Tonight SUBA Meeting

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) published this information in a recent newsletter: 

SUBA Annual Meeting November 17tt (Zoom )

Save Union Bay Association (SUBA);s Annual Meeting will provide an update on the progress made in the past year managing invasive aquatic plants in Union Bay. A representative from Aquatechnex will describe the treatments used, the outcomes, and the plans for 2023. There will also be reports on other SUBA business.  For questions, please email Susan Holliday, president, SUBA Board of Directors, at saveunionbayassn@ gmail.com or  go here. 

Several yeras ago LCC commended (SUBA) for their 47 years stewardship of the waters in Union Bay saying:    

With its active programs, SUBA has effectively restored the quality of water in the bay over these past six years through various applications of environmentally safe, in-water and targeted herbicide treatments.  

Since the new treatment plans were implemented, Union Bay waters have been clear, safe, and milfoil free, even as warmer climates have created toxic conditions elsewhere in the area. There were no reported toxic blooms in Union Bay in 2017, and recreational water users – swimmers, kayakers and boaters have seen a vast improvement in their ability to navigate through clearer water throughout the summer. Fish habitat continues to be enhanced, and their ability to thrive is central to the health of the entire ecosystem in Puget Sound.  

SUBA’s on-going methods to reduce the non-native water lilies is also critical as it provides more natural light and open waters that native fish need for navigation. LCC supports the work of SUBA in its next new multi-year grant cycle for these treatment programs from the Washington State Department of Ecology, the State Department of Natural Resources, and its partnering with the University of Washington Athletics and student activities programs for the in-water maintenance.  

LCC also commends the more than $20,000 in donations by SUBA’s members, primarily Laurelhurst shoreline homeowners, that are used to co-pay for these treatments, benefiting all public users of Union Bay.  

LCC also supports SUBA’s work in protecting Union Bay from other harmful impacts, such as those from the new SR520 bridge replacement. SUBA’s efforts to prevent harmful open barging of toxic waste debris, halt the non-permitted dredging and the attempt to increase night time noise variance have worked to protect the most vulnerable wildlife species, and the humans whose habitat is Union Bay.  

SUBA’s resource of the Aqua Technex in-water maps that identify locations of the invasive weeds for both current, and future records of Union Bay is a public asset. They are especially important for documenting potential adverse impacts from the construction of the new SR520 bridge.  

LCC supports the request from SUBA to WSDOT that additional mitigation may be needed for the removal of any new invasive in-water plants brought in by the SR520 construction processes of the West Approach Bridge North (WABN), and its remaining phases, and will partner on those efforts.  

Many thanks to SUBA president Susan Holliday, board members Steve Sultzbacher, John Impert, John Jacobs, and Colleen McAleer, and members for all you do for the restoration and continued vitality of Union Bay, and its efforts to protect its delicate ecosystem. SUBA is a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization.  

Please support matching funds for this important work. Send tax-deductible donations to: SUBA Treasurer Steve Sulzbacher, 4115 Surber Drive NE, Seattle, WA 98105

The Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA) is an undeveloped, 74-acre nature reserve and outdoor research laboratory on the north end of Lake Washington’s Union Bay, which provides publicly accessible wildlife habitat (more than 200 bird species have been sighted).

For many years, the land served as Seattle’s largest garbage dump, the Montlake Fill. After the landfill was closed in 1966, work began to restore the site to a more natural environment. The land, just east of the University of Washington (UW) campus, is now owned by the University and managed by the College of the Environment.  

Go here for more information.

Recent Study Conducted On Expanding Passenger-Only Ferry Service On Lake Washington and Union Bay

 

The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) has finalized its feasibility study of passenger-only ferry service to expand service on Puget Sound, Lake Union and Lake Washington.

The study looked at 45 potential routes and then identified seven routes for more detailed evaluation.

The proposed stops on Lake Washington under consideration are:

• Kenmore – University of Washington
• Lake Washington & Lake Union
• Kirkland – University of Washington
• Renton – University of Washington
• Renton – South Lake Union

PSRC's year-long study looked at potential routes and terminals, ridership demand, operational costs and possible electric fleet of ferries.  

Here is some information from the study:

Findings:

• On some routes, passenger-only ferry service would offer advantages over land-based transportation, including more direct connections and potentially faster service than comparable modes.
• Ferry service would strengthen the transportation resiliency of the region for both scheduled travel and response/recovery in an emergency event such as an earthquake.
• The marine operating environment presents unique planning considerations, including tribal treaty rights, confined waterways, sensitive habitat and marine mammal protection.
• There is a potentially large number of routes with a destination in Seattle. Work will need to be done to plan for Seattle terminal(s) with capacity to meet demand, whether on Puget Sound or any of the lake routes.
• Electrification potential of passenger ferries will continue to improve over time, with leaps being made in low and zero emissions technologies every year.. 

