King County secures federal funds for fish and flood protection

(Local congressional delegation and Ron Sims win $4.2 million for critical projects)

President Bill Clinton has signed the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill which will send up to $4.2 million to salmon habitat and flood protection projects in King County. This appropriations bill will fund the federal portion of cooperative Army Corps projects to restore and enhance flood protection. This funding provides up to 75 percent of the total cost of several high-priority King County projects.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requested the funds to complete a list of six priority projects. This list was developed in cooperation with King County and suburban cities. These six projects, spread across King County in the Greater Lake Washington and Green-Duwamish watersheds will improve habitat, ease fish passage, and open new spawning and rearing habitat for endangered chinook salmon and other species. The projects will also benefit citizens and businesses by reducing flooding and improving local water quality.

“This is great news for the citizens and salmon of King County,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “These funds would not have been possible without the support of Senators Slade Gorton and Patty Murray and Representatives Norm Dicks, Jennifer Dunn, Jim McDermott, and Adam Smith. Completing these projects will be another step forward in our efforts to save the salmon.”

In addition to the human impacts of flooding, key salmon habitat is often damaged or destroyed by flooding. Matching dollars from local governments for most of these projects will be 25% of total costs.

The six projects, and the federal dollars allocated to that project, are:

• Ballard Locks Fish Passage Improvements, up to $1.7 million
  A combination of capital improvement to reduce injury to juvenile salmon and steelhead swimming out to Puget Sound. This project is expected to increase the survival of juvenile salmon from the Cedar/Sammamish watershed by at least 20% -- and more in dry years (when the spill gates must be closed longer to maintain lake levels).

• Snoqualmie River Flood Protection, up to $1.9 million
  Channel widening improvements to the Snoqualmie River (upstream of Snoqualmie Falls) and removal of an old bridge trestle upstream of State Highway 202. These improvements and bridge removal will improve flood conveyance in the river and lower flood elevations in the City of Snoqualmie and surrounding areas. Flood depths in the downtown area of Snoqualmie are expected to be reduced 1.0 feet for the 10 year flood and 1.6 feet for the 100 year flood. The Corps has estimated that the project will reduce annual averages damages to homes and businesses in the Snoqualmie area by over $1.0 million.

• Nearshore Marine Habitat Study, $100,000
  This is the first phase to produce a conservation plan for nearshore marine habitats of central Puget Sound. Salmon depend heavily on nearshore marine habitat for rearing and feeding during long periods of their life cycles. When complete, this study will identify and prioritize restoration needs for marine habitat for salmon and other aquatic species. It will serve as the marine component of recovery plans for salmon that have been recently listed or are under consideration under the federal Endangered Species Act.

• North Bend Flood Protection Study, up to $200,000
  This study will assess the feasibility and cost of several alternative approaches to improving flood protection to developed residential areas along the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River and a significant part of the commercial downtown area of North Bend. Alternatives will include structural improvements such as levee raising and design modifications to make the existing levee system more structurally sound. Other options such as setback levees, home elevation and floodplain acquisition will also be fully evaluated.

• Green/Duwamish Ecosystem Restoration Study, $152,000
  This study and the Green/Duwamish area project listed below address high-priority habitat needs for salmon and other species in the Green/Duwamish watershed. The completion of this study is the first systematic watershed-wide analysis of habitat needs and priorities in the area. It will result in a prioritized list of habitat improvement projects based on the best available science and engineering, and will serve as the blueprint for habitat programs for years to come.

• Green/Duwamish Habitat Projects, up to $250,000
  These early action projects include reconnection of side channels, creation of estuary habitat, restoration of tributaries, and removal of fish passage barriers. All directly benefit chinook and other salmon species by increasing the quantity, quality, and diversity of aquatic and riparian habitat at key sites identified in the study.

Updated: Oct. 8, 1999