1
169 Elliott Bay Alki Point Duwamish Head Lake Union Green Lake SEATTLE TACOMA PUYALLUP WEST SEATTLE SEATAC FEDERAL WAY AUBURN ENUMCLAW BLACK DIAMOND MAPLE VALLEY KENT BURIEN NORMANDY PARK DES MOINES Commencement Bay Puyallup River W h i t e R i v e r P u y a l l u p R i v e r Lake Tapps M e r c e r I s l a n d D u w amis h R i ver TUKWILA Lake Sawyer Wilderness Lake Lake Youngs Panther Lake Burien Lake Lake Meridian Shadow Lake Clark Lake Lake Geneva Lake Killarny North Lake Lake Dolloff Mill Creek Mill Creek Lake Fenwick Steel Lake Mirror Lake Star Lake Angle Lake Otter Lake Shady Lake Pipe Lake/ Lake Lucerne Grass Lake Lake Morton Moneysmith Lake Neilson Lake COVINGTON Black Diamond Lake Jones Lake Bass Lake Beaver Lake Walker Lake Fish Lake Deep Lake Mud Lake Ginder Lake Lake No. 12 Retreat Lake Horseshoe Lake Keevies Lake KING COUNTY PIERCE COUNTY 21st Ave. SW 1st Ave. S Ambaum Blvd. Auburn Way N. 212TH AVE SE 244TH AVE SE Kanasket Rd. 236TH AVE SE 228TH AVE SE Kent-Black Diamond Rd. SE 240th ST 5 5 90 5 5 405 405 405 G r e e n R i v e r 99 99 99 18 18 18 18 181 516 516 515 181 518 509 509 516 516 509 167 164 164 164 410 410 410 167 167 161 512 161 509 162 162 410 410 169 169 169 167 167 99 99 99 99 SeaTac Airport Boeing Field Harbor Island G r e e n R i v e r KING COUNTY KING COUNTY PIERCE COUNTY KITTITAS COUNTY KITTITAS COUNTY Gre e n Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest Stampede Pass 3,750 ft Stampede Tunnel C A S C A D E M O U N T A I N S C e d a r R i v e r R e x Riv e r C h a r l e y Cr e e k B e a r C reek C r e e k P il i n g Eagle Lake Lynn Lake Little Eagle Lake Gale & Boundary Creeks BNSF Railway G r e e n R i v e r Ta c o m a Cree k E n u m c l a w M o u n t a i n F ri d a y C r e e k M cC ain Creek S a w m i l l C r e e k R o c k C r e e k C h a m p i o n C r e e k S m ay C re e k W. F o r k S m a y C r. W h i t e R i v e r C l e a r w a t e r C r e e k New a u k u m C reek New au k u m C reek C o v i n g ton C reek L i t t l e S o o s C r e e k Je nkins Creek J u d d C re e k S h i n g l e m i l l C r e e k B i g S o o s C r e e k B ig S o os C r e ek BNSF Railway BNSF Railway G r e en w a t e r R iver Fauntleroy Ave SW W. Marginal Way SW Admiral Way Auburn-Black Diamond Rd. C o a l C r e e k Subwatershed boundary Water Resource Inventory Area 9 City boundary Salmon hatchery Levee Urban growth area line Contamination: Highest concentrations of mercury, PCBs, PAHs, and phthalate contamination. SOOS CREEK HATCHERY KETA CR. HATCHERY PALMER HATCHERY Howard Hanson Dam Tacoma Headworks Dam SUPERFUND SITES TURNING BASIN Last navagable point on the waterway SEWER OUTFLOW GEORGETOWN KAECH LEVEE TURLEE LEVEE LONES LEVEE HAMAKAMI LEVEE REMOVAL Q u a r t e r m aster H a r b o r Having Dams and Fish Transition zone where salmon acclimate to salt water Extensive use of levees At river mile 61, the Tacoma Headworks Dam diverts water to serve customers in Pierce and southern King Counties. Three miles upstream, Howard Hanson Dam holds back flood waters and stores water for late summer release. Both dams block upstream fish passage but beginning in 2010, adult salmon migrating upstream will be collected at the Tacoma Headworks Dam. The fish will be released into the Upper Green River to spawn, opening up the upper watershed to salmon for the first time since 1911. Upper Green River Subwatershed Restore Chinook salmon and bull trout access above Howard Hanson Dam and the Tacoma Diversion Dam by providing passage upstream (trap and haul) and downstream (bypass tower) for the young fish. Protect and restore riparian habitat along the Green River mainstem and major tributaries and decommission unneeded logging roads. Protect and restore natural sediment movement by reducing road failures. Remove fish passage barriers such as culverts from tributary streams. NORTH W E S River Restoration projects: Proposed projects include reconnecting side channels, creating shallow-water and marsh habitats, planting native trees, setting back levees, adding gravel for spawning, culvert removal, removal of bulkheads, and restoring pocket estuaries. Protect and improve water quality by focusing on “nonpoint” pollution that comes from stormwater runoff from streets, highways, parking lots, roofs, yards, and cleared lands. Prevent and