Here is a recent article from the Puget Sound Business Journal:  

Study identifies 7 potential foot-ferry routes for Puget Sound area

The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) last month released the results of its yearlong study examining potential passenger-only ferry routes in the area. The feasibility study narrowed the list of potential routes from 45 to seven: Tacoma-Seattle, Bellingham-Friday Harbor, Whidbey Island-Everett, Kenmore-University of Washington, Kirkland-UW, Renton-UW, and Renton-South Lake Union.

"This study was conducted at a conceptual planning level across a wide geographic area, limited to travel between the 12 counties that border Puget Sound," the report read. "Community engagement was a priority of this study, with engagement activities beginning early and continuing throughout the entire study process."

The study looked at a variety of criteria when evaluating the routes, including travel time savings, ridership potential, community interest and operational considerations. Although PSRC identified potential routes, the study is merely a starting point according to the agency. PSRC noted actual implementation would require service providers like transit agencies, local governments and private companies to develop the routes.

According to the report, Kirkland-UW would be the most-used route, with almost 148,000 riders per year. The route would cost a little more than $1.8 million to operate annually. The Kenmore-UW route, meanwhile, would host almost 130,000 riders and cost over $2 million to operate annually. Both routes would save riders about 15 minutes compared with a bus, according to PSRC.

The study noted that the potential Tacoma-Seattle route would take about 55 minutes and would need frequent service to meet demand. PSRC said the fleet would need two boats and a spare, creating an expensive upfront investment hurdle. Total annual operating costs would be close to $4.3 million annually and service over 73,000 riders per year.

For more information go here.  

Union Bay Water Deemed Safe

The Laurelhurst Blog received this information from Seattle Public Utilities regarding the possibly contaminated water at Union Bay:

SPU received word today that it is safe to resume water activities. Results back this morning from the latest water samples show that it’s safe to swim and pursue other water activities.

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) also told the Laurelhurst Blog:

LCC spoke with the SPU incident response team today, and the test results are "zero, zero and a minimal amount of animal bacteria" that is normal from local birds (all those geese). They tested the area and the pumping station system twice and now considered all clear and safe for any use. 

No "official" report has been posted yet on what happened.  Their "best guess" is that the pumping station overflowed, which triggered the SPU alarm. Around that same time, there was an isolated heavy rain shower centered around Union Bay/South Laurelhurst. Likely, it caused a rush of runoff water which caused an overcapacity situation for the localized pumping station.  

All is good now, so enjoy the weekend in, and on the waters of Union Bay.

Save Union Bay Association (SUBA) also reported that they had a meeting with SPU several days ago regarding the sewer overflow which dumped into Union Bay. Their tests, at the time, revealed contaminated seepage. SPU recommended to SUBA that homeowners and Union Bay users not swim until the bacteria was back to acceptable levels. 

SUBA added "Too much development they fear, with old infrastructure that does not have the capacity to handle the extra sewer flows."

Seattle Public Utilities reported yesterday to the Laurelhurst Blog that their crews responded to a sewer overflow on July 15th about midnight in the neighborhood.

SPU added that the "sewer pump station located in the 3000 Block of West Laurelhurst Drive NE was inundated with water to a point where the two pumps could not keep up. Tis caused a release of wastewater though an overflow pipe to nearby Union Bay for about thirty minutes." 

SPU crews took samples at Union Bay yesterday and had advised that neighbors avoid water contact in the area of the overflow until samples were analyzed.

Kudos and Appreciation for SUBA Achievements

The  Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) newsletter published this information in a recent newsletter

Kudos and Appreciation for SUBA Achievements

LCC commends Save Union Bay Association (SUBA) for their 47 years stewardship of the waters in Union Bay. With its active programs, SUBA has effectively restored the quality of water in the bay over these past six years through various applications of environmentally safe, in-water and targeted herbicide treatments.  

Since the new treatment plans were implemented, Union Bay waters have been clear, safe, and milfoil free, even as warmer climates have created toxic conditions elsewhere in the area. There were no reported toxic blooms in Union Bay in 2017, and recreational water users – swimmers, kayakers and boaters have seen a vast improvement in their ability to navigate through clearer water throughout the summer. Fish habitat continues to be enhanced, and their ability to thrive is central to the health of the entire ecosystem in Puget Sound.  

SUBA’s on-going methods to reduce the non-native water lilies is also critical as it provides more natural light and open waters that native fish need for navigation. LCC supports the work of SUBA in its next new multi-year grant cycle for these treatment programs from the Washington State Department of Ecology, the State Department of Natural Resources, and its partnering with the University of Washington Athletics and student activities programs for the in-water maintenance.  

LCC also commends the more than $20,000 in donations by SUBA’s members, primarily Laurelhurst shoreline homeowners, that are used to co-pay for these treatments, benefiting all public users of Union Bay.  

LCC also supports SUBA’s work in protecting Union Bay from other harmful impacts, such as those from the new SR520 bridge replacement. SUBA’s efforts to prevent harmful open barging of toxic waste debris, halt the non-permitted dredging and the attempt to increase night time noise variance have worked to protect the most vulnerable wildlife species, and the humans whose habitat is Union Bay.  

