LAKE FOREST PARK — A sewage spill into Lyons Creek, which runs through Lake Forest Park, has been largely washed out of the creek system, according to city staff.
Frank Zenk, director of public services for Lake Forest Park, said water quality reports have shown a low count of fecal matter, and most of the waste was washed out of the stream quite rapidly.
“Everything has appeared to be cleaned out in our creeks,” Zenk said. “Citizens have not reported anything.”
The overflow into the creek occurred after one of Mountlake Terrace’s wastewater pump stations discharged 160,000 gallons of sewage and 45,000 of wastewater into Lyons Creek on Nov. 10.
Zenk said the response by Mountlake Terrace staff was commendable, despite the unfortunate situation.
“They found out about it on a Friday and went door-to-door,” Zenk said. “They also put barrels out at intersections to help alert folks.”
Carol Dahl, president of the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation, said there was no organized clean-up of the creek because the waste had washed down the stream.
“We didn’t feel that there was a way we could do a clean-up,” Dahl said. “It really had to flush itself out.”
She said Mountlake Terrace staff posted signs, went door-to-door and notified residents who live along the creek.
“We would rather not have any spills at all,” Dahl said. “But the public works department is making sure this does not happen again, so I am very confident it is a one-time thing.”
She said the Stewardship Foundation received a call the day the spill was discovered from both staff at Mountlake Terrace and Lake Forest Park.
“Obviously our members were concerned about it,” Dahl said. “But they were also confident that things were in place to correct it.”
She said she is pleased with the city’s working relationship with Mountlake Terrace, especially since Lake Forest Park is positioned directly to the south.
“We are downstream, so everything affects us,” Dahl said. “They were extraordinarily responsive.”
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