reduce bank/shoreline armoring. Promote low impact development such as porous pavement, bioswales, and clustered development. Replace culverts that block fish passage on tributary streams. Allow natural river flows in an unconstrained river channel where possible. Maintain adequate river flows. IN ALL AREAS Marine Nearshore Subwatershed Protect and restore lagoons, spits, and pocket estuaries where small streams enter Puget Sound. Protect and expand the vegetated shallow water “nearshore” and marsh habitats. Protect feeder bluffs that provide sediment needed for beach nourishment by preventing and, where possible, removing bulkheads. Protect and expand forage fish spawning areas used by herring, sand lance, and surf smelt. Improve sediment quality, particularly in Elliott Bay. Restore vegetated shallow subtidal and intertidal habitats and brackish marshes by restoring dredged, armored, and filled areas. Increase shallow and slow water “transition zone” habitat where salmon transform from freshwater to salt water fish. Improve sediment quality through the Lower Duwamish Superfund Cleanup. Protect and restore water quality through point and nonpoint pollution source control. Restore off-channel refuge habitat and pools in Tukwila. Enhance natural sediment movement. Duwamish Estuary Subwatershed Middle Green River Subwatershed Protect and restore side channels, off-channel wetlands, tributary mouths, and pools that provide shelter and habitat complexity for young salmon. Protect and restore natural sediment movement by reconnecting sediment sources to the river. Protect and restore spawning and rearing habitat in lower Newaukum and Soos Creeks. Maintain regional groundwater recharge and base flows to the mainstem Green River through forest retention and low impact development. Lower Green River Subwatershed Protect and restore side channels, off-channel wetlands, tributary mouths, and pools that provide shelter and habitat complexity for young salmon. Protect and restore natural sediment movement by reconnecting sediment sources to the river. Preserve groundwater inflow from the historical White River channel. Modify the Black River Pump Station to improve fish passage. Tacoma Auburn Kent Renton Duwamish River Seattle Stuck River Lake Tapps Black River Elliott Bay Commencement Bay Tidal flats PU G E T S O U N D Cedar R i v e r G r e e n R i v e r W h i t e R i v e r P u y a l l u p R ive r Before the Ship Canal was built in 1916, Lake Washington was 8 feet higher and drained into the Black River. Lake Wash. Large spring flows meant chronic flooding in this area before the Howard Hanson Dam was built on the Green River in 1963. W h i t e R iv e r Conditions before 1906 The Green/Duwamish Watershed was 1,640 square miles in 1906 when four river basins drained into Elliott Bay. Today it is reduced to 480 square miles. The Cedar River now flows into Lake Washington. The White River was diverted south in 1906 by a log jam. Citizens made this permanent by constructing a levee. The Duwamish River was straightened, reducing its length from 15 to 11 miles. Flooding was reduced by the construction of the Howard Hanson Dam and a series of levees. These made land in the valley much more attractive for development. HISTORIC RIVERS Auburn Kent Renton Duwamish River Seattle White River Lake Tapps Ced a r R i v e r G r e e n R i v e r W hite R i v er Puy a ll u p River G re e n R iv e r Lake Washington empties through the Ship Canal. The Cedar River empties into the lake. The Black River is shortened. Diverted south in 1906, the White River replaced the Stuck River. Present conditions Harbor Island Levee banks Flood plain River current RIVER CONTAINED The Problem with Levees Levees help reduce flooding. But during peak river flows, a faster current can scour away gravel and shelter needed by salmon. Oil spills: Early detection and clean up is vital for nearshore habitat health. Maury Island State Aquatic Reserve: Plants and animals protected. New Fish Passage Tower Howard Hanson Damwas not designed for safe downstream passage by young salmon. A new fish passage tower will gather young salmon and pass them safely around Howard Hanson Dam. The tower can pass fish regardless of fluctuating water levels in the reservoir. Reservoir DAM G r e e n R. Site of