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Photo
by Mark Pratt-Barlow |
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Like many Puget Sound communities, Redmond's growing urbanization has
resulted in reduced fish and wildlife habitats and has threatened water
quality in our lakes and streams. Wetlands and open stream channels have
been removed as our city has grown. In addition, many areas of the City
were developed before extensive stormwater restoration measures were
required; this resulted in excess flow in downstream channels that in
turn created channel erosion and flooding problems.
Since the late 1960s, a number of landmark federal and state
environmental protection laws such as the
Clean
Water Act, the
Endangered
Species Act (ESA), the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA),
and the
Shoreline
Management Act have been enacted. These laws, all with the purpose
of protecting our natural resources, created a complex and sometimes
overlapping environmental regulatory structure. Examples of the impact
of these laws is the 1999 designation of Puget Sound Chinook salmon and
the bull trout, a close relative of the salmon, as threatened under the
federal Endangered Species Act. Several other fish species are currently
being evaluated for possible consideration of listing under ESA.
In its commitment to protect our fish, wildlife, and their habitat,
Redmond participates in several plans to maximize conservation efforts.
The City is a partner in the regional Water Resources Inventory Area (WRIA)
agreement. The goal of this agreement is to develop a multi-species,
salmon conservation plan that will protect and restore habitat, with the
intent to recover populations of naturally spawning salmon. For further
information on WRIA, please visit their website at
http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wrias/8/. Also,
Redmond's Comprehensive Plan contains goals, policies and procedures for
use in evaluating future decisions, including those involving stormwater
management, land use, conservation and the natural environment, and open
space.
In support of these objectives, the City is currently finalizing a
Wildlife Habitat Plan for Redmond. It is a blueprint for addressing the
habitat needs of Redmond's wildlife and contains information on all
species and habitats in this region. When finalized, the plan will be
available for public viewing.
To learn more about where to find fish, visit our
fish monitoring/viewing page.
To view local wildlife, like the eagles featured in the
above photo, take a stroll around the Sammamish RiverWalk directly
behind City Hall.
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