Enhancing streams and wetlands for community, fish, and wildlife
King County
Small Habitat Restoration ProgramAnnual Report 2017
Department of Natural Resources and ParksWater and Land Resources Divisionwww.kingcounty.gov/shrp
WRIA 7: Snoqualmie-Skykomish Watershed
WRIA 8: Lake Washington -Cedar River Watershed
WRIA 9: Green/Duwamish River Watershed
WRIA 10: White River Watershed
WRIA 9: Vashon/Maury Island
Watershed
KING COUNTY
23346
810
back cover
King County Small Habitat Restoration Program Annual Report 20172
Printed on recycled paper. Please recycle.
File name: 1806_8788m_2017-SHRPreport.inddproduced by KCIT DCE
Alternative formats available206-477-5371 TTY relay: 711
PROJECT PARTNERS
Department ofNatural Resources and Parks
Project Partners
Program Highlights
Spotlight Projects
WRIA 7 Snoqualmie- Skykomish Watershed
WRIA 8 Lake Washington- Cedar River Watershed
WRIA 9 Green/Duwamish River Watershed and WRIA 10 White River
WRIA 9 Vashon/Maury Island
SHRP Contributes to Recarbonizing the Planet
CONTENTS
In 2017 the Small Habitat Restoration Program (SHRP) constructed and maintained 52 habitat projects to enhance and restore streams, wetlands, and riparian buffers throughout King County. SHRP staff worked with eight private property owners to enhance fish and wildlife habitat on their property.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: 19 new construction and phased planting projects
33 projects maintained and monitored
16,603 native trees, shrubs and non-woody plants installed
5,941 lineal feet of riparian buffer enhanced or restored
14.4 acres of riparian buffer enhanced or restored
250 linear feet of nearshore or marine shoreline restored
In 2017, grant funding for SHRP totaled over $10,000. Forging new partnerships and strengthening relationships with grant agencies and private landowners allows the program to maximize limited public funding to improve water quality and enhance habitat for fish, wildlife and future generations.
Spotlight projects within King County’s Watershed Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs) showcase successful collaborations with private property owners, homeowner associations, community groups, and public agencies. These multi-year projects typically involve local community outreach, site planning and preparation, phased native plantings, invasive weed control and project maintenance.
SPOTLIGHT PROJECTS INCLUDE:WRIA 7: Snoqualmie-Skykomish WatershedEvans Griffin Creek Restoration ProjectProject Manager Cindy Young implemented a restoration project within the Griffin Creek Natural Area to improve fish and wildlife habitat.
WRIA 8: Lake Washington-Cedar River WatershedUmbers, Phases 1 and 2, Bear Creek BasinProject Manager Laura Hartema worked with a property owner to control a severe Japanese knotweed infestation and plant native vegetation along Bear Creek.
WRIA 9: Green/Duwamish WatershedMagnusson Newaukum Creek EnhancementProject Manager Cody Toal implemented a project to enhance critical spawning habitat along Newaukum creek.
WRIA 9: Vashon/Maury IslandNeill Point Ivy ControlProject Manager Paul Adler oversaw the management of ivy control on Vashon and Maury Islands
WRIA 10: White RiverLower Boise Creek at the White RiverProject Manager Laura Hartema implemented a project that planted native trees and shrubs to improve floodplain habitat at the confluence of Boise Creek and the White River.
King County Small Habitat Restoration Program Annual Report 2017 3
2017 Program Summary and Accomplishments
Printed on recycled paper. Please recycle.
