Introduction Non-lethal Beaver Management Building a Beaver Deceiver About Peterson Pond Description of the Facility Beaver Conflicts Construction Sequence Installing the Receiver Fence Pipe & Round Fence Installation The Completed Beaver Deceiver

Peterson Pond, looking upstream from the outlet.
(Click on photo for full screen version)

Peterson Pond, also known as Swan Lake, is located east of the City of Redmond near the intersection of Union Hill Road and 238th Ave NE. The pond is approximately nine acres in size, and is located at the headwaters of Evans Creek, part of the Lake Washington watershed. The drainage basin for Peterson Pond is about 800 acres in size, with two main tributaries to the pond. Prior to construction of the existing facility in about 1988, the outlet to the pond consisted of an uncompacted earthen dike with two box culverts. The dike and culverts had been in place since the early 1900s. The current facility consists of an outlet control structure and fish ladder, and the dam has been replaced.

Resident trout and other fish currently inhabit the pond, which also provides habitat for waterfowl, amphibians, and, of course, beavers. A large beaver lodge is located along the shore. Past studies have documented salmon spawning downstream of the outlet. A recent culvert replacement at a nearby road crossing removed a barrier to fish passage and it is hoped that salmon will start using the pond. Fish habitat in the area has been documented as moderate to high quality.

Peterson Pond is owned by the Swan Lake Estates Homeowners Association. There is no public access to the pond or fish ladder facility.

Next: Description of the Facility