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Mary Celigoy boards horses on her 65-acre property in May Valley, where her family ran a dairy farm in the 1940's. The property could be lost to flooding if a logging company moves forward with plans to clear-cut 216 acres of forest on Squak Mountain. (Photo: Brandi Kruse/KIRO Radio)

Residents, activists fight to protect Squak Mountain forest from logging

BY Brandi Kruse  on February 6, 2013 @ 6:40 pm (Updated: 6:29 am - 2/7/13 )

Just north of East Renton Highlands, residents of May Valley have become accustomed to flooding. The valley is nestled along May Creek, which has risen considerably over the past several years.

Mary Celigoy boards horses inside a big red barn on her 65-acre property. In the shadow of Cougar Mountain, the land has been in her family since the 1940's when her mother and father ran a dairy farm.

"My dad and his dad hand built the barn," she said. "It's just been part of us forever."

Celigoy, 53, has watched over the years as May Creek slowly outgrew its banks. Acres of land that once provided horses plenty of pasture for grazing are now underwater for months out of the year.

"We're going to see the day when the water doesn't leave," Celigoy said. "That's my fear, and I think it's a reality if we get any more water than we do."

But just last week, Celigoy and her neighbors learned that the flooding could get much worse.

A few miles downriver, David Kappler came across a pink ribbon tied to a tree branch as he hiked up the southwest slope of Squak Mountain.

"Timber Harvest Boundary," the ribbon read.

It is one of many ribbons that mark 216 acres of land purchased by Eatonville-based Erickson Logging, Inc.

The land borders King County's Cougar-Squak Mountain recreational and wildlife corridor. With the expectation of a 103-acre parcel near top, the forested area was once owned by the Issaquah Camping Club.

Kappler, president of the Issaquah Alps Trails Club, has joined together with concerned citizens and conversation groups to prevent the area from being logged.

"There's definitely a significant part of the land that should be left alone," said Kappler, who fears that a clear-cut of the area will worsen flooding in May Valley by allowing more water to drain into the creek.

"Most logging areas are not faced with a May Creek flooding issue like we have here and you're not talking about a forest that is so close to how many millions of people?" he said. "So, there's a lot of recreational potential here."

King County, which has received a great deal of feedback from concerned citizens, has expressed an interest in using the forest for recreation and is in negotiations with the logging company to buy the land.

"There is quite a bit of public open space in this area and we are interested in acquiring this property for additional open space as well as access to existing trails in the area," said Doug Williams, spokesperson for the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

Williams said the county does not have enough resources to purchase the land and will apply for grant funding.

Kurt Erickson, who owns Erickson Logging, said if the county is unable to come up with money in a reasonable time frame, he would consider selling the land to a developer. However, he told KIRO Radio he would be willing to trade the land to the country in exchange for a forested area elsewhere.

Meanwhile, residents of May Valley continue to worry about the possibility of increased flooding.

Jeffrey Walker, who lives next door to Mary Celigoy, has considered postponing renovations to his home.

"My wife and I sort of wanted to redo our kitchen," he said. "But we're kind of wondering, 'Is this just throwing money away? Is this ultimately going to be a loss for us?'"

Celigoy said if she loses more of her pasture to flooding, she may have to consider selling her family's farm.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (18)


  • Add A Comment

  • C"mon Man wrote...
    Don't overlook.....................
    February 7, 2013 10:15 am
    The debacle near the Mercer Slough and Swedelocken Boat launch near 405 and the 90 interchange that will tilt that pristine area for ever, as opposed to using already laid BN tracks along 405, and devising some kind of tunnel under Lake Washington.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    bucket dad
    February 7, 2013 10:23 am
    nailed it
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • GreenAcres wrote...
    We just got the salmon back...
    February 7, 2013 12:47 pm
    I heard about this on the radio this morning. I have lived next door to the Issaquah Camping Club for 15 years, and we just saw the return of Coho salmon this fall, spawning in the headwaters of May Creek. These fish are spawning at the doorstep of the proposed logging property. I grew up in prime logging country- the cascade foothills in Oregon. I can tell you point blank that logging increases runoff. If you are not aware of this fact, you are uneducated about about how forests work and what clear-cutting can do. To think that all of the spawning habitat could be washed away and silted over is very disheartening since our neighborhood has spent so much time and money to do our part to provide an improved environment. I hope there can be a compromise- it shouldn't be a running commentary on whether or not a home was built on fill. Look at the bigger picture- there's more at risk than property.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }