Bass / Beaver / Dandy Lake Natural Area

PROJECT SUMMARY:
Bass/Beaver/Dandy Lake complex includes 3 lakes, a large wetland system, and Cristy Creek.  This ecosystem provides important functions for:

Wildlife: The lake complex provides the highest bird species diversity in King County, (KC Wetlands Inventory 1990). Bird species present include State Priority Species: bald eagle, pileated woodpecker, wood duck, bufflehead, great blue heron, common loon, and band-tailed pigeon, as well as green heron, osprey, and kingfisher. Mammals include elk, cougar, black bear, bobcat, mink, and river otter.

Wetland: The wetland associated with Bass Lake is one of the largest in the county and is State Priority Habitat. Important amphibian site with northwestern salamander, Pacific tree frog and red-legged frog.

Fish: Cristy Creek is a perennial stream connecting the lakes to the Green River. Cutthrout and rainbow trout are in the lakes and Cristy Cr.; chum, coho, cutthroat and steelhead use the lower mile of Cristy Cr.

Groundwater Protection: The lakes are within a KC Comp. Plan-designated Area Highly Susceptible to Groundwater Contamination, and provide significant groundwater recharge to Cristy Creek which discharges year-round cold, clean water to the Green River.
Identified as Top Priority for Preservation: Waterways 2000 and Last Best Places in the Green River Watershed both highly prioritized the protection of this lake complex.
Complements Protection Efforts: Washington departments of Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources, and King County all own land in the Cristy Creek sub-basin.  This proposal compliments efforts to protect this sub-basin and over 3,500 acres of preserved land along the Green River.

Promotes Recreational Opportunities: Parcels could provide the opportunity to eventually construct a trail linking Bass, Beaver, and Dandy lakes with the Green River Gorge trail network.

Wildlife Habitat/Plants
Birds: The lake complex provides highest bird species diversity in King County (KC Wetland Inventory 1990). Species include State Priority Species: bald eagle, pileated woodpecker, wood duck, bufflehead, great blue heron, common loon, and band-tailed pigeon. Others include golden eagle, turkey vulture, osprey, green heron, hooded merganser, double-crested cormorant, Canada goose, kingfisher, ruffed grouse, least sandpiper, goldfinch, Bewick’s/marsh wren, bushtit, varied/Swainson’s thrush, violet-green/tree/barn swallow, Steller’s jay, common yellowthroat, rufous hummingbird.

Mammals: Cougar, black bear, bobcat, red fox, coyote, elk, black-tail deer, river otter, weasel, mink, muskrat, skunk, mountain beaver, bats all occupy the lake complex.
Amphibians/mussels: Northwestern salamander, Pacific tree frog, red-legged frog; fresh water mussels.

Plants: The State Priority Habitat wetland plant communities include floating/submerged, marshy shore, wetland prairie, scrub/shrub, and wooded wetland. Upland vegetation includes coniferous and deciduous forest, and pasture.

Salmon Habitat/Aquatic Resources: Chum, coho, and steelhead salmon present in lower mile of Cristy Creek; the creek enters Green River at RM 44. Creek supports cutthroat and rainbow trout between Dandy and Bass Lake. Middle Green River was identified as one of the 10 most important river reaches in Puget Sound for salmon recovery (Trust for Public Land 2001). Acquisition would protect an Area Highly Susceptible to Groundwater Contamination (KC Comp. Plan 2000). WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Plan (2006) provides the following policies which support acquisition:
Policy IN-6: Protecting and Improving Hydrology and Water Quality/Quantity.
Necessary Future Conditions: Sources of cool, clean water from surface and ground water are maintained.
Program WW-15: Develop a Coordinated Acquisition Program for Natural Areas.

Scenic Resources: The lake complex provides the opportunity to see low-elevation, minimally developed lakes and wetlands. Views from Mt. Rainier are common throughout the complex. Cristy Creek is particularly beautiful between Beaver and Dandy lakes where it cascades over boulders and downed logs. Waterfowl and many other bird species can commonly be seen in the lakes and wetlands.