File name: 1806_8788m_2017-SHRPreport.inddproduced by KCIT DCE
Sammamish
Issaquah
Covington
Snoqualmie
Bellevue
Maple Valley
Redmond
North Bend
Duvall
Black Diamond
Kent
Carnation
Woodinville
Snoqualmie River
Snoqualmie River
Tokul Creek
Raging River
Cherry Creek
Griffen Creek
Patterson Creek
Lower Tolt River
Ames Lake
Coal Creek(Snoqualmie)
TuckCreek
Skykomish River
Cathcart Drainages
Harris Creek
SHRP 2017 Projects: WRIA 7 Snoqualmie-Skykomish Watershed
2017 Construction Project
2017 Maintenance & Monitoring Project
WRIA 7 Boundary
Basin Boundary
N
0 1 2 3 4 5
Miles
WRIA 7
KING COUNTY
111323
161819
20 2110
12
9
31
Project NameProperty Ownership
Trees Planted
Non-woody plants installed
Shrubs Planted
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Linear Ft
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Sq Ft
Dombeck Gri n Creek Restoration Public 334 100 435 175 10,250
Elves Tolt River Restoration Public 50 50 1,250
Evans Gri n Creek Restoration Public 218 125 297 200 20,350
Lyons Tolt River Restoration Public 50 250 220 7,200
Moran/Wait Public 300 100 10,000
Rumel Tolt River Restoration Public 100 100 1,600
Tolt properties (Heintz/Mernikas/Valenta) Restoration
Public 600 200 10,000
Wagner Tolt River Restoration Public 150 80 10,000
Total 1,802 225 982 1,125 70,650
Andrews Tuck Creek Riparian Planting
Aldarra East Patterson Creek Restoration
Aldarra Patterson Riparian Planting
Anderson Patterson Creek Restoration
Crittenden Patterson Riparian Planting
Espinoza Tolt River Restoration
Estepa Tolt River Restoration
Lee Patterson Riparian Planting
McClosky/Mouncey Tolt River Restoration
Mike Lein Patterson Creek Restoration
Mike Lein Snoqualmie River Riparian Restoration Project
Montaine Patterson Creek Restoration
Patrick Lein Patterson Creek Restoration
Stansbury Tolt River Restoration
Storybook Patterson Creek Restoration
Tang Tolt River Riparian Restoration
Thornquist Tolt River Restoration
21
678
9
10111213141516171819
20212223242526
45
Tolt R
iver
GriffenCreek
Lower Tolt RiverBasin
Harris CreekBasin
SnoqualmieRiverBasin
Miles
0 .5
N
22
6
17
2
4
8
7
14
24
25
5
4
Project Spotlight: WRIA 7 Snoqualmie-Skykomish Watershed
Evans Griffin Creek Restoration
Griffin Creek, a tributary to the Snoqualmie River, provides significant habitat for a number of salmonids including coho and steelhead. In fact, coho spawning densities in Griffin Creek are the highest in the entire Snoqualmie River system. King County Water and Land Resources Division has purchased numerous parcels on Griffin Creek that are now included within the Griffin Creek Natural Area. The Natural Area serves to preserve, protect and restore natural systems for fish and wildlife habitat in addition to other goals. Structures are removed from the parcels and they are planted with native plants to reduce erosion, provide shade to the creek and improve fish and wildlife habitat.
Funds for the acquisition of the Evans Griffin Creek Restoration project site came from Conservation Futures Tax and a King County Parks Levy. After the structures were removed, the Small Habitat Restoration Program designed, permitted and implemented a planting project on the parcel using SWM funds. Species of native plants were chosen because they were known to grow in the area and some would eventually provide shade to the creek. Plants were installed in November 2017 on a half-acre, including 200 lineal feet of the left bank of Griffin Creek. Over 200 trees including Douglas fir, Oregon Ash, western red cedar, red alder and black cottonwood, were planted four to eight feet on-center. More than 290 shrubs such as salmonberry, Indian plum, snowberry, oceanspray, twinberry, red twig dogwood, and thimbleberry were also added to the landscape. In addition, 125 sword fern, lady fern and spiny wood fern were planted. Wood chips mulch rings were placed around the base of the plants to reduce weeds and retain moisture. Maintenance will continue for three growing seasons to provide water to the new plants and remove invasive plants such as knotweed and blackberry.
