WRIA 8 – Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed
Project Subcommittee Report
June 4th Fieldtrip and June 25, 2007 Meeting
King Conservation District 2007 Grant Cycle
Project Subcommittee Members: Councilmember Dan Clawson (City of Renton; Jonathan Frodge (King County, WRIA 8 Technical Committee); Councilmember Rich Gustafson (City of Shoreline); Kirk Lakey (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife); Kathy Minsch (Seattle Public Utilities); Kirk Prindle (City of Issaquah); Brian Ward (City of Bellevue).
Funds and Recommended Allocation: In 2007 the King Conservation District (KCD) grant funds for WRIA 8 are $1,400,722.At their March meeting, the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council recommended allocating the funds as follows: 1) site specific projects - $770,984 (two-thirds); 2) monitoring, studies, and public outreach - $287,680 (one-quarter); and 3) discretionary fund for the Project Subcommittee - $92,058 (one-twelfth). Additional funds received July 16, 2007 are recommended at 75 percent site specific and 25 percent monitoring, studies and public outreach. Fifteen applications were received for a total request of $1,886,472 with matching funds of $4,513,348 (see Table 1 for summary). The requests exceed the funds by $485,750.
Project Eligibility and Match Requirement: For KCD funding the project must be within KingCounty and meet the policies of the KCD Board. For WRIA 8 the project must be on the WRIA 8 Plan start-list of actions or within the monitoring chapter. The project is evaluated for benefits to Chinook and feasibility. Priority is given to Tier I projects in the priority areas of Cedar, Migratory, naturally spawning Sammamish population areas, and other Sammamish population areas. No match is required for KCD projects.
Project Subcommittee Process:Prior to theirfieldtrip and meeting the Project Subcommittee received copies of the KCD applications, criteria/question forms, and KCD policies. On June 4th,the Project Subcommittee members and WRIA 8 staffvisited eight site specific projects throughout WRIA 8. Project sponsors gave a brief presentation of their project on-site and then responded to questions from the Subcommittee. On June 25th the Project Subcommittee heard seven presentations on monitoring, a study, public outreach, and noxious weed removal. They had time for questions and answers from the project sponsors. Handouts, photos, or maps were allowed to be distributed to supplement the KCD application at both the fieldtrip and meeting.
Following the presentations the Subcommittee reviewed the policies and discussed the conflict of interest statement. After completing their personal scoring of the applications they discussed the combined scores and ranking. Project Subcommittee members thoroughly discussed any issues or recommendations for projects before proceeding with allocation recommendations. Their final ranking and recommendations for allocations are provided in Table 2.
Highlights of Discussion: With a $485,750 gap between the KCD funds and the applicant requests, the Project Subcommittee had to determine the highest priority projects while providing a balance between the two groups of applications – site specific and monitoring/studies/outreach.
For the site specific group, four out of the top five recommended projects are within the Cedar River subarea reflecting the importance of the Cedar River population, which is at high risk. The Rainbow Bend Acquisition project (ranked # 1) contributes the final funding needed for acquisition of this key 20 acre parcel, which will later have the levee removed and floodplain reconnected. This project is part of the partnership between the City of Seattle and KingCounty to acquire and restore the Cedar’s important Belmondo reach.It received 2006 SRFB funds and has been reconfigured to have the new funds purchase the mobile home section of the property. The Cedar River Opportunity Fund’s request (ranked # 3) was reduced to address the large shortfall in funding. This fund provides reserve funding for acquisition projects. The Cedar River Habitat Restoration Stewardship(#4)provides funds for planting projects and stewardship of restoration sites, such as the Lions Club side-channel project. New this year is the Noxious Weed Control Program (# 5) within the Cedar River system to address the invasive knotweed problem starting at the headwaters and moving downstream to the Middle Cedar.
The second highest ranked project was Cottage Lake Creek Conservation Project (# 2), an acquisition project to protect 0.55 river miles of key Chinook spawning habitat for the naturally spawning Sammamish population in the Bear Creek system. This project ranked high because of the quality and significance of the habitat. An important note, both the Rainbow Bend and Cottage Lake Creek projects, ranked first and second, were not fully funded through KCD because they were also ranked first and second in the SRFB/ PSAR grant round, where there aremore funds available.
