One of the creeks running into Log Boom Park, it has a couple of different names, including Little Creek and May Creek.

It’s official designation is creek 0056.

Whatever its name, Elizabeth Mooney hopes she can prove restoration efforts at the creek have been successful. Successful enough that those efforts can spread and be used on other area streams.

Mooney is one of a handful of members of People for an Environmentally Responsible Kenmore who, along with several other ecologically minded organizations, took a roughly two-hour canoe or kayak trip around Lake Washington early the morning of Oct. 11.

Another member of the Kenmore group, Ann Hurst said the purpose of the trip was to draw attention to the plight of local streams and creeks and encourage restoration of those waterways, many of which are home to salmon and other fish and wildlife.

“If everybody takes an interest in the stream near them, it can help,” Hurst said.

The flotilla planned to leave flags near several creeks and streams, including 0056, Swamp Creek, McAleer Creek, Snohomish Slough and waterways in St. Edward State Park. Hurst noted St. Edward’s features the longest natural shoreline on Lake Washington. Both she and Mooney said the flags are meant to remind folks that the tributaries in question aren’t ditches, as some people think, but are fish bearing waterways.

With a Small Change for a Big Difference Grant, administered through the King County Natural Resources and Park Fund and matched by the city of Kenmore, Mooney several years ago set about working to restore 0056. She had the help of the Adopt A Stream Foundation along with students from Lockwood Elementary School. Work included such things as planting native plants and removing non-native vegetation.

Because of heavy rains, 0056 has a direct path to Lake Washington for the first time in many years, Mooney said. That fact is significant since blockages are a common problem along many local creeks and streams. Mooney reiterated she hopes to show restoration efforts along with the removal of blockages or barriers can help bring waterways back to health.

During the canoe trip, Mooney planned to take water samples from 0056, samples which eventually will be tested for the presence of may flies and black flies. May flies indicate a healthy creek friendly to salmon, while the presence of too many black flies indicates the waterway has problems.

Besides the flotilla, the Oct. 11 event included the Streamfest education fair in Kenmore. The fair included a sort of brainstorming session involving various local green groups. They hope to come up with recommendations they can present to various civic leaders in and around Kenmore.

Hurst said there are numerous steps persons with property along creeks or streams can take to help restore those creeks or streams. As Mooney and her helpers did along 0056, controlling non-native plants and replacing them with native vegetation is an important step. Salmon like colder water, so removal of shade trees is not necessarily a good idea. Owners can also keep lawns back from waterways and be mindful of fertilizer run off.

“It’s all about connections and connecting,” Mooney said. “It’s like a big quilt.”