Evans Griffin Creek Restoration project - BEFORE
Evans Griffin Creek Restoration project - DURING
Evans Griffin Creek Restoration project - AFTER
King County Small Habitat Restoration Program Annual Report 20174
Sammamish
Issaquah
Covington
Snoqualmie
Bellevue
Maple Valley
Redmond
North Bend
Duvall
Black Diamond
Kent
Carnation
Woodinville
Snoqualmie River
Snoqualmie River
Tokul Creek
Raging River
Cherry Creek
Griffen Creek
Patterson Creek
Lower Tolt River
Ames Lake
Coal Creek(Snoqualmie)
TuckCreek
Skykomish River
Cathcart Drainages
Harris Creek
SHRP 2017 Projects: WRIA 7 Snoqualmie-Skykomish Watershed
2017 Construction Project
2017 Maintenance & Monitoring Project
WRIA 7 Boundary
Basin Boundary
N
0 1 2 3 4 5
Miles
WRIA 7
KING COUNTY
111323
161819
20 2110
12
9
31
Project NameProperty Ownership
Trees Planted
Non-woody plants installed
Shrubs Planted
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Linear Ft
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Sq Ft
Dombeck Gri n Creek Restoration Public 334 100 435 175 10,250
Elves Tolt River Restoration Public 50 50 1,250
Evans Gri n Creek Restoration Public 218 125 297 200 20,350
Lyons Tolt River Restoration Public 50 250 220 7,200
Moran/Wait Public 300 100 10,000
Rumel Tolt River Restoration Public 100 100 1,600
Tolt properties (Heintz/Mernikas/Valenta) Restoration
Public 600 200 10,000
Wagner Tolt River Restoration Public 150 80 10,000
Total 1,802 225 982 1,125 70,650
Andrews Tuck Creek Riparian Planting
Aldarra East Patterson Creek Restoration
Aldarra Patterson Riparian Planting
Anderson Patterson Creek Restoration
Crittenden Patterson Riparian Planting
Espinoza Tolt River Restoration
Estepa Tolt River Restoration
Lee Patterson Riparian Planting
McClosky/Mouncey Tolt River Restoration
Mike Lein Patterson Creek Restoration
Mike Lein Snoqualmie River Riparian Restoration Project
Montaine Patterson Creek Restoration
Patrick Lein Patterson Creek Restoration
Stansbury Tolt River Restoration
Storybook Patterson Creek Restoration
Tang Tolt River Riparian Restoration
Thornquist Tolt River Restoration
21
678
9
10111213141516171819
20212223242526
45
Tolt R
iver
GriffenCreek
Lower Tolt RiverBasin
Harris CreekBasin
SnoqualmieRiverBasin
Miles
0 .5
N
22
6
17
2
4
8
7
14
24
25
5
King County Small Habitat Restoration Program Annual Report 2017 5
3 4
Project Spotlight: WRIA 8 Lake Washington-Cedar River Watershed
Umbers, Phases 1 and 2, Bear Creek Basin
This private property owner contacted SHRP in 2015 to request assistance in controlling a severe Japanese knotweed infestation along their property in the Bear Creek riparian buffer. In 2016, SHRP treated 250 linear feet (10,000 square feet) of knotweed with plans to replant and control the knotweed again the following year (2017). The owner was pleased with the project results and submitted another SHRP request in 2017 to expand our enhancement efforts to the east side of this same property. The goal was to control invasive reed canary grass and knotweed and replant with native vegetation to provide structural diversity and enhance the floodplain for fish and wildlife. In all, the property was planted in two phases with a total of 1,045 trees and 1,583 shrubs along 700 linear feet (one acre). As a result of the project and weed control education, the property owner plans on controlling these same invasives on other sections of their property outside of the buffer.