The sixth project Madrona Park Creek Daylighting and Restoration(#6) is in the higher priority Migratory area but had already completed the restoration of the creek mouth. Their request was for restoration of an upper section of the creek, which has less significance than the creek mouth. Overall this project was an excellent demonstration of community group fundraising and restoration and the Subcommittee supported funding the completion of their work.
Valley Estates Culvert Replacement and Channel Stabilization (# 7) would restore a Tier III creek that has a hung culvert above the SammamishRiver. The Project Subcommittee did not fund this project because the project did not clearly address the key limiting factor of the SammamishRiver, which is high water temperatures. This tributary may contribute warmer water to the SammamishRiveror warmer water may be contributed by the new detention pond constructed on the upland above the SammamishRiver. Synoptic temperature sampling of the SammamishRiver upstream of the culvert, and of the stream before it enters the SammamishRiver, will provide the necessary data to evaluate the benefit to Chinook of this project. In addition to the need for the temperature information, the Project Subcommittee did not think the project would provide significant habitat benefits, such as shallow water rearing, at the culvert mouth. Further restoration at the mouth and of the riparian area along the Sammamish, as a Project Subcommittee recommended second phase to this project, would be more consistent with the WRIA 8 Plan’s conservation strategy.
The final two projects within the site specific group Sammamish River Restoration Project (# 8) and Daybreak Star Wetlands Revitalization(# 9)are recommended for $20,000 each. While these two projects did not have as high of a technical component as the other projects they did involve two new groups with excellent potential for expanding public education and outreach along with the restoration. The Sammamish River Restoration Project will restore riparian vegetation along the SammamishRiver. The Daybreak Star Wetlands Revitalization project will assess the hydrology on the site and the Wolfe Creek connection to the estuary area opposite CommodorePark at the Locks.
In the Monitoring/ Studies/ Public Outreach group of applications there are six projects. Monitoring receives preference for this category and the Project Subcommittee was unanimous in the need to fund the two monitoring studies, 2008 Chinook Spawning Ground Surveys (# 1) and Evaluation of Downstream Outmigrant Salmon Production and Timing – Cedar River and Bear Creek(# 2). A slight reduction was made to the requested amounts due to the need to address the overall shortfall of funding. The Project Subcommittee noted that the two monitoring projects are too critical to be part of the annual competitive process and need funding by other means or as an annual KCD allocation amount.
The North Creek and Sammamish River Confluence Habitat Improvement (# 3) is a feasibility study and design plan in the Migratory corridor of the SammamishRiver. Design objectives include minimizing sediment deposition, increasing available cool water refugia, and improving shallow rearing habitat conditions for juvenile salmon. There were questions whether North Creek water temperature would be any cooler than the SammamishRiver; however there is a need for improvements in the habitat at this stream mouth, which could provide transferable design information for restoration of several other stream mouths in this area.
The three public outreach applications were all considered excellent, yet each request was reduced to address the shortfall in funds. Salmon Watcher Program 2008-2009 (# 4) continues for its 13th year to provide over 1200 hours of volunteer time and over 6,000 citizen contacts. Their average website visits is 91 visitors per day. The Cedar River Salmon Journey (aka Naturalist Program) (# 5) reaches over 5,000 visitors annually as the fish return through the Locks and in the Cedar River. The Beach Naturalist Program (# 6) adapted their outreach program to incorporate more information on salmon, including the development of a new salmon button to prompt questions and new materials.
Conclusion: The Project Subcommittee addressed the $485,750 shortfall in funding by providing funds to projects with the highest benefit to Chinook salmon in concert with substantial funding for monitoring. Smaller funding amounts are recommended to those projects that have less ecological benefit yet provide excellent opportunity for public education and involvement, such as the Sammamish River Restoration Project and the Daybreak Star Wetlands Revitalization. The Project Subcommittee also supported the continual funding of the excellent public outreach programs within WRIA 8. The discretionary funds of $92,058 were distributed approximately one-third to site specific projects and two-thirds to the monitoring/ study/ public outreach group.
