Luther Burbank South Shoreline Restoration
Project Status
To help keep area residents informed of our construction progress, we will post project updates to this site on a regular basis. Click here to see status updates.
Project Details/Neighborhood
- 900 feet of shoreline from the waterfront plaza to the swim beach
Background
The shoreline at Luther Burbank Park has been slowly eroding for the past 110 years as a result of the lowering of Lake Washington. Changes in boat traffic over the past 50 years have accelerated this process. Previous phases of shoreline restoration have been completed on the north section (waterfront plaza through the off-leash area) and at Calkins Point. The shoreline has eroded to an extent that it is undermining the existing shoreline trail and has caused the trail to collapse in more than one location.
Description
This project covers approximately 900 feet of shoreline from the waterfront plaza to the swim beach. Restoration work includes anchoring large woody debris, adding rock spawing gravel, invasive plant control, plantings including brush layering, and temporary irrigation (which will be repurposed to irrigate the swim beach with lake water). The project also includes relocating the shoreline trail away from the eroding shoreline and constructing it with ADA accessible grades and surfacing.
Project Timeline (Target Completion Date)
Q4 2023
Estimated Budget
2021 $47,000
2022 $660,000
Contact
Paul West, City of Mercer Island Project Manager: (206)275-7833 or paul.west@mercerisland.gov
Status Updates
November 2023
Photos: City Council participants and volunteers planting
Mercer Island Arbor Day was celebrated on the South Shoreline with a ceremonial tree planting by Mayor Salim Nice and other City Council members. Volunteers planted 600 native plants to restore riparian habitat along the lake. Conservation Corps and City crews will continue planting and stewardship activities through fall 2024.
September 2023
Image: Trail Surfacing
The contractor installed most of the final crushed rock trail surfacing. The trail will reopen to the public by the end of September. Replanting of the areas adjacent to the new trail will occur this fall and winter.
July 2023
Photo: Rough grading of the trail has been completed.
The contractor is done with the rough grading of the trail and the irrigation line. They are currently installing rockeries and are getting ready to install beach gravels and large woody debris along the shoreline.
April 14, 2023
The City’s contractor, Neptune General Contractors, began trail clearing work this week but stopped their work due to wet soil conditions. They will try to resume work next week, depending on the weather.
March 1, 2023
Construction of the South Shoreline Restoration will start at the end of March 2023. Construction will be complete by the end of September. The trail between the swim beach will be closed from April 1 to June 30. Access to the waterfront by the Boiler Building will be limited during this project.
October 2022
Key staff moved into new positions, halting construction. Erosion control and site clearing were completed. The remaining construction has been postponed until April 2023. Certain trail elements that expected to construct with volunteer or conservation corps have been combined into a bid package that will be released this fall. Erosion control and vegetation work will continue this fall.
May 2022
Photo: public information signs are up
Construction will start in May and run through November 2023. The trail will be closed for part of this time.
February 2022
Staff submitted a geotechnical report for land use review in December. Geotechnical review happened in late January and land use permitting will continue through March. Staff continues to work with the consultant, Anchor QEA, to finalize project designs. The staff has also learned that the City’s Public Works Natural Resources Unit is expecting to hire four seasonal employees to provide the main workforce for this summer’s construction.
November 2021
Land Use permitting is underway. Two King County Waterworks grants were awarded. All grant funding totals $225k for this project. Work plan development for trail construction in 2022 will include Mountains to Sound Greenway volunteers, summer crews, and conservation corps.
PA0136 Project Location (2 MB)