Green River Bank Stabilization & Habitat Restoration Project

Negotiations with adjoining property owners allowed for relocation of planned building construction and setback reconstruction of the eroding Desimone levee along the Right Bank of the Green River at River Mile 15.4. Work began in 1998 and concluded with in-water portions of the construction in 2003 following completion of required ESA documentation and consultation. Altogether, over 1,300 feet of the levee was relocated some twenty to twenty-five feet landward of its original top-of-bank location in a heavily-developed warehouse district. This allowed the creation of a densely vegetated midslope bench which serves as low-velocity flood refuge for salmonids during common levels of winter flows released from reservoir storage for flood control. Altogether over 75 large logs with intact rootwads were secured below the Ordinary High Water Mark to create low-velocity zones and cover for juvenile salmonids, which have been observed utilizing this habitat during monitoring efforts in 2003.

For questions about Boating on King County Rivers, please contact Steve Bleifuhs, Program Analyst, Rivers Section.