Page 1KCD – WRIA 8 Project Subcommittee Report 7-18-07 final
TABLE 1: Summary of 2007 King Conservation District Grants - WRIA 8 Project ApplicationsArranged by Project Subcommittee Ranking
Site Specific Projects - Acquisition and Restoration
Rank
# /
Applicant /
Proposal Name,
(binder code),
Descriptions / Amount of
Request / Matching
Funds / Project
Subcommittee
Recommends
1 /
KingCounty
Tom Beavers / Rainbow Bend Acquisition (P3)
The project proposes to purchase 20 acres of floodplain along the Lower Cedar River in an area surrounded by the most natural existing riverine and riparian habitat downstream from MapleValley. The future intent is large scale in-stream and riparian restoration. / $400,000 / $1,100,000 / $400,000
2 /
King County
Mary Maier / Cottage Lake Creek Conservation Project (P1)
The Cottage Lake Creek Conservation Project will protect 35 high resource acres on nine parcels of property via acquisition of either fee interests or conservation easement(s). The nine parcels encompass 0.55 river miles of regionally significant Chinook spawning habitat on Cottage Lake Creek. / $400,000 / $1,684,000 / $274,550
3 /
KingCounty
Tom Beavers / Cedar River Opportunity Fund 2007 (P2)
This fund provides a funding source to respond quickly to habitat protection opportunities (land acquisition) and habitat restoration opportunities. As a fund in reserve it allows action on habitat protection opportunities that may be lost due to timing between grant cycles. It also provides a source of match for additional funding sources. / $200,000 / $0 / $154,896
4 /
KingCounty
Tom Beavers / Cedar River Habitat Restoration Stewardship (R5)
Grant funds would be directed toward adequate site preparations, planting native trees and shrubs either to expand areas in native vegetation or replace vegetation that has died, and ensuring the survival of the plantings through clearing of non-native vegetation and warm-season watering. 2007 restoration sites will include Cavanaugh Pond Natural Area, Dorre Don Reach Natural Area, Lower Lions Reach Natural Area and Mouth of Taylor Creek Natural Area, others. / $20,000 / $20,000 / $20,000
Rank
# /
Applicant /
Proposal Name,
(binder code),
Descriptions / Amount of
Request / Matching
Funds / Project
Subcommittee
Recommends
5 /
Friends of
Madrona Woods
Judith Starbuck / Madrona Park Creek Daylighting and Restoration (R1)
Madrona Park Creek Daylighting and Restoration will daylight and restore approx. 1,369 lineal feet of open stream channel and 400 lineal feet of shoreline, creating near shore rearing and refuge habitat favorable for threatened juvenile Chinook and possibly other salmon species along the west shore of Lake Washington. This project may be the first in Seattle to
restore an entire stream and watershed, and reconnect a small
spring-fed creek to Lake Washington. / $50,000 / $50,000 / $50,000
6 /
King County
Steven Burke / KingCounty Noxious Weed Control Program (R3)
This project aims to increase ecosystem health and functioning of riparian forests along the Cedar River and major tributaries through the implementation of a planned approach to control invasive knotweed. Priority actions include: a) on-going survey work; b) develop priorities for control/ eradication; c) community education/outreach; rapid response control by work crews; e) monitoring and evaluation. / $57,850 / $101,870 / $57,850
7 /
City of Redmond
Jerallyn Roetemeyer / Valley Estates Culvert Replacement and Channel Stabilization (R2)
The existing hung culvert under the Sammamish River Trail will be replaced with a box culvert or bridge to provide access to juvenile fish to Tier III upstream habitat. Approximately 2000 ft. of Tier III stream channel will be stabilized using bioengineering techniques. Regrading of the SammamishRiver banks will be included with the additional KCD funds, prior to a Sammamish Releaf planting event. / $250,000 / $1,241,000 / $0
8 /
Snoqualmie Tribe
Karen Suyama / SnoqualmieTribeSammamishRiver Restoration Project (R6)
