the years, I’ve witnessed significant degradation of Yost Park. Does any park employee ever walk the trails to carefully inspect what’s going on, to conduct longitudinal studies of various impacts? Or even to solicit and pay attention to anecdotal information from regular park visitors? (I have photographed these impacts, but not sure how to share them here).
Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson is up for reelection in November. It shocks me he is so politically deaf, out of step, and unresponsive to what so many local residents and Edmonds citizens see as important local issues.
This is one of them.
We are fortunate beyond words to have Joe Scordint actively working these issues and organizing volunteers to do this important work both effectively and efficiently.
We desperately need timely engagement with the City of Edmonds government.
Nelson has been a disaster.
I want to echo Mr. Barnes’ comments. The pandemic exponentially increased human activity in Yost park contributing to erosion, destruction of the natural landscape and degradation of the trails and understory. Responsible use and protection of this natural resource is critical to its continued survival and maintenance as an urban wildlife oasis. Please pay attention and protect our park.
If Joe speaks we should all listen! If what he says needs added information he is the first to listen, access and adjust. Thanks Joe!
I have heard Joe talk about Perrinville at an ECRT discussion about WF issues so the problems were well identified and solutions offered. Those solutions made the budget to the tune of $2m. Elected often hope for grants but can allocate our own funds if they choose. $2m is about $100/household. It was budgeted and then pulled. Why? Probably not because the plan was flawed but because we did not have the money. Yost Park faces the same issue. We do not have the money.
In our personal lives and our professional lives, we often do things which appear to be dumb but are actually driven not enough money to meet all of our obligations. Perrinville, council approved the budget that removed the money. Council with a budget amendment funded Yost? Who on council voted for removing Perrinville and adding for Yost? Something smells “fishy” here. Can any CM help us understand the money side of all this?
I would guess some or all know the answer, but will they share it with us?
We are told we have to look 50 to 100 years down the road for a greater Edmonds, while we ignore, or sweep under the rug, things that may be a huge problem in a matter weeks. I don’t know much, but I do know we can’t continue managing our city business the way we have been for the past 20 years; always choosing to go after the next tourist attracting and business promoting shining object. People who run their personal finances like this eventually go broke and a city is no different.
Our greatest assets as a town are the natural things – the Marsh, the Creeks, Yost Park, and location on the Waterfront of the Salish Sea. We spend our money over promoting the fine arts and the entertainment business, while short changing the wonderful natural things we are so blessed with. When you value a man made picture of a salmon stream more than the real thing itself, you have a problem with your values and knowing whats really important.
It’s time to #DropTheMike Nelson
He lies and doesn’t keep his word…as evident per Salmon survival
Our environmental health is going down hill, increased population means more strain on the environment Puget sound is slowly dying we have problems with our sewer treatment our stormwater runoff but let’s put our attention on increasing population density and hwy 99 land development projects and 20 mile trails and upgrading to electric vehicles. The current city mayor and administration have their priorities all backwards if they are looking forward toward a sustainable environment
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the current state of Shell Creek and the evident lack of action to implement a watershed restoration plan, despite the promises made two years ago. It is disheartening to see history repeating itself, as the damage we witnessed at Perrinville Creek is now occurring at Shell Creek due to the inaction. The health of our local waterways and ecosystems is of paramount importance, not only for the environment but also for the well-being of our community members. The promise of a watershed restoration plan was a commitment to preserve and protect these natural resources for future generations. However, the absence of concrete steps to fulfill this commitment has resulted in further environmental degradation and negative consequences for our community. It is my sincere hope that you recognize the urgency of this situation and take immediate action to rectify the ongoing issues at Shell Creek. By implementing a comprehensive watershed restoration plan, we can work towards mitigating the damage already done and preventing further deterioration.
Great points Steve.
Mayor Nelson, you are truly amazing. In an election year, you have not only managed to antagonize a large portion of the Edmonds community(left, right and center) but you have really energized the fishing community, both Edmonds residents and those who live in close enough proximity to understand what you are are not interested in the environment, conservation or the fisheries.
Every Mayor and administration, since at least 2006 when I became involved in Edmonds politics, has prioritized development over protection of our critical areas. Mayor Nelson and his staff have taken this to a new level of disrespect of Council budgetary authority, of citizen activists, and of our environmental assets.
Joe Scordino has spent years and enumerable hours advocating for our watersheds, coordinating restoration of the Marsh, educating our elected officials, in an effort to influence city administrations to take better care of our natural resources. It’s doubtful Mayor Nelson will wake “up to the fact that his lack of leadership and lack of supervision of his department directors is killing our salmon.”
This is “sad and infuriating” as Mr. Chaffee said earlier, as is the ongoing failure of Nelson and his department directors to spend funds as allocated by Council. Instead, they focus on projects that Edmonds can not afford to pursue.
Candidate Mike Rosen, please outline your stance on these critical environmental issues threatening our streams and salmon health.