Allert: Storm Water Run-off on Covert Runk Pike

Covert Run Pike has experienced significant flooding during several heavy rain events this season. City staff have made multiple visits to the area to monitor water flow, assess conditions, and identify contributing factors.

The City Engineer is actively working with the Reserve development team to identify and implement solutions to help mitigate the flooding.

One of the primary concerns involves a five-foot underground concrete storm pipe that runs along Covert Run. The entrance to the pipe, where the creek flows into the system, has become obstructed by fallen trees, debris, and sediment, restricting water flow. A contractor has been retained to clear the blockage. In addition, the city and the developer have jointly hired an engineering firm to perform a camera inspection of the storm pipe to determine whether the pipe has sustained any structural damage or has become compromised.

The city has long advocated for regional stormwater management improvements, including the construction of a stormwater retention system to reduce downstream flooding. Because this area lies within the 100-year floodplain and receives stormwater runoff from multiple surrounding jurisdictions before it reaches Bellevue, addressing flooding requires both local and regional solutions. The Sanitation District has previously completed a cost-benefit analysis for potential improvements in the area.

The city remains committed to working with engineers, developers, regional partners, and the Sanitation District to identify practical, long-term solutions that reduce the impacts of stormwater flooding on Covert Run Pike and the surrounding neighborhood.