Community Separator: The lake complex acts as a perfect urban-rural separator as its located between Black Diamond and Enumclaw, and many single-family homes to the west. The landscape between Bass Lake and the Green River is still relatively undeveloped and home construction would significantly compromise habitat value in this area and could eliminate important open space linkage opportunities. Preserving these parcels is an important step to minimizing residential sprawl in this part of the county.

Park/Open Space/Natural Corridor Addition: Acquisition of these parcels would be an important step in the effort to link the lake complex with blocks of public land along the Green River, creating extensive habitat connectivity. The complex would contribute to the connection of Flaming Geyser and Black Diamond Bridge State Parks, WDNR and WDFW land, and King County natural lands.  Also, preserving the lake complex would complement and enhance the ecological value of the existing public lands.

Passive Recreation Opportunity: The lake complex provides a wonderful passive recreation opportunity. King County and State Parks have preserved portions of the Cristy Creek sub-basin for fish, wildlife, and people, providing hiking, birding, and boating opportunities. A bird-watching platform (blind) with an educational component could be constructed at Bass Lake that would allow viewing without disturbing wildlife. State Parks is interested in creating a trail connecting all three lakes with the state parks along the Green River. Black Diamond, Enumclaw, and south King County residents would benefit greatly from preserving this lake complex.

Educational/interpretive opportunity
Preserving the lake complex would provide King County residents with the opportunity to access minimally developed, low-elevation lakes. Bird-watching platforms could be developed at Bass Lake, and State Parks is interested in creating a trail connecting Bass Lake with the Green River (a trail already exists around Dandy Lake). The lakes’ unique hydrology and fish and wildlife habitat could be highlighted with signage.

Partnerships
Three entities are involved in preserving the Bass/Beaver/Dandy Lake complex and other lands in the vicinity. The Middle Green River Coalition is a grass-roots organization dedicated to preserving important ecological lands in the basin. State Parks owns 2,500 acres of land along the Green River Gorge and are interested in creating a trail connecting the lakes with the parks along the river. These partners, along with King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) which manages the Bass, Beaver, and Dandy lake parcels, meet regularly to discuss preserving this important area.

Is property identified in adopted park, open space, comprehensive, or community plan?
The Bass/Beaver/Dandy Lake complex is identified as critical for open space preservation in several recent documents, including:
Salmon Habitat Plan (WRIA 9 2006) provides several policies which support acquisition in this lake complex (Policy IN-6, Necessary Future Conditions, Program WW-15).
Open Space Greenprint (KC 2005) identified many parcels as high/medium high in conservation value.
Near-term Action Agenda for Salmon Habitat Conservation (WRIA 9 2002) identified action items to protect habitat such as the lakes and Cristy Creek (WW Action 2, MG Action 1, MG Action 4).
Last Best Places in the Green River Watershed (KC 2002) identified the lake complex as one of the highest priorities in the entire Middle Green River watershed.
Habitat Limiting Factors and Reconnaissance Assessment Report, WRIA 9 (KC, WA Cons. Comm. 2000) identified Cristy Creek as habitat for four salmonid species.
Direction for 2000 (WRIA 9 2000) stated that acquisition and restoration in the Middle Green River basin is one of the highest priorities for early action in WRIA 9.
Waterways 2000 (KC 1995) identified the lake complex for preservation, but funding wasn’t available.

Volunteer Stewardship Opportunities
Volunteers: A volunteer park ambassador has been recruited to help steward the site (inspect for illegal activity, assist with litter control, etc). The Middle Green River Coalition, a community group active in acquisition and restoration efforts in the area, intends to participate in the stewardship effort. Volunteers from schools and community groups from Black Diamond and Enumclaw could also be recruited.

Trails: King County DNRP will develop a trails plan if one is considered appropriate on-site. Any trails that are constructed would be “soft” and consistent with the primary use of the site as an undeveloped natural area. Trails would be constructed using volunteers such as the Washington Trails Association, Earthcorps, and KC staff. Trail maintenance would be accomplished by KC staff and volunteers.

For more info contact the King County Park Ambassador, Bernie McKinney at: b.mckinney@comcast.net