Shoreline’s Hidden Lake and dam to be permanently removed

The city of Shoreline is expected to begin a project to remove Hidden Lake and its dam in mid-June, according to the City of Shoreline.

The lake is currently permanently closed, due to a high concern of toxic algae.

Hidden within Shoreview Park’s west side, the man-made body of water was built in 1920 to create a private fishing pond and a small hatchery when Boeing Creek was dammed.

Since then, developments along Aurora have increased storm runoff flows to the creek, causing erosion issues in the Boeing Creek ravine.

That erosion of side slope soil has washed down into the creek and has ended up as sediment in Hidden Lake.

The sediment deposition has occurred at a rate six times greater than expected, causing the city to spend $600,000 to dredge the lake seven times between 2002 and 2013.

Without the dredging, the sediment would eventually fill the lake, which could cause flood flows and block Northwest Innis Arden Way culvert inlets, which could cause a sudden washout of the road embankment or other major flooding damage.

After discussing plans to remove the lake in 2014, dredging of the lake ended in 2013.

In 2017, the City Council approved plans to remove the dam, replace the Northwest Innis Arden Way culverts and to restore Boeing Creek in the lake, dam and culvert area.

Construction is expected to begin in mid-June 2022.

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