Bellevue Watershed Management Plan
Bellevue’s streams, lakes and wetlands breathe life into our city – offering space for us to connect, learn and appreciate our natural surroundings. Bellevue has more than 80 miles of streams that are home to salmon and many other types of fish and wildlife.
As our city grows, we need to act to protect our waterways. The City of Bellevue is developing a 20-year Watershed Management Plan to improve the health of our streams for people and wildlife.
We need your input to develop an effective plan. You can get involved and help make an impact on our stream health in a few ways:
Sign up for email updates to learn about upcoming engagement opportunities
Bellevue’s streams, lakes and wetlands breathe life into our city – offering space for us to connect, learn and appreciate our natural surroundings. Bellevue has more than 80 miles of streams that are home to salmon and many other types of fish and wildlife.
As our city grows, we need to act to protect our waterways. The City of Bellevue is developing a 20-year Watershed Management Plan to improve the health of our streams for people and wildlife.
We need your input to develop an effective plan. You can get involved and help make an impact on our stream health in a few ways:
Sign up for email updates to learn about upcoming engagement opportunities
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Watch our video
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What is a "watershed"?
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkA watershed is an area of land that drains to a body of water that includes streams, lakes, and wetlands. Ultimately, what happens on the land in our watersheds impacts the health and water quality of our waterways.
As the map below shows, Bellevue is home to four major watersheds that include a diverse variety of fish and other wildlife.
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Why do we need a Watershed Management Plan?
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkBellevue has more than 80 miles of streams that are home to salmon and many other types of fish and wildlife.
Bellevue’s landscape has changed dramatically in the past 150 years, from forests and farmland to a bustling city. Growing our thriving communities has affected the health of our waterways and the fish and wildlife who call them home.
How do our actions impact our watersheds?
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More pollution enters our streams from stormwater. Stormwater is rainwater that runs off hard surfaces like rooftops, paved streets, highways, and parking lots. When rain falls over these surfaces, it picks up pollutants like fertilizers, soap, oil, and dirt. This polluted stormwater flows into storm drains and can harm streams, lakes and wetlands.
- Natural surfaces filter water and help prevent stormwater from entering streams. Too much stormwater running into streams from hard surfaces, even if it’s not carrying pollution, can erode stream banks and harm fish and wildlife habitat.
What happens in our watersheds impacts the water quality and habitat conditions of Lake Sammamish and Lake Washington, and ultimately, our Puget Sound.
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More pollution enters our streams from stormwater. Stormwater is rainwater that runs off hard surfaces like rooftops, paved streets, highways, and parking lots. When rain falls over these surfaces, it picks up pollutants like fertilizers, soap, oil, and dirt. This polluted stormwater flows into storm drains and can harm streams, lakes and wetlands.
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What actions will the plan recommend?
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe Watershed Management Plan will recommend actions for the City to help improve the health of our waterways.
These types of actions could include:
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Projects, such as controlling and treating rainwater runoff from city streets before it gets into streams.
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Programs, like helping people who live near streams to better care for them and removing barriers so fish can move easily through our streams.
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Policies or regulations, such as incentives for developers or homeowners to build facilities to clean runoff before it gets into streams.
- Enhanced maintenance, like more street sweeping to prevent pollutants from entering streams.
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Projects, such as controlling and treating rainwater runoff from city streets before it gets into streams.
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What can you do to help?
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkWe need the help of our residents, businesses, and community partners to develop an effective plan that will help us improve our streams now and in the future.
Here are some of the ways you can get involved over the next year, as the plan is being developed:
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Learn more about the project on this website - and watch our short video!
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Take our short survey by September 30 to help us plan for healthier streams.
- Learn more about upcoming events and sign up for email updates.
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Learn more about the project on this website - and watch our short video!
Who's Listening
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Environmental Project Planner
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Utilities Planning Manager
EL
Important Links
Project Timeline
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April - September 2019
Bellevue Watershed Management Plan has finished this stageProject workplan developed and project begins
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March 2020
Bellevue Watershed Management Plan has finished this stageProject toolbox to address stream health issues developed
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Summer 2021
Bellevue Watershed Management Plan is currently at this stageCommunity briefings and public engagement on Watershed Management Plan effort begins
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Fall 2021
this is an upcoming stage for Bellevue Watershed Management PlanAll Watershed Assessment Reports completed
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Fall 2021
this is an upcoming stage for Bellevue Watershed Management PlanWatershed prioritization completed
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Summer 2022
this is an upcoming stage for Bellevue Watershed Management PlanPhase 2 of Community Engagement on proposed investment plan and regulatory policy changes (Draft Watershed Management Plan completed)
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Fall 2022
this is an upcoming stage for Bellevue Watershed Management PlanIncorporate community feedback into Plan
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Winter 2022
this is an upcoming stage for Bellevue Watershed Management PlanFinal Watershed Management Plan complete
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The City of Bellevue assures that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or sex as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and related statutes, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any City of Bellevue program or activity. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated may file a complaint with the ADA/Title VI Administrator. For Title VI complaint forms and advice, please contact the ADA/Title VI Administrator at 425-452-6168.
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For alternate formats, interpreters, or reasonable accommodation requests please phone at least 48 hours in advance 425-452-6168 (voice) or email bamson@bellevuewa.gov. For complaints regarding accommodations, contact City of Bellevue ADA/Title VI Administrator at 425-452-6168 (voice) or email ADATitleVI@bellevuewa.gov. If you are deaf or hard of hearing dial 711. All meetings are wheelchair accessible.