proposed tower Making Our Watershed N EA RSH O RE D U W A M ISH L O W ER GREEN MID DLE GREEN UPPER GREEN Habitat Plan for the Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed U r b a n i z a t i o n www.govlink.org/watersheds/ NEARSHORE: Zone exists from the tops of beaches and bluffs out to the shallow waters of Puget Sound. Plants add structure salmon need. Plants also attract insects for food and create shade to cool the water. G O A L: IM P R O V E H A BIT AT P R O D U CTIVITY A N D IN C REASE SAL M ON NU M BERS, DIVERSITY AN D DISTRIBUTION Chinook salmon were listed as ‘threatened’ in 1999 under the federal Endangered Species Act. In 2005, local governments, environmental groups, businesses, and state and federal agencies completed a science-based Habitat Plan for protecting and restoring local salmon habitat. This watershed plan was folded into the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan approved in 2007. The goal of these plans is to make Puget Sound healthier for people and fish. Our Watershed: Problems and solutions Lack of native trees and shrubs allows the water to heat up and allow non-native invasive weeds like blackberry to take over. Poor riparian habitat Gravel for spawning H.H. Dam Water diversion dam Gravel can’t flow past dams Levees Warehouses and Industry Runoff Treated sewage Rural Residential Healthy riparian habitat RIPARIAN HABITAT: The transition zone between the water where fish live and upland areas. Bluff erosion is natural. Bulkheads starve beaches of sediment and damage beach ecology. Salmon and other marine creatures suffer. Preserving native trees and shrubs keeps erosion rates at natural levels. Overhanging trees keep the beach healthy for prey fish that salmon eat. Protect sediment sources Bulkheads Bluff sediment Eroding beach Salmon habitat Cut off sediment Protect shallow water vegetation including eelgrass and kelp beds where young salmon live. Empty sewage at the dock — not into Puget Sound. Protect and restore pocket estuaries where salmon rear. Salmon often leave their natal stream, enter Puget Sound, but then re-enter other estuaries for food and shelter. Adding anchored logs provides good shelter for salmon and trout. Fences keeping livestock out of streams and proper manure management allow farms and fish to co-exist. Runoff Decommission unneeded forest roads. Maintain healthier more sustainable forestry. Protect streams through buffer zones. Replacing old culverts with box culverts will help open up stream habitat. Replacement Road Box culvert SILT Older culverts are difficult for fish to swim through and can blow out, causing sedimentation. LOGGING ROAD Help prevent oil, pesticides, soaps and pet waste from going down storm drains. Recreate more natural and gentler stream banks by setting back levees. Restore shallow water intertidal habitat, where young fish feed, shelter, and adapt to salt water. Control storm water sources to maintain water quality and avoid recontamination of sediments. Factory waste causes relatively little pollution in the Duwamish today. Most pollution today comes from stormwater runoff. Use natural lawn care and avoid “quick release” fertilizers. Limit lawns and plant native trees and shrubs. Runoff from streets OIL HARBOR IS. Maintain urban growth boundaries and support ‘smart’ growth. R e s t o r e e s t u a rie s Duwamish Superfund cleanup is removing past pollution that is harmful to both people and fish. EGGS IN GRAVEL Female salmon lay 2,000 to 4,000 eggs in clean, well-oxygenated gravel. SPAWNING SMOLT ADULT KING (CHINOOK) SALMON Male Female King salmon change color as they swim upstream to the exact same stream where they were hatched. After spawning, the salmon die. Their bodies provide food for animals and valuable nutrients to the streams. Salmon spend about 4 years in Puget Sound or in the ocean where they feed and grow. After 2 to 16 months, these young salmon start their long journey to the sea. Their kidneys and gills change to prepare them for life in salt water, and they turn silver to camouflage themselves in the ocean. PARR As they grow, they acquire dark markings to camouflage themselves in the shady pebbles of the river. FRY After they lose the egg sac, these pine-needle sized fish must feed on their own. ALEVIN In about 