Site Analysis and Public Involvement Help Shape Conceptual Plan for Beaver Pond Natural Area
Landscape architect Mark Garff and landscape designer Marina French presented their analysis of conditions, needs, and possibilities for Beaver Pond Natural Area at a public meeting last night, then discussed questions and concerns with stakeholders. They divided the natural area into four zones and proposed uses in each zone that would best fulfill the need for public use and conservation. Proposed zones included a demonstration zone to draw attention to Thornton Creek, a recreation zone, a conservation zone, and a community zone where local involvement could help the community claim ownership of the natural area. Incorporating public comments as well as their site analysis, Mark and Marina will complete a conceptual design for the natural area. Read more about the project in the Maple Leaf Life article, Restoring Beaver Pond Natural Area a balancing act.
Interpretive Signs for Stormwater Projects
This year The Watershed Company's graphic design team got to create interpretive signs for three different stormwater and low impact development projects, for a total of 13 signs on topics ranging from filtering runoff with raingardens and stormwater ponds, to allowing infiltration by using permeable paving, to planting drought-tolerant plants.
The Watershed Company researched, wrote, illustrated, and designed five interpretive signs for a stormwater retrofit project along Bear Creek in Redmond.
King County DOT hired The Watershed Company to create two interpretive signs to draw attention to stormwater improvements in Federal Way, including a new raingarden and permeable pavement sidewalks.
For Premera Healthcare, we created 6 signs to accompany a mitigation and parking lot landscape that included raingardens and bioswales.
Greenfire Campus Landscape
The Greenfire Campus is a Low Impact Development mixed-use project under way in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. The Watershed Company led the landscape architectural design for the project, incorporating sustainable practices and elements at every step, and to date has permit plans and 90% construction plans. Read more about our work on the landscape on our project page, or visit the brand new Greenfire Campus website to learn more about the development.
Watershed Hires Water Resources Manager and Landscape Designer
The Watershed Company recently welcomed two new staff members, expanding our capacity in engineering and landscape architecture: Sky Miller, PE, as Water Resources Manager, and Marina French as Landscape Designer.
Sky Miller, P.E., Water Resources Manager
Known for his leadership in developing and implementing strategic ecologically sustainable infrastructure, floodplain and habitat restoration plans and designs, Sky is highly skilled at managing multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers and planners. He is an effective public speaker, administrator and engineer and brings a collaborative style to solve complex environmental problems in a fast-paced, public, political, legal and controversial environment. Sky joined The Watershed Company in 2011 from Wildlands, Inc., a regional mitigation and conservation banking firm, where he was the Pacific Northwest regional manager. He is also the former Surface Water division manager at Skagit County. Recent projects with construction completed include the 300-acre Nookachamps Wetland Bank on the Skagit River, and Hylebos Creek Estuary Restoration in Tacoma, Washington.
Marina French, Landscape Designer
Marina French (formerly Alvarez) combines her training and experience in ecology and landscape design to plan and create living spaces that integrate human and natural elements. She has developed management and recreational plans for regional, state and national parks areas and participated in the site design of projects throughout the West and internationally. Her assessments optimize the human experience while achieving goals for environmental and cultural preservation. Marina recently joined The Watershed Company from Jones & Jones Architects and Landscape Architects. She is enjoying mitigation design and putting on her boots to monitor projects after installation. In addition to a steady stream of mitigation projects and private residential design projects, Marina is currently working on a site plan for the 42nd Street End Park for the City of Yarrow Point, and the exciting mixed-use Ballard Greenfire Campus plan, which includes green roofs, p-patches, and a stormwater biofiltration garden.
Watershed to Assist with Beaver Pond Natural Area Restoration Plan
The Watershed Company is pleased to announce being selected by Seattle Parks to complete Phase One of the Beaver Pond Natural Area restoration plan. We will be helping Seattle Parks and local residents envision upgrades to the Thornton Creek stream corridor just downstream of Thornton Place, across from Northgate Mall. Upgrades will include stream realignment and floodplain enhancements, invasive removal and native planting, wayfinding elements, trail improvements, entrance improvements and possibly other amenities as well.
Greenfire Campus in the DJC
The Watershed Company is excited to be working on landscape and sustainability design and support for the Greenfire Campus, a new mixed-use development in Ballard. The buildings and landscape will be the most sustainable and eco-friendly to date in the Ballard neighborhood! Read more about this green project in this recent Daily Journal of Commerce article.
Five Stunning Northwest Natives for Your Garden
Pacific Madrone Tree (Arbutus menziesii)
This gorgeous evergreen broadleaf tree has distinctive bark that peels off in coppery ribbons, revealing smooth chartreuse bark beneath. Older growth has hard brown bark. It has white flower clusters in the spring, and red fruit in the fall. Madrones often grow on steep slopes where it helps stabilize the soil and prevent erosion. Though sometimes difficult to transplant, it is well worth the effort to establish this beautiful, drought tolerant native beauty.
Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)
Pacific dogwood, sometimes lost in the lush green of our Pacific Northwest forests, cannot be missed in the springtime. Its flowers, up to five inches across, are bold bursts of chartreuse-white. It has a delicate branching habitat, and will eventually grow to 60-feet in height.
Oregon Grape (Mahonia species)
Evergreen foliage that turns from deep green to fiery red in the winter, saturated yellow fragrant flower spikes in spring, and metallic blue berries during the winter give this Northwest native interest in all seasons of the year.
Orange Honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa)
This little-known native honeysuckle is found in undisturbed forests of the Pacific Northwest rambling through other shrubs and trees. It has brilliant orange flowers in the springtime followed by red berries that attract wildlife. It can be trained over an arbor or up a tree.
Redwood Sorrel (Oxalis oregana)
Redwood sorrel, often found in undisturbed forests, forms a low fluffy patch of tidy clover-like leaves. In spring, it displays delicate pink flowers. The tough little plant is nearly evergreen, and forms a dense herbaceous layer that keeps weeds away. It is perfect for that shady spot in your garden!
Looking for a Landscape Architect or Designer
We're looking for a Landscape Architect or Designer to add to our LA department! Full information is posted on the careers page.
Recent Projects Added to Website
We've added a few new projects to our website, check out our recent work!
The Watershed Company is completing one of the first in-lieu fee governing instruments in Washington State, for lower Lake Chelan. In-lieu fee mitigation (or ILF) is a relatively new option for meeting compensatory mitigation requirements. A permit applicant may make a single payment into an ILF program, and that money will be pooled and used for projects designed to improve critical areas function by restoring watershed processes. The applicant is not responsible for the mitigation after the fee is paid.
Our wetlands biologists and landscape architects teamed up to develop a Meridian Park feasibility study that includes innovative street side rain gardens, which are becoming more popular in Seattle.
Watershed Company landscape architects designed a landscape for a modern Tate Creek home that complements the home's bluestone stonework as well as its natural setting.
Reviving the Landscape Article
As I mentioned in March, our Landscape Architecture department was featured in a Green Business Quarterly article about sustainable landscape architecture called "Reviving the Landscape". We now have a copy of the article available in pdf, so if you didn't have a chance to pick up the magazine, take a gander!
Watershed in Where to Retire magazine
The Watershed Company's Landscape Architecture department is featured in the May/June 2010 issue of Where to Retire magazine. The article is called "Going Native in Your Garden." Pick up a copy and check it out!
Watershed Featured in Landscape Architecture article
Check it out - our Landscape Architecture department was featured in an article in the Jan-March Green Business Quarterly, pages 36-43. There's a preview on their website, but to actually read the article you'll have to buy a copy.
