McAleer Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids McAleer Creek |
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Location of the mouth of McAleer Creek in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| Region | King County Snohomish County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lake Ballinger Mountlake Terrace, Washington 47°46′51″N 122°19′25″W / 47.78083°N 122.32361°W |
| River mouth | Lake Washington Lake Forest Park, Washington 47°44′59″N 122°16′41″W / 47.74972°N 122.27806°W |
McAleer Creek is a cool stream about six miles long in Washington. It starts at Lake Ballinger in Snohomish County and flows into Lake Washington. This creek is important because it's a home for salmon and trout. It also helps water the plants and trees along its banks, especially in Lake Forest Park.
The creek is named after Hugh McAleer, who was an early landowner in the area.
Contents
Where Does McAleer Creek Flow?
McAleer Creek begins on the southeast side of Lake Ballinger. From there, it generally flows southeast.
Journey Through Different Areas
The creek first travels through the Nile Golf Course in Mountlake Terrace. Then, it goes into a tunnel under Interstate 5. After the tunnel, it enters a special system in Lake Forest Park that helps control floods.
It continues its journey through neighborhoods and a wooded area. It passes under Perkins Way, where it meets another stream called Whisper Creek. The creek then flows back into the woods, following Perkins Way and later 180th Street Northeast. It goes into another tunnel under 178th Street Northeast.
Reaching Lake Washington
Finally, McAleer Creek flows into Blue Heron Park. It then goes under Bothell Way and through a series of small dams and fish ladders. These fish ladders help fish swim upstream. The creek then empties into Lake Washington. This happens near the corner of 168th Street Northeast and Shore Drive.
Wildlife and Nature in McAleer Creek
McAleer Creek is a vital home for many birds and fish that live in the area.
Animals Living in the Creek
You can find different types of birds nesting in the creek's canyon, like hawks, kingfishers, and herons. The fish living in the creek include salmon, trout, and bass. Many parts of the creek are shady, which is good for the fish. However, some parts are open to the sun and can get too warm for them.
Challenges for the Creek
One big problem for McAleer Creek is erosion. This is when the soil and rocks along the banks wear away and fall into the water. This makes the water cloudy, which can be bad for fish. It can also cause damage to nearby properties. For example, in 1981, a cliff collapsed into the stream, blocking it until volunteers cleared it. Luckily, the amount of cloudy stuff in the water has gone down between 1979 and 2004.
The creek also sometimes has low levels of oxygen in the water and too many bacteria. In 2012, the Washington Department of Ecology said that McAleer Creek did not meet its water quality standards for these issues. The high number of bacteria often comes from spills from old sewer systems or pet waste.
