Blocked trail at Riverfront, orange slime worry neighbors

EVERETT — The Lowell Riverfront Trail runs 1.6 miles from Lowell north to what is now the site of the Riverfront housing and commercial development.

Walking the trail from south to north, the sounds of chirping birds and croaking frogs eventually give way to that of construction equipment. The rush of traffic on I-5 a short distance away is the only constant.

Near the trail’s north end, it’s still possible to spot wildlife such as a ruffed grouse in the underbrush, but seeing a Caterpillar front-loader is more likely.

The Riverfront Trail is still in the early stages of construction, but some people got a surprise walking there Jan. 22 when they found a chain link fence blocking their way where the trail enters the development.

“My neighbor and I went down, took our walk down through the wetlands because they’ve been bringing in a lot of fill,” said Marie Phillips, who lives in the Lowell neighborhood.

The fence, with a “no trespassing” sign, blocked their way.

Phillips said they talked to a construction manager on the site.

“I was told he put it up, he owned the property and that he could do whatever he wanted,” she said.

Polygon Northwest, the development company behind Riverfront, does own the property that the trail now runs across, but the city has an easement to allow public access to the trail.

That will become more complicated as the development proceeds, and the plans call for Polygon eventually to move the trail about 50 feet to the south, said Dave Davis, Everett’s director of public works.

Blocking the trail wasn’t a good solution, Davis said, and the fence will be reoriented to separate the public from the construction site until the work moves close enough to warrant closing the trail.

Polygon removed the section of fence blocking the trail Wednesday.

A more pressing concern was about 1,200 feet of a silt fence was breached during the November windstorm.

Runoff and sand from the construction site spilled through the fence and poured into the nearby wetland.

Davis said that as of Tuesday there was still a small hole in the fence, but that otherwise the breach had been fixed.

“Ultimately they’ll have to develop a restoration plan,” Davis said.

The runoff was tinted a bright orange color in places.

On Thursday Julie Sklare, an environmental specialist for the city, took samples of the orange slime for testing.

The slime is most likely caused by iron bacteria, Sklare said, a group of bacteria that thrive in anaerobic soil and break down iron compounds for oxygen. When they later get exposed to oxygen, the conversion process creates a rusty slime that coats stones, wood or anything else in the water.

The bacteria give off a faintly sulfurous smell, which some people liken to sewage. It occasionally forms an oily sheen on the surface of the water that can be mistaken for petroleum.

“If you beat the sheen and it breaks apart, it isn’t petroleum,” Sklare said, spooning samples of the gunk into a jar.

“This looks pretty classic,” she said.

The city will run tests and probably identify the slime within a day, she said.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, delivers the annual state of the city address Thursday morning in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington on March 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
At Everett mayor’s keynote speech: $35 entry, Boeing sponsorship

The city won’t make any money from the event, city spokesperson Simone Tarver said. Still, it’s part of a trend making open government advocates wary.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.