Umbers Restoration project - BEFORE
Umbers Restoration project - February 2017 POST PLANTING
Umbers Restoration project - August 2017 POST PLANTING
King County Small Habitat Restoration Program Annual Report 20176
For more info on the control of knotweed in King County check out:your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/water-and-land/weeds/BMPs/Knotweed-Control.pdf
Upper Cedar River
Issaquah Creek
Lower Cedar River
Sammamish River
May Creek
Lake Union Evans Creek
East Lake Sammamish
Juanita Creek
Kelsey Creek
Thornton Creek
Mercer Slough
Coal Creek (Cedar)
Tibbetts Creek
Bear Creek
Seattle
Bellevue
Renton
Kirkland
Sammamish
Redmond
ShorelineBothell
Newcastle
Issaquah
KenmoreWoodinville
Mercer Island
Medina
Lake Forest Park
Clyde Hill
Beaux Arts
Seattle
Bellevue
Renton
Kirkland
Sammamish
Redmond
ShorelineBothell
Newcastle
Issaquah
Kenmore
Maple Valley
Woodinville
Mercer Island
Medina
Lake Forest Park
Clyde Hill
Beaux Arts
KING COUNTYWRIA 8
SHRP 2017 Projects: WRIA 8 Lake Washington-Cedar River Watershed
2017 Construction Project
2017 Maintenance & Monitoring Project
WRIA 8 Boundary
Basin Boundary
N
0 1 2 3 4 5
Miles
90
5
405
18
520
1432
765
Cottage Lake Creek SHRP 2015-2017
Mabbott Siedel Creek Enhancement
Umbers Phase 1 Bear Creek
Umbers Phase 2 Bear Creek
Total
Huselton and Dean Phase 1 Cedar River Planting
Huselton Cedar River Phase 2
Mourey Cedar River
Project NameProperty Ownership
Trees Planted
Shrubs Planted
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Linear Feet
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Square Feet
Private 154 191 865 52,450
Private 91 200 75 5,775
Private 336 723 250 10,350
Private 709 860 700 32,875
1,290 1,974 1,890 101,450
2
1
3
4
567
King County Small Habitat Restoration Program Annual Report 2017 7
1
Project Spotlight 1: WRIA 9 Green/Duwamish River Watershed
Magnusson Newaukum Creek Habitat Enhancement
Phase 1 of this project was done in 2012 after the original property owner responded to an outreach letter expressing interest in enhancing her property. The riparian buffers were highly degraded because they had been previously cleared and were dominated by reed canary grass and invasive blackberry. The first phase of plantings was concentrated along the creek buffers. Since that time the county has acquired the property and there is much more restoration work that can be done out there. Phase 2 planting was done is 2017 with the goal being to expand the buffers and enhance the forested wetlands. The site was prepped by removing the blackberry and mowing down reed canary grass. Livestakes were installed directly into the RCG and black fabric plots were established to create areas that could be planted with potted plants. In 2017, 3,700 trees and 2100 shrubs were planted. The total area enhanced is 137, 000 square feet or 3.15 acres.
Newaukum Creek is an important stream for maintaining salmon populations in the Green River watershed. The creek is used by multiple fish species including Chinook, steelhead, chum, pink, and coho salmon. The stream is designated a critical spawning area for Chinook, steelhead, and coho. Newaukum Creek is a significant source of spawning gravel to the middle Green River and is historically important for local residents of the Enumclaw plateau.
Project Spotlight: WRIA 10 White River
Lower Boise Creek at the White River
This public land sits at the confluence of Boise Creek and the White River. A larger restoration project was conducted here years ago to restore habitat forming processes to benefit Chinook, pink, coho and chum salmon, as well as resident and sea-run cutthroat. This SHRP planted over 2,000 native trees and shrubs to improve floodplain habitat.
