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Cemetery Pond Wetland Protection and Restoration

Formerly known as the May Creek Tributary 291 Stream Basin Retrofit Project.

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!

King County has posted the Environmental Checklist (leer en español) and Determination of Non-Significance and public comments will be accepted through September 16, 2024.

For more information or to submit a comment, contact:

Allison Cook, Project Ecologist 
Alcook@kingcounty.gov
206-477-2101
King County Water and Land Resources Division
201 South Jackson Street, Suite 5600
Seattle, WA 98104-3855

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.

Cemetery pond wetland in October 2022.

Cemetery Pond wetland in October 2022.

As a natural floodplain, May Valley historically experiences periodic flooding. Flooding has worsened in the valley as climate change has made local weather patterns more intense, and development has increased impervious surfaces, increasing stormwater flows to Cemetery Pond and May Creek.

Development activities in May Valley have degraded stream and wetland habitats. Almost every one of the basin’s nearly 80 identified wetlands have been disturbed by deforestation, filling with soil or other material, draining, agricultural practices, or buffer removal. Filling wetlands increases stormwater runoff, peak stream flows, and sediment and pollutant runoff to streams, causing the decline of local habitat. Over time, approximately two acres of the Cemetery Pond wetland area was filled.

Cemetery Pond has a direct influence on water quality and habitat downstream. The 2001 May Creek Basin Action Plan (1.7 MB) recommended enhancing and restoring the Cemetery Pond wetland at the headwaters of May Creek near SE 128th and 165th Ave SE, Renton, WA.

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

Cemetery Pond wetland in December 2022.

Cemetery Pond wetland in December 2022.

King County has acquired properties from interested landowners adjacent to Cemetery Pond. An initial (10%) conceptual design (562 KB) for restoring the wetland areas previously filled for development is available.

Community involvement is fundamental to Cemetery Pond wetland restoration and preservation work.

  • Since 2007, local partners and residents have actively maintained and advocated for Cemetery Pond.
  • In December 2022, volunteers from the Community Alliance to Reach out and Engage (C.A.R.E) and neighbors helped restore habitat by removing invasive weeds in the Cemetery Pond Wetland.
  • For information about getting involved with C.A.R.E maintenance at the Cemetery Pond, contact highlands_neighbors@hotmail.com.

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.
Three people removing noxious weeds with loppers at Cemetery Pond wetland.
Volunteers removing blackberry bushes at the Cemetery Pond project site. 

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

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.

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