SUBA’s resource of the Aqua Technex in-water maps that identify locations of the invasive weeds for both current, and future records of Union Bay is a public asset. They are especially important for documenting potential adverse impacts from the construction of the new SR520 bridge.  

LCC supports the request from SUBA to WSDOT that additional mitigation may be needed for the removal of any new invasive in-water plants brought in by the SR520 construction processes of the West Approach Bridge North (WABN), and its remaining phases, and will partner on those efforts.  

Many thanks to SUBA president Susan Holliday, board members Steve Sultzbacher, John Impert, John Jacobs, and Colleen McAleer, and members for all you do for the restoration and continued vitality of Union Bay, and its efforts to protect its delicate ecosystem. SUBA is a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization.  

Please support matching funds for this important work. Send tax-deductible donations to: SUBA Treasurer Steve Sulzbacher, 4115 Surber Drive NE, Seattle, WA 98105

The Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA) is an undeveloped, 74-acre nature reserve and outdoor research laboratory on the north end of Lake Washington’s Union Bay, which provides publicly accessible wildlife habitat (more than 200 bird species have been sighted).

For many years, the land served as Seattle’s largest garbage dump, the Montlake Fill. After the landfill was closed in 1966, work began to restore the site to a more natural environment. The land, just east of the University of Washington (UW) campus, is now owned by the University and managed by the College of the Environment.  

Go here for more information and to join SUBA email saveunionbayassn@gmail.com.

Donate Now To Help With Reducing Noxious Weeds At Union Bay

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) recently included this information in their newsletter:

Save Union Bay Association

Now in its 47th year, the Laurelhurst nonprofit, Save Union Bay Association (SUBA) will soon survey the conditions in Union Bay and apply targeted treatments to reduce noxious weeds.  

The Invasive Weed Management Program is effective by partnering SUBA with matching funds from the University of Washington, grant money from the Department of Ecology, and environmentally safe supplies from the Department of Natural Resources. These funds are used to treat invasive weeds in the bay, making the water safer and clear for recreational use.  

The in-water treatments occur mid-May and mid-July, and sometimes in August for invasive non-native water lilies that choke out sunlight from water pathways of local fish, including juvenile salmon.  

SUBA will pay more than $28,000 for this work to benefit all residents who use Union Bay. SUBA, a 501(c)3 organization, depends on neighbors’ matching funds to perform this water quality clean up from invasive weeds.  

Please send your 100 percent tax-deductible donations to: SUBA Treasurer, 4115 NE Surber Drive, Seattle, WA 98105.

The Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA) is an undeveloped, 74-acre nature reserve and outdoor research laboratory on the north end of Lake Washington’s Union Bay, which provides publicly accessible wildlife habitat (more than 200 bird species have been sighted).

For many years, the land served as Seattle’s largest garbage dump, the Montlake Fill. After the landfill was closed in 1966, work began to restore the site to a more natural environment. The land, just east of the University of Washington (UW) campus, is now owned by the University and managed by the College of the Environment.  

Save Union Bay Public Meeting Tonight

Tonight at 6:30pm  the Save Union Bay Association (SUBA) will host a public meeting at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture (3501 NE 41st Street in Laurelhurst) to discuss aquatic plant management strategies and review the draft plan for Union Bay. Public comments will also be taken.

"Save Union Bay Association (SUBA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the environment and ecology of this shallow bay and surrounding wetlands, parkland and developed property," their website says.


It was organized in 1970 to deal with milfoil problems. Currently the group's projects include invasive wildlife and plant management.

Union Bay is located at the western edge of Lake Washington where the Montlake Cut connects Lake Washington with Portage Bay and Lake Union.

"It is anticipated that Union Bay will be significantly affected in the coming decade by SR520 construction projects," the SUBA website says as 520 runs across Union Bay near the UW Arboretum. 

Here is information sent to us by Susan from the Association about tonight's meeting:

Representatives from the Association's consulting firm, Herrera Environmental Consultants, will review the different management strategies that were studied; discuss the preferred method to reduce invasive aquatic weeds in Union Bay and receive public comments.

A description of the preferred strategy is posted on the website  http://saveunionbay.org. 

Union Bay suffers from an infestation of non-native aquatic plants including milfoil, elodea, curly leafed pondweed, and white waterlily. This vegetation, covering 90% of the available plant habitat in the bay, impedes boat navigation and swimming; impairs habitat for salmonid migration; and reduces feeding access for eagles and diving ducks.


Save Union Bay Association and Seattle Public Utilities received a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology to develop a plan to reduce invasive aquatic plant coverage within strategic areas while protecting native aquatic plants and wildlife.

Public comments must be received by October 15th and can be emailed to saveunionbayassn@gmail.com.

Or mail to:
Herrera Consultants ATTN: Save Union Bay Association
2200 6th Ave Suite 1100
Seattle, WA 98121-1820
 
(photo courtesy of SUBA website)