The need for the site assessment and the development of a bioswale design for Kincaid Ravine is necessary in determining a plan for a project that will fit within the landscape and be sustainable with limited maintenance over a long period of time. It is important to spend this effort on the assessment and design phase to ensure the bioswale functions properly, limits flooding, is suitable for the average amount of water on site, and matches the goals and objectives from other University of Washington interests. Once all of this is figured out through the assessment study, the next step will be to construct the bioswale. If all goes well this would be the end of the main phase of this project, hopefully completed in the next year and a half to two years. There will be need for some maintenance of the bioswale, but it should not require regular funding. The removal of sediment, invasive species and other minor maintenance of the bioswale will be carried out by students working in Kincaid Ravine and be assisted by the UW grounds management crews. One big issue going forward will be funding for the actual bioswale construction. While it is still early to tell the scale and cost of this project, it is our goal to build a bioswale with minimal intrusion into the wetland. This will help limit the need for permitting, reduce the risk of adversely impacting the wetland and hopefully keep the cost for the construction at a reasonable level. A real rough range for the cost of bioswale construction in Kincaid Ravine is anywhere from 5,000 to 30,000 dollars based on the amount of excavation and materials needed to bring in. The assessment and feasibility study will attempt to hone in on a more accurate cost estimate. While I will not rule out looking to CSF to help fund some of this, I also know CSF has already been incredibly supportive of the work in Kincaid Ravine and I have already identified a few potential grant opportunities to help supplement future funding needs. This includes the Rose Foundation Puget Sound grassroots grant program and King Conservation District Seattle Municipal Partnership fund. I will also continue to explore more options going forward.
Photo Source:
Kincaid Ravine Facebook
Year:
Amount Awarded:
$5,000
Potential Funding Reductions:
A ten to twenty percent reduction in funds would still allow for this project to be done, but it would significantly impact the scope of the project. We would have to reduce the number of spots tested for soil and water quality and also would not get as much time/input from out consultant. The water quality and soil testing numbers are based on the number of spots we feel have unique hydrology and water sources in the ravine. Limiting these sample sites would result in a much poorer characterization of the water and soil quality in Kincaid Ravine. I feel a compromise could be made with Aaron at 12,000 Rain Gardens, but for the scope of the work we need to get done and the going rate per hour to hire Aaron, this is the sweet spot we arrived at. A reduction in funding might mean he can still deliver the documents we have requested, but he would have less time in the field and less time to write the reports. The point of this assessment is to develop materials that are useful going forward and any significant reduction of the resources needed to develop those materials could jeopardize the likelihood of the bioswale being built. While we could work with small reductions in funding, it of course would not be ideal.
Project Longevity:
Project status:
Completed