Lake Ballinger/McAleer Meeting Will Focus on Culvert Replacement

A presentation on the McAleer Creek Culvert Removal and Stream Bank Enhancement Project is Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Nile Shrine Center, 6601 244th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace.

The presentation is sponsored by the Lake Ballinger/McAleer Creek Watershed Forum. Included will be comments by representatives from the cities of Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace.

Edmonds’ representative is City Councilman D.J. Wilson.

It was in 2004 that several Edmonds residents living on Lake Ballinger grew concerned about the increasing level of the lake after two summer storms. Four years later, an interlocal agreement between neighboring cities was drawn up to address flooding problems.

Seven-two acres of the 107-acre lake is in Mountlake Terrace, with 35 in Edmonds.

In addition to Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace, the organization includes representatives from Snohomish County and Lake Forest Park in King County.

Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace pay for the project and Mountlake Terrace oversees it.

Culverts in McAleer Creek between the Lake Ballinger weir (overflow dam) and I- 5 on the Nile property can restrict flow of the creek during large storm events, contributing to flooding of properties on Lake Ballinger, some of which are in the far southeastern city limits of Edmonds.

The culverts also require regular cleaning and maintenance and can prevent fish passage.

Removal or replacement of up to three culverts along with the addition of stream bank vegetation could reduce the affects of floods for Lake Ballinger, help with fish passage, provide habitat improvements and reduce maintenance needs.

The project requires approval from city, state and federal agencies. Perteet Engineering of Everett will provide habitat restoration and construction.

For more information, contact Mountlake Terrace Stormwater program manager Mike Shaw at 425-670-8264 or Edmonds Stormwater Engineering program manager Jerry Shuster at 425-771-0220.