Thornton Creek's main artery runs through Lake City. More pavement per acre than any neighborhood in the watershed - and more runoff to match.
Apply for Pilot ProgramLake City is the most urbanized stretch of the Thornton Creek watershed. Lake City Way alone generates more stormwater runoff than entire neighborhoods upstream. Every parking lot, every rooftop, every sidewalk sends water straight into the creek with zero filtration.
Underneath all that pavement is the same alderwood soil and hardpan that covers North Seattle - dense glacial till left by the Vashon glacier 14,000 years ago. Water can't soak through it. On a natural lot, that's a drainage problem. On a lot surrounded by commercial development, it's a flood risk.
New development keeps adding impervious surface. But the older residential streets between the arterials still have yards, trees, and space. A bioswale on a Lake City residential lot is a pressure valve for the entire downstream system - capturing and filtering runoff before it joins the torrent heading toward Matthews Beach.
Tailored stormwater and landscaping solutions for your property.
Custom-engineered bioswales for Lake City's commercial and residential lots. Native plantings, layered soil media, and overflow protection designed for Seattle's rain patterns.
Rain gardens, French drains, permeable surfaces, and grading solutions. Reduce runoff from your property before it enters the Thornton Creek system.
Full-service landscaping using Pacific Northwest native species. Low-maintenance designs that look sharp year-round and support the local watershed.
We're selecting 5 founding homeowners in the Thornton Creek and Ravenna Creek watersheds for our first residential bioswale installations. Lake City properties sit on the creek's main stem - your impact is immediate.
Explore the Thornton Creek Watershed