Confluence of Boise Creek at White River
Lower Boise Creek - Adjacent to Project Area
2
Magnusson Newaukum Creek Enhancement Project
King County Small Habitat Restoration Program Annual Report 20178
Upper Green River
Middle Green River
Black River
Soos Creek
Mill Creek
Newaukum Creek
Covington Creek
Jenkins Creek
West Vashon
Miller Creek
Elliott Bay
Coal Creek (Green)
Dumas Bay
Duwamish River
EastVashon
Lower Green River - West
Maury Island
Judd Creek
Deep Creek
Des Moines Creek
Lower Puget Sound - DM/Fed Way
Lower Green River - East
ShingleMill Creek
Salmon Creek
Seola Creek
Water - Lake Young
Lower Puget Sound - Burien South
Browns Dash Point
Seattle
Kent
Auburn
Renton
FederalWay
Burien
SeaTac
Tukwila
Covington
DesMoines
MapleValley
BlackDiamond
NormandyPark
SHRP 2017 Projects: WRIA 9 Green/Duwamish Riverand WRIA 10 White River watersheds
2017 Construction Project
2017 Maintenance & Monitoring Project
WRIA 9 Boundary
Basin Boundary
N
0 2.5 5
Miles
5
18
18
99
99
509
518
167
5
KING COUNTY
WRIA 9
WRIA 10
WRIA 9
WRIA 10Mud Mountain Middle White River
Grren Water Creek
Hylebos Creek
Lower White River
Federal Way
PacificAlgona
Milton
EnumclawEnumclaw
WRIA 9
WRIA 10
Project Name
Coronado Springs Mallard Lake Enhancement
Magnusson Newaukum Creek Habitat Enhancement
Zech Newaukum Buer Enhancement
Total
Foothills Trail Stonequarry Creek Buer Planting
Property Ownership
Trees Planted
Private
Private
Private
Shrubs Planted
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Linear Feet
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Square Feet
400 7,845
Project NameProperty Ownership
Trees Planted
Private
Shrubs Planted
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Linear Feet
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Square Feet
1,095
3,700 2,100 1,100
1,005
137,000
995 1,000 600 43,000
4,695 3,500 1,700 187,845
2
1
1
3
4
Lower Boise Creek at the White River 1,226 267,650
WRIA 9
WRIA 10
234
1
1
King County Small Habitat Restoration Program Annual Report 2017 9
8
Project Spotlight 2: WRIA 9 Vashon/Maury Island
Neill Point Ivy Removal and Invasive Weed Control SHRP
English Ivy is a pervasive problem on Vashon and Maury Island Shorelines. Ivy grows rapidly and can smother mature trees over 100 feet tall. It competes with the tree for sunlight, water and nutrients from the soil. As KC acquires properties to conserve shoreline habitat on Vashon and Maury Islands, Ivy control is the first order of business.
In 2017, WCC crew surveyed and controlled ivy on 12 acres of the 55 acre Neill Point Natural Area including over 1700 feet of shoreline. In addition to the Ivy control, the crews surveyed for and treated invasive trees, primarily English holly and English laurel.
Ivy control consists of intense and detailed hand labor to remove Ivy from the circumference of the tree. Established Ivy vines can be over 6 inches in diameter and completely cover the tree bark. Ivy vines have fine hairline “roots” that exude a glue-like material that adheres the vines to the trees bark. Removal requires careful and persistent effort to create a “life-ring.” These “life-rings” are a 4 to 6 foot wide ivy free zone around the tree, disconnecting the growing ivy from the roots. Trees need to be resurvey and retreated annually for 3 years for successful control.
The Neill Point Natural Area is part of on-going ivy control that includes five projects on multiple parcels on both Vashon and Maury Islands on King County properties and on private properties that contain a conservation easement.
