Project overview
The Ripley Lane Stream Connection Project is part of a series of fish barrier removals planned by WSDOT for the I-405/SR 167 corridor. The Ripley Lane Stream Connection Project will construct new stream channels by combining two culverts into one open channel. We determined that the proposed concept would restore full fish access to Lake Washington for both streams and improve nearshore habitat. The project will also provide the necessary water flow capacity downstream to allow removal of the flow restrictor installed during the Renton to Bellevue Project. This proposed concept will also avoid displacing people from their homes, will minimize property acquisitions and will reduce long-term maintenance concerns.
What to expect
This project will consist of construction on Ripley Lane in Renton near the King County Eastrail trestle. Residents on Ripley Lane in this area may be impacted by noise during construction. Two properties on Ripley Lane will be more heavily impacted as the current stream outfalls between the two houses. The future culvert will be constructed west of the current culvert and will outlet to Lake Washington between two private residences.
The Ripley Lane Stream Connection Project area is near the northern border of the City of Renton, less than half a mile north of the I-405/Northeast 44th Street interchange.
There are two culverts carrying fish-bearing streams under I-405 in the vicinity of Ripley Lane that have been identified as fish barriers. In addition, these two existing culverts have known maintenance issues and need to be replaced because they are at the end of their useful life. These two tributaries of Lake Washington are located near the northern border of the City of Renton, less than half a mile north of the I-405/Northeast 44th Street interchange.
The work to be completed in this project, combined with that being completed in the Renton to Bellevue project, is part of the 2013 U.S. District Court ruling requiring the state to remove fish barriers. WSDOT is addressing downstream constrictions to allow the free passage of fish as required by the court. The current stream outfalls into Lake Washington between two houses on Ripley Lane in Renton. WSDOT is working to determine the location and design for this new stream connection.
The Court has ruled that the State of Washington has built and currently operates stream culverts that block fish passage to and from the tribes' usual and accustomed fishing places, depriving the tribes of the fishing rights reserved in the treaties.
