Along the arterial 35th Ave NE there is a low point in the road between NE 105th and 115th Streets.  In past times before the building of roads and houses, the area was a natural flood plain for The Confluence of Thornton Creek.  The two branches, North and South converge at this point.  In 1996-98 the Meadowbrook Pond was created by Seattle Public Utilities as a flood control measure for holding stormwaters and filtering the water so that sediments would not “plug up the creek” downstream.

Since the time of its creation Meadowbrook Pond has functioned successfully at filtering sediments out of the water, but periodic flooding has still occurred on nearby streets and up into houses.  The year 2014 is the third in the cycle of improvements and enlargements to Meadowbrook Pond and to the creek outlets into the pond, to increase the capacity for water.

Dramatic changes are underway along 35th Ave NE at NE 107th in Meadowbrook, where the roadway is being replaced with a bridge-like structure so that the South Branch of Thornton Creek now flows underneath, eastward into Meadowbrook Pond.

Looking northeast from 35th Ave NE at NE 107th Street in Meadowbrook, we see the bridge portion of the roadway and the unfinished approach section. East of the road is the newly-created flood plain where the two branches of the creek join and flow into Meadowbrook Pond. The blue house in the background is located at the street-end of 36th Ave NE.

The rebuilding and repairing of 35th Ave NE is being done by a private contractor under supervision of the project by Seattle Public Utilities.  Because of the time needed for rebuilding and waiting for the concrete to dry, no date has yet been set for re-opening of 35th Ave NE.

erosion control mat made of coconut fiber

On both sides of 35th Ave NE, the creekbed of the South Branch of Thornton Creek was widened and meanders created to help slow the flow of water and filter sediment.  All of the creek banks within the project area including the new flood plain, are now covered with coconut fiber erosion control blankets.  These woven mats provide cover to stabilize the stream banks, prevent erosion and help hold plants in place.  Landscaping work is continuing and there is still a lot of work to be done to replant the area.

From the east side of 35th Ave NE we see the flood plain which is being created for The Confluence of Thornton Creek. In the center of the photo we see the new bridge-like structure of 35th Ave NE with the South Branch of Thornton Creek flowing underneath. In the background is Nathan Hale High School. The white house at left is at 10706 35th Ave NE.