Status

As of September 2024
Phase: Design

We have started on work to improve habitat for Ballinger Creek and reduce flooding along 25th Avenue NE and NE 195th Street near Ballinger Way NE. A plan for improvements was approved by City Council (see July 31, 2017, staff report):

• Daylight the creek. Ballinger Creek runs through pipes along 25th Avenue NE from Brugger’s Bog Park to NE 195th Street. Daylighting will restore an open channel creek in this area.
• Replace the NE 195th Street Culvert. This culvert is outside of Shoreline but causes flooding in the City. We are working with the State and Lake Forest Park to get it replaced.

60% design plans for the portion of the project in Shoreline and the portion of the project on Lake Forest Park were completed December 2019. Note that this design is subject to further changes as the project advances. 

Since 2019, the project team has been conducting extensive engagement with local, state, and federal agencies to find a shared path forward for this project. Construction for improvements is not scheduled yet. Funding for the work needs to be determined (especially for the portion outside of Shoreline.)

Right now we are working on: 

• Working with the US Army Corps of Engineers for a Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) Section 206 feasibility study to establish if there is federal interest in funding and implementing this project. 
• Continuing discussions with interested groups. Such groups include neighbors, the general public, utilities, and local, state, and federal agencies and other groups.

Completed work includes:

• 25^th Ave NE Flood Reduction Project Final Pre-Design Report Vol I Report and Appendices A-G (288 pages, 81.5 MB).
• 25^th Ave NE Flood Reduction Project Final Pre-Design Report Vol II Appendices H-Q (612 pages, 35.9 MB). 
• Survey and pipe inspections.
• Preliminary hydrologic and hydraulic modeling.
• Draft Critical Areas Report.
• Draft Preliminary Geotechnical Report.
• Early discussions with interested groups.
• Swale construction on NE 195th Street to convey high surface water flows around the culvert.

Overview and History

This project was recommended as a high priority in the Lyon Creek Basin Plan. Our goal is to reduce flooding by improvements to Ballinger Creek, which is currently piped. The project area is along 25th Avenue NE between Brugger’s Bog Park and NE 195th Street.

Since 2001, neighbors and others have reported flooding at least 18 times. Flooding has impacted homes, buildings, yards, driveways, parking, and the 25th Avenue NE roadway and shoulders. Computer models have confirmed actual observations that this area floods about every two years. The most recent major flooding episode was on December 20, 2019, during a large storm event.

Flood plain storage in the City’s North Maintenance Facility (NMF) property will be planned by coordinating with the City Maintenance Facility Project.

Work is currently funded in part by a King County Flood Control District (KCFCD) Flood Reduction Grant as well as the KCFCD Sub-Regional Opportunity Fund.

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