The Snoqualmie Tribe's Environmental and Natural Resources Dept. will coordinate, design, and implement riparian and wetland restoration on 1.1 acres along the Sammamish River in Woodinville. Project includes inventory and eradication of invasive plant species, planting with native plants important to the Coast Salish people, supervision of volunteers and
monitoring project effectiveness. The second goal is to educate community members, Tribal members, and non-tribal urban native youth on natural resource processes and to share ways they can be SammamishRiver stewards in their own actions. / $29,230 / $18,299 / $20,000
Rank
# /
Applicant /
Proposal Name,
(binder code),
Descriptions / Amount of
Request / Matching
Funds / Project
Subcommittee
Recommends
9 /
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
Noel Franklin / Daybreak Star Wetlands Revitalization Assessment (R4)
United Indians of All Tribes (UIATF) seeks to restore approx. 20
acres surrounding the DaybreakStarCulturalCenter in
DiscoveryPark. The land includes wetland areas that drain
directly into SalmonBay. Initial funding is for an ecological
survey of the wetlands to develop a comprehensive plan. A
stormwater drainage assessment will be conducted to
implement appropriate routing (rain garden, sewage treatment,
etc...). Removal of invasive vegetation will be on-going. / $21,250 / $84,644 / $20,000
Total Request and Match - Site Specific / $1,428,330 / $3,199,813
WRIA 8 SRC Allocation for Site Specific / $963,280 / $997,296
Shortfall / ($465,050)
Monitoring, Studies, and Public Outreach Actions
1 /
King County
Hans Berge / 2008 Chinook Spawning Ground Surveys (M1)
This project is to expand knowledge of the reproductive life history, geographic and temporal distributions, spawning abundance and hatchery stray rates for Chinook salmon in WRIA 8. Weekly float surveys of the Cedar River from
Landsburg dam to the mouth at Renton (redd site location, spawn timing, redd dimensions, and redd superimposition by sockeye salmon). Weekly spawning and carcass surveys of Bear, CottageLake, Evans, North, Little Bear, May, Kelsey, Goff, and Issaquah and the East fork of Issaquah Creeks (mid-Sept. to mid-November). / $187,564 / $54,716 / $187,564
2 /
King County
Hans Berge / Evaluation of Downstream Outmigrant Salmon
Production and Timing - Cedar River and Bear Creek (M2)
One of the fundamental needs for salmon conservation is to assess the number of juvenile salmon that are produced in the rivers and streams to evaluate the status of salmon populations. Due to the high natural variability of salmon populations, multiple years of data are necessary to detect changes in
population status with confidence. Juvenile outmigrant trapping will be on the Cedar River and Bear Creek. / $167,900 / $46,100 / $167,900
Rank
# /
Applicant /
Proposal Name, (binder code),
Descriptions / Amount of
Request / Matching
Funds / Project
Subcommittee
Recommends
3 /
City of Bothell
Douglas Jacobson / North Creek and SammamishRiverConfluence Habitat Improvement (S1)
Phase I of the North Creek and SammamishRiver confluence habitat improvement project by aiding development of a feasibility study and detailed design plan. Design objectives are to 1) place large woody debris and rock to deflect North Creek flow further downstream and to minimize sedimentation and 2) plant native riparian vegetation at the confluence, especially over-hanging shrubs & trees in shallow delta habitat to improve rearing conditions. / $33,750 / $11,250 / $33,750
4 /
King County
Jennifer Vanderhoof / Salmon Watcher Program 2008-2009 (O1)
Salmon Watcher Program 2008-2009 continues for its 13th year to provide over 1200 hours of volunteer time and over 6,000 citizen contacts. The program educates and trains watershed residents in salmon life history and identification. Volunteers record salmonid presence information semiweekly at stream sites throughout Lake Washington watershed and the nearshore. / $31,278 / $45,830 / $31,278
5 /
Friends of the Cedar River Watershed
Sue Rooney / Cedar River Salmon Journey (a.k.a. Naturalist Program) (O3)