Little Bear Creek Stormwater Mgmt. Action Plan (SMAP)

Background and Purpose

In 2017, Snohomish County’s Conservation & Natural Resources, Surface Water Management (SWM) Division completed a Little Bear Creek Basin Plan (Water Quality Study) as part of the county’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit requirement. 

As a next step, the NPDES permit requires SWM to identify stormwater management actions (programs and projects) and identify land management/development strategies, known as the Little Bear Creek Stormwater Management Action Plan (SMAP). In anticipation of this requirement, SWM began drainage and in-stream improvement studies to identify potential future project opportunities. 

Little Bear Creek SMAP Timeline

Click on the image below to enlarge.

Draft Action Plan 

The draft Little Bear Creek Stormwater Management Action Plan (SMAP) with Appendix A is provided here at the links below for input, feedback, and comments. Instructions for comments are given below.

• Draft Little Bear Creek Stormwater Management Action Plan (SMAP)
• Appendix A   

Input and comments on the SMAP can be submitted by December 1st through the online survey at the link below

• Survey

Or send comments by December 1st directly to:

Arthur Lee

SWM Project Specialist IV

arthur.lee@snoco.org 

425-388-3812

Projects that Benefit Little Bear Creek 

Several Snohomish County projects that may benefit the Little Bear Creek water quality include:

• Cutthroat Creek Habitat Project: In 2022, this project will restore 1,100 feet of stream habitat and re-establish natural riparian vegetation for coho populations as well as Chinook salmon and steelhead. 
•  /6008 High-Efficiency Sweepers: Specialty vehicles used in the Little Bear Creek basin area by Public Works Road Maintenance crews to remove toxins in the roadways before they drift into the waterways of the Little Bear Creek basin.
• Bioswale Retrofit Project: Located in the upper Little Bear Creek watershed, in the Silver Firs subdivision. This project will improve the water quality function of an existing bioswale for a detention pond facility.

Potential Priority Projects Map

 Click below to open the interactive map.

Public Engagement

The Little Bear Creek Basin is approximately 8,550 acres or 13.4 square miles and located east of the cities of Bothell and Mill Creek and north of the City of Woodinville. The basin area has more than 5,000 households and is an important resource for fish, recreation, and open space.

The Little Bear Creek SMAP team plans to collaborate and perform public outreach to inform and receive input, ideas and feedback from residents, businesses, and partners during this phase of the stormwater management action plan.

• Virtual Stakeholder Meeting: October 18, 2022 
  • Factsheet
  • PowerPoint presentation
  • Recorded presentation
• Public Meeting: November 17, 2022 at Brightwater Environmental Education Center
  • SMAP Factsheet
  • Intro PowerPoint presentation
  • Project PowerPoint presentation
  • Recorded presentation (Passcode: 3U.suyLF)
  • Survey

Take Action to Protect & Preserve Water Quality

Snohomish County offers several opportunities for residents to learn and apply at home:

1.  /1097 Natural Yard Care Education: workshops, online resources 
2.  /3366 Pet Waste Program: veterinary clinics, public open spaces 
3.  /1103 Septic Care Workshops & Savvy Septic: workshops and finance program
4.  https://snohomishcountywa.gov/4149 RainScaping: coming September 2022! Follow the link to sign up to learn more.