50 days, the baby salmon hatch, but they stay in the gravel, getting food from a yolk sac still attached to their bodies. The Salmon Cycle Preserve your shorelines Leave your streambank, lakefront, and Puget Sound shoreline vegetated with native vegetation to shade the water, reduce erosion, and provide insects that feed the fish. Use natural yard care Build healthy soil with mulch. Leave grass clippings on the lawn. Practice smart watering. Think twice before using pesticides. Use native plants. Take care of your car Wash your car on your lawn instead of the driveway. Better yet, take it to a carwash. Fix oil leaks in your car and recycle motor oil. Clean up spilled anti-freeze. Use proper disposal Dispose of unneeded household cleaners, paints, and other chemicals at hazardous waste collection sites. Do not pour down the household drain or storm drain. Conserve water Use efficient fixtures (toilets, clothes washers, and showerheads). Fix leaks. Cutting back on the water we use is good for the environment and salmon, and you’ll save money. Ice age ends and the Puget Sound glacier retreats. Remove invasive weeds Remove or control non-native invasives weeds such as blackberry, knotweed, and ivy that otherwise crowd out native plants. Plant a tree Plant native trees and shrubs to improve the ecosystem for fish, wildlife, and birds. Protect Puget Sound beaches and bluffs Use ‘soft armoring’ rather than hard bulkheads to protect property. Preserve trees that overhang the beach. Move rocks gently when exploring and leave driftwood in place. Consume wisely Buy products that have the least impact on water quality in their manufacture, use, and disposal. Get involved Volunteer to steward restoration projects by planting trees and controlling invasive weeds. 12,000 BC Indian peoples thrive on the salmon and other resources of the watershed. Thousands of years before present First settlers arrive in Duwamish estuary area. 1851 Population of valley starts to grow in earnest. 1866 Major railroads build lines. 1870s Major logging occurs. 1880-1910 Northern Pacific Railroad constructs east-west line through the watershed. 1888 Duwamish East Waterway construction begins. 1895 Extensive logging on Vashon Island. 1900 Green River Hatchery completed. 1902 Major flooding in rivers during fall and winter; log jam forces White River south. 1906 Harbor Island, at the time the world’s largest artificial island, is completed. 1909 The White River is completely diverted to Puyallup River to reduce flooding problems. 1911 City of Tacoma completes its Headworks water diversion dam on the upper Green River. 1913 Lake Washington Ship Canal completed. Cedar River diverted to Lake Washington. Most of Black River dries up. 1916 Dredging fills more Duwamish intertidal areas and the East/West Waterways are finished. 1917 Private levee construction begins all along the Green/Duwamish rivers to prevent flooding. 1919 Seattle and King County development plan recommends the Howard Hanson Dam, converting 2,500 acres of farmland to industrial area, river dredging, and estuary filling. 1954 Howard Hanson Dam is completed. Major floods are eliminated. 1963 Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Plan approved. 2007 Washington State Growth Management Act promotes denser, smarter growth. 1990 Federal listing of Chinook salmon and bull trout as threatened species; protection is required. 1999 Significant habitat improvements accomplished in first 10 years of Habitat Plan. 2015 Watershed is healthy for fish–and for people. 2055 Washington granted statehood. 1889 0 5 10 15 MILES KING COUNTY Duwamish 5 90 405 Upper Green Middle Green Lower Green Nearshore What’s a Watershed? Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed Size: 664 square miles including marine waters of Puget Sound Population: 630,000 (2004 est.) Annual value of ecosystem goods and services: $1.7 – 6.3 billion Length of Green/Duwamish River: 93 miles Length of Puget Sound shoreline: 90 miles A watershed is a basin-shaped area that drains into a river, lake, or the ocean. It includes freshwater — ground and surface waters — as well as saltwater of Puget Sound. Design and graphics by Ben Garrison Poster produced with grant from King Conservation District Subwatersheds April 2007 0704_W9poster.ai