6
8
9
5
2
1
43
7
1210
13
1411
West Vashon
East Vashon
Maury Island
Judd Creek
Shingle Mill Creek
SHRP 2017 Projects: WRIA9 Vashon/Maury Island Watershed
2017 Construction Project
2017 Maintenance & Monitoring Project
WRIA 9 Boundary
Basin Boundary
N
0 1 2
Miles
KING COUNTYWRIA 9:Vashon Island/Maury Island
7
11
3
9
10
4
5
86
1
2
13
14
12
Property Ownership
Public
Public
Project NameTrees Planted
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Square Feet
Maury Island Marine Park 15
Maury Island Natural Area Shoreline Enhancement 20
Total
Nearshore or Marine Shoreline Restored Linear Feet
1,000 200
50
35 1,000 250
Anderson and EaglesonJudd Creek Habitat Enhancement
Ellis Creek Estuary Enhancement
Koch Point Heyer Ivy Control
Manzanita and Northilla Ivy Removal
Neill Point Ivy Removal and Invasive Weed Control
Piner Point Natural Area Restoration
Pt Heyer Ivy Control
Raabs Lagoon Estuary Enhancement
Rohan Pt Heyer Ivy Control
Smith Raabs Lagoon Shoreline Enhancement
Spring Beach Shoreline Enhancement
Timmons Point Heyer Enhancement
2
1
34567891011121314
Neill Point Ivy Control Project - BEFORENeill Point Ivy Control Project - BEFORE
Neill Point Ivy Control Project - Cutting Climbing Ivy Vines
King County Small Habitat Restoration Program Annual Report 201710
Neill Point Ivy Control Project - AFTER
For more info on control of ivy check out:kingcounty.gov/ivycontrol
For alternatives to ivy check out:kingcounty.gov/alternatives2ivy
6
8
9
5
2
1
43
7
1210
13
1411
West Vashon
East Vashon
Maury Island
Judd Creek
Shingle Mill Creek
SHRP 2017 Projects: WRIA9 Vashon/Maury Island Watershed
2017 Construction Project
2017 Maintenance & Monitoring Project
WRIA 9 Boundary
Basin Boundary
N
0 1 2
Miles
KING COUNTYWRIA 9:Vashon Island/Maury Island
7
11
3
9
10
4
5
86
1
2
13
14
12
Property Ownership
Public
Public
Project NameTrees Planted
Riparian Bu�er Vegetation Restored Square Feet
Maury Island Marine Park 15
Maury Island Natural Area Shoreline Enhancement 20
Total
Nearshore or Marine Shoreline Restored Linear Feet
1,000 200
50
35 1,000 250
Anderson and EaglesonJudd Creek Habitat Enhancement
Ellis Creek Estuary Enhancement
Koch Point Heyer Ivy Control
Manzanita and Northilla Ivy Removal
Neill Point Ivy Removal and Invasive Weed Control
Piner Point Natural Area Restoration
Pt Heyer Ivy Control
Raabs Lagoon Estuary Enhancement
Rohan Pt Heyer Ivy Control
Smith Raabs Lagoon Shoreline Enhancement
Spring Beach Shoreline Enhancement
Timmons Point Heyer Enhancement
2
1
34567891011121314
King County Small Habitat Restoration Program Annual Report 2017 11
For the list of references for this article go to kingcounty.gov/treerefs
For more information, contact
Mason Bowles, program manager, at
[email protected] or go to
www.kingcounty.gov/shrp
Planting trees and increasing the amount of carbon in our soil are two ways we can help to reduce the potential effects of climate change. Before global climate change was widely understood, SHRP was planting trees throughout King County. Planting trees has always been central to the mission of the Small Habitat Restoration Program (SHRP). SHRP was chartered in 1995 to build small capital improvement projects with the mission of restoring and enhancing habitat in and along natural streams and wetlands. One of SHRPs first projects was the Bear Creek conifer under-planting project. This project provided free trees to property owners along Holder and Carey Creeks and other tributaries to Bear Creek, resulting in 6,000 trees Western red cedar, Douglas fir and Sitka spruce trees planted by local citizens. Those small saplings are now 23 years old.
In the last 200 years, human use of fossil fuels has resulted in the release of enough carbon dioxide (C02) to double the atmospheric carbon and cause ocean acidification as a result of carbon absorption. The earth possesses five major reservoirs of carbon: underground fossil
fuels, the atmosphere, the oceans, forests, and soil. Planting trees and increasing soil carbon are two ways in which we can take action to remove carbon from the atmosphere.
In Growing a Revolution, David Montgomery, who holds the Endowed Professorship in Geomorphology at the University of Washington, speaks to the issue of recarbonizing our soil. Increasing carbon in soil removes it from the atmosphere (sequestration) and has many other benefits: increased water storage in soil, increased length of the growing season, cooling of the ground via evapotranspiration, recharging groundwater aquifers, keeping springs and rivers flowing in the dry season.
CARBON CYCLE
oxygen
Healthy forests store carbon
Young forests absorb carbonand emit oxygen
Carbon is stored in soil
Carbondioxide
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” - Chinese Proverb
SHRP Contributes to Recarbonizing the Planet - So We Can All Breathe a Little Easier
