Puget Sound Innovation Stories

Cherry Creek Restoration Project

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: 01

LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT: 45

WRIA: 7

CITY, COUNTY: Duvall, King County

COST: $703,000

PROJECT SUMMARY

Cherry Creek is the Snoqualmie River’s lowest major tributary; its location provides high recovery-benefit potential for Chinook, Coho, and other salmonids. Because Puget Sound’s agricultural occur mainly in active floodplain, many farming areas are exposed to more frequent and prolonged flooding due to oversaturated soils. The installation of a dike and pump station in Cherry Creek disconnected the Creek from the mainstem to prevent farmlands from flooding, but disrupted floodplain processes that create and maintain natural habitat for wildlife. Reduced availability of off-channel habitat eliminated habitat where fish can rest during high and low flows, juvenile can rear, and adults can spawn. This restoration project was designed to improve both salmon habitat and access, while improving drainage for surrounding agricultural lands. By increasing stream habitat and hydraulic complexity in the lower Cherry Creek and its floodplain, fish have access to historic floodplain habitat and riparian condition was improved for native birds and wildlife. The realignment of the Creek provided a larger channel to meet agricultural drainage requirements of surrounding lands.

WaterWheel2

Wild Fish Conservancy

Key Actions:

  • Stagnant drainage ditches were consolidated into a reconfigured 4,100 foot long naturalized stream channel, adding two miles of stream accessible to salmon
  • Installation of a bridge across the downstream end of the Creek to improve fish passage
  • Woody debris placed within the newly constructed stream channel will improve fish habitat, slow water flows
  • Replacement of a conventional pump system on Cherry Creek with a fish-friendly system designed to improve fish passage and reduce fish mortality
  • 3 acres of native trees and shrubs planted as riparian buffer

Benefits:

  • Improved drainage of floodwater from adjacent farmlands
  • Maintains protection of farmland infrastructure and existing Cherry Creek levee
  • Improves fish and wildlife habitat within the Cherry Valley Wildlife Area
  • Recreational opportunities such as hunting and wildlife watching maintained
  • Complements other restoration projects in the area, including levee and pump removal

Project Partners:

  • Wild Fish Conservancy
  • Snohomish Conservation District
  • NOAA Fisheries Restoration Center
  • Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • Puget Sound Acquisition & Restoration (PSAR) Fund
  • Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
  • King County Conservation District
  • King County
  • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
  • Ducks Unlimited
  • Snohomish Basin Lead Entity
  • Stewardship Partners

COST: $703,000, including $390,000 PSAR funding

More Info

Publish Date: May 21, 2018
Category: Salmon
Congressional Districts: Congressional Dist. 1
Legislative Districts: Legislative Dist. 45
Counties: King
WRIA: WRIA 7
Habitat Types: Floodplain | Rivers & Streams