W9-SRFB-2015ProjectSummary.docx Page 1 of 7

WRIA 9 Recommended Projects 2015 Salmon Recovery Funding Board

May 14, 2015

Estimated Funding Available1

Salmon Funding Recovery Board (SFRB) $ 327,353 Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) $1,101,070 Cooperative Watershed Management (CWM) $1,164,227 TOTAL $2,592,650

Project Summary

Project Name Sponsor Rivermile Sub-area Phase Source Request

Mill Creek - Leber Restoration Kent 23.7 LG Construction CWM 558,000

Mill Creek - Leber Restoration Kent 23.7 LG Construction PSAR 292,000

McSorley Creek Pocket Estuary WRIA 9 n/a NS/Des Moines Design CWM 250,000

Downey Farmstead -Phase 1 Kent 21.5 LG Construction PSAR 372,647

Downey Farmstead -Phase 1 Kent 21.5 LG Construction SRFB 327,353

Downey Farmstead -Phase 1 Kent 21.5 LG Construction CWM 106,227

Duwamish Gardens Tukwila 7 DUW Construction PSAR 36,423

Revegetation WRIA 9 n/a DUW, LG, MG Construction CWM 250,000

Lones/Turley Levee Setback King County 37-38 MG Design PSAR 200,000

Maury Island Aquatic Reserve King County n/a NS Acquisition PSAR 200,000

TOTAL $2,592,650

DUW - Duwamish

LG - Lower Green

MG - Middle Green

NS - Nearshore

1 Estimated amount from SRFB and PSAR; final funding cannot be determined until the federal funding component is finalized.

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Project LG-7: Mill Creek – Leber Homestead Restoration

Project Description

City of Kent proposes to construct a floodplain wetland off of Mill Creek providing 1.8 acres of floodplain habitat below the ordinary high water mark and 5.4 acres below the 100-year flood height near the confluence of the Green River at RM 23.7.

This last increment of funding will be used to complete the remaining phase of construction and will include: 1000 LF of new off-channel habitat; 43 log structures designed to maximize salmon habitat; removal of invasive vegetation; improve five acres of riparian and two acres of upland plantings to increase diversity, density and shading (30,000 willow and dogwood live stakes, and 21,000 containerized and bare-root native plants). Once complete, the overall restoration project will increase floodplain refuge habitat for Chinook and other salmonids, enhance riparian habitat, and increase floodplain storage. The side channel will be subject to backwater approximately 125 days per year when outmigrating salmon numbers are greatest. When water flows into the off-channel area, juvenile salmonids will find cover, food and protection from flood flows. Coho, Chinook, chum and pink salmon, cutthroat and steelhead trout populations make extensive use of Mill Creek.

Funding for first phase of the project prepared the site for the construction phase. The City of Kent has recently planted two acres of riparian and six acres of upland plantings to increase diversity, density and shading (30,000 willow and dogwood live stakes, and 21,000 containerized and bare-root native plants).

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Project NS-15: McSorley Creek Pocket Estuary Restoration in Des Moines

Project Description

In cooperation with Washington State Parks, King County will continue design efforts for the McSorley Creek Pocket Estuary at Saltwater State Park in Des Moines. The project was funded through Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration funding in 2013 to develop the preliminary design and this additional funding will be used to refine the design so that the project can compete for construction funding in upcoming grant rounds. The future restoration project will a) remove fill material to restore natural ecosystem processes to one acre of intertidal habitat at the creek delta, b) remove rock armoring along 150 feet along both banks of McSorley Creek upstream from the mouth, c) restore the stream channel, and d) remove as much of the 2500 feet of marine shoreline armoring as possible to maximize habitat benefits while maintaining protection of known cultural resources.

The mouth of McSorley Creek with rock armoring along its banks.

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Project LG-7: Downey Farmstead Phase 1 – Road Relocation

Project Description

City of Kent will complete the first phase of the Downy Farmstead restoration project by relocating Frager Road away from the river's edge to maximize the site to allow future creation of the side channel network and expanded floodplain. The road alignment will provide a greater buffer/setback from the river.

After the road is relocated, the city will apply for additional funding to complete the project and restore river processes by constructing a side channel and reconnecting floodplain on the left bank of the Green River between river mile (RM) 21.5 and RM 22.3. The downstream edge of the site coincides with the confluence of Mullen Slough with the Green River.

The site was previously acquired by the City of Kent and when full restoration is completed, the project will provide side-channel rearing and refuge habitat for use by juvenile salmon throughout most of the year, particularly juvenile Chinook salmon that inhabit the Green River. Other fish present at the site and expected to utilize the project area are: bull trout, chum, coho, cutthroad, pink, winter steelhead, pacific lamprey and river lamprey. Enhancing habitat for improved juvenile salmonid rearing, lifestage diversity, and productivity is a priority in the Green River watershed. A secondary goal of the project is to create additional flood storage and to help alleviate flood damages in urban and agricultural areas in the project vicinity. The final project design was completed in 2013.

Downey Farmstead project site on the left bank of the Green River between river miles 21.5 and 22.3.

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Program WW-5: Promote the Planting of Native Trees

Project Description

This initial 2015 funding request for $250,000 is meant to catalyze a multi-year collaborative planting effort on the Duwamish, Lower and Middle Green River. This funding would fund revegetation efforts and formalize a partnership known as “Green the Green” with businesses and environmental organizations in order to develop and implement a revegetation strategy that will address water temperature concerns. The goal is to focus and coordinate existing riparian restoration funding, and seek new grants as match, on high priority areas in the watershed. The backbone organizations to coordinate this revegetation effort are WRIA 9, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and The Boeing Company with a broad coalition including local cities, state and federal agencies, Forterra, EarthCorps, MidSound Fisheries Enhancement Group and other businesses and non-profit organizations. A stewardship component, which would recruit volunteers and provide educational opportunities, will be combined with on-the-ground restoration activities.

An example of a healthy riparian zone along the Lower Green River. If adequately funded, other areas along the Duwamish, Lower and Middle Green River will be planted.

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Projects MG-9 and 11: Lones Turley Levee Setback Conceptual Design

Project Description

The goal of this project is to reconnect the floodplain area of the Green River allowing the natural processes to be re-established, consistent with current flow regimes of the Green River by removing and setting back levees. With the levee removal, the Green River would be allowed to re-occupy and reset old meander bends and channel migration zones, improving the diversity of habitat for salmonids and other species. This funding request is for conceptual design in order to identify and create conceptual design of alternatives including plan drawings incorporating stakeholder input.

Lones Levee at river mile 38: Protect farmland behind the setback levee while allowing channel migration.

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Project NS-17: Maury Island Aquatic Reserve Armoring Removal

Project Description

This project includes acquisition of thirteen parcels and removal of nearshore armoring on four properties on Vashon Island. The total length of marine shoreline acquired is 1100 feet. This project will complete restore the shoreline by removing 700' of shoreline armoring. The bulkhead material includes rock, creosote pilings, and concrete/plastic boulders. The project also includes the removal of three cabins and restoring native revegetation. This funding will be used towards acquisition of parcels and will match other grant funding sources including an anticipated $1,586,712 through the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP).

A property targeted for acquisition and eventual restoration through removal of nearshore armoring and fill material.