![]() “How are there three pipes that allow water to drain from Blackman Lake and it’s funneled into only one drainpipe here? That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me,” said Rekow.ĭuring a recent City Council budget meeting, the flooding of Swifty Creek in different spots was briefly discussed. Rekow explained that she used to be in contact with Mayor John Kartak and he would even call to check in on the issue, but according to Rekow that line of communication tapered off.īoth Hogan and Rekow said they have tried to explain the issue to the city, the two believe that the flooding has more to do with the sheer amount of water being funneled through Swifty Creek and not as much about the debris clogging the pipes. She added they told her that the clogged drain pipe on condominium property was not the city’s responsibility. Hogan states she spoke with two people from the city and was informed the flooding was caused by debris blockage. Water that pools in the parking lot should flow through a drain pipe into the drainage ditch, but when the ditch floods as well, the water has nowhere to go. Already full from rainwater, the ditch begins to flood into the parking lot of the condos, and the yards of the surrounding dwellings.Īccording to Hogan, the flooding has clogged the drainage pipes in the parking lot as well. Rekow states once the pond fills up, the water rises out of the creek, across the Interurban Trail and into a drainage ditch. The pond was so overgrown it was hard for maintenance crews to even reach the inlet in order to clear it. As the creek and pond collect more and more rainwater, sticks, leaves and other debris clog the drainage inlet, leaving water levels to rise. The most obvious issue that all sides seem to agree on is that blockage of the inlet pipe, within the retention pond, is the main factor in the flooding. In the dry months, the creekbed is dry with a few puddles here and there, but during the rain season, Rekow said this creek turns into a small raging river. At right is what the site usually looks like when it is dry, as seen roughly from the same vantage point in mid-August. Lori Rekow courtesy photo above, Jake Berg photo below The pond allows water to collect and drain through an inlet to a pipeline that leads to the Snohomish River. The creek empties into a retention pond on the northeast corner of the aquatic center property. Hogan and Rekow said the flooding became a problem when the flow of Swifty Creek was rerouted along the aquatic center’s property line and the Interurban Trail, however the city informed them this was not the case. Many believe that Swifty Creek flows to the Pilchuck River, but city engineer Yosh Monzaki explained the creek actually flows through stormwater pipes that lead to the Snohomish River. It’s been known to cause flooding issues in various spots. Despite her efforts, Rekow was forced to replace the insulation under her house, due to the rising water table underground.Īs a result of the flooding in February, Hogan’s car was severely damaged along with another car that required a tow truck to remove it.Īlong its route from Blackman Lake to the Snohomish River, Swifty Creek runs through a multitude of exposed channels and underground pipelines. When this portion of the creek floods it makes life difficult: a neighbor to the condos, Lori Rekow, explained she had to buy sand and bag it herself in hopes that the floodwater wasn’t going to reach her front door. Swifty Creek flows along the northern border of the Snohomish Aquatic Center property and the Village condos on Ford Avenue. The high water stayed in the condominium complex’s parking lot for a week before water levels began to fall. With cars half-submerged, and debris piling up in the parking lot, this past rain season had the worst flooding by Swifty Creek that has ever been. In February, the parking lot was nicknamed “Lake Snohomish” by condo residents, according to Marcia Hogan, the president of the Village condominiums. SNOHOMISH - Residents of the Village at Snohomish condominiums along Ford Avenue, and surrounding homes, have dealt with the flooding of Swifty Creek for decades. Swifty Creek drainage overflows made lakes ![]()
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