Ravenna Creek facts for kids

The start of Ravenna Creek in Cowen Park, winter 2008

Ravenna Creek is a small stream in the Seattle, Washington, neighborhoods of Ravenna and Roosevelt. Today, about 3,500 feet (1.1 km) of the creek flows openly through Ravenna & Cowen Parks.

Long ago, Ravenna Creek connected Green Lake to Lake Washington's Union Bay. But as Seattle grew, and the water levels of Green Lake and Lake Washington changed in 1911 and 1916, parts of the creek disappeared underground. Now, the creek starts from a wet area in the northwest corner of Cowen Park. It also gets water from springs in Ravenna Park. Another small branch joins it near NE 65th Street and 23rd Avenue NE.

Bringing the Creek Back to Light

For many years, Ravenna Creek flowed into a sewer system. This meant its water mixed with wastewater. But in May 2006, a special project called "daylighting" was finished.

What is Daylighting?

Daylighting means bringing a buried stream or river back to the surface. It helps the environment and creates natural spaces. This project disconnected Ravenna Creek from the sewer. It extended the creek's open path by about 650 feet (200 meters).

The Creek's New Path

Now, after flowing through Ravenna Park, the creek enters a pipeline. This pipeline carries the water south along 25th Avenue NE. It eventually empties into University Slough, which is part of Lake Washington. This reconnected Ravenna Creek to Lake Washington, just like it was a long time ago.

Protecting the Creek

In 2008, there was a large pollution incident. About 8 million gallons (30 million liters) of dirty water accidentally flowed into the creek. This happened because of work being done by utility crews nearby. Events like this show why it's important to protect our natural waterways.

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