Drainage, habitat project nominations sought for unincorporated King County improvement programs

2005 Archived News

King County's Small Habitat Restoration and Drainage and Habitat Improvement programs are seeking nominations for projects for the 2005-2006, and future, construction and planting seasons.

Both programs are administered by King County's Department of Natural Resources and Parks and provide funding to design, permit and construct small habitat restoration and drainage projects in and around streams and wetlands throughout unincorporated King County. Limited funding is available for construction of these small projects on either private or public land.

The SHRP program has funded 297 projects since 1995. In 2002, the program completed 15 projects in urban areas and 24 in rural areas and restored 19 acres of stream/river bank. In 2003, the program had 29 urban projects and 23 rural projects, improving a total of 6.3 miles of stream, 38.6 acres of wetlands and 135 acres of stream/wetland buffer areas.

Past projects have been proposed by creek neighbors, county staff members, private landowners, community groups and environmental organizations. Though project applications are always accepted, for consideration and ranking project applications for the 2005 construction season must be submitted by January 31, 2005. Applications will then be screened and prioritized for implementation. Some projects nominated this year may be implemented in future years depending on their priority and available funding.

Among the projects funded through these programs in 2004 were:

• Ober Creek Fish Passage Restoration Project: The Small Habitat Restoration Program (SHRP) funded the replacement of an undersized culvert blocking fish passage near the mouth of a small stream on Vashon Island. The streambed was also re-graded and improved for a short distance downstream of the culvert.
• Struve Creek Culvert Replacement Project: The Drainage and Habitat Improvement Program (DHI) replaced two undersized culverts with large box culverts to remove blockages to upstream fish migration for salmon and trout, restore normal stream function for stream flow and storm conveyance, and restore natural sediment and debris transport. This project was constructed in the head waters of Struve Creek and is located near Redmond. Coho salmon and cutthroat trout can now access the rearing and spawning habitat at the creek's headwaters.
• Sharkey Bank Improvement Project: Non-native vegetation was removed from an eroding bank along a tributary to the Sammamish River through this SHRP-funded project. The bank was replanted and stabilized with native vegetation.

To nominate a project, fill out the online application form at http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/cposa/shrp/suggest.htm.

For more information on King County's Small Habitat Restoration Program, contact Mason Bowles at 206-296-8736. For more information on King County's Drainage and Habitat Improvement Program, contact Doug Brown at 206-296-8318.