This neighborhood is named for its natural mineral springs - sacred to the Duwamish people for centuries. The water is still here, under the pavement. The springs still flow.
Apply for Pilot ProgramLicton Springs is one of the only neighborhoods in Seattle named for a water feature that still exists. The mineral springs in Licton Springs Park were sacred to the Duwamish people and remain active today - iron-rich water bubbling up through the soil, staining the ground red.
That tells you something important about the hydrology here: the water table is already high. Natural springs mean groundwater is close to the surface. Add in the standard alderwood soil profile - loose topsoil over hardpan - and you have a neighborhood where water has nowhere to go but sideways and up. Basements flood. Yards stay saturated well into summer.
A bioswale in Licton Springs works with the unique hydrology instead of fighting it. Engineered bioretention manages the surface water while respecting the natural water table. Native plants with deep root systems handle the wet-dry cycle that defines this neighborhood. The springs have been here for thousands of years. A bioswale is infrastructure that honors that history.
Tailored stormwater and landscaping solutions for your property.
Custom bioswales designed for Licton Springs' headwater conditions. Infiltration-focused systems that recharge the shallow aquifer feeding the historic springs.
Rain gardens, French drains, permeable surfaces, and groundwater recharge systems. Reconnect your property to Licton Springs' natural water cycle.
Full-service landscaping using Pacific Northwest native species. Designs that honor the neighborhood's water heritage with plants that thrive in moist conditions.
We're selecting 5 founding homeowners for our first residential bioswale installations. Licton Springs' unique hydrology makes it a compelling case for bioswale design that works with the water, not against it.
Explore the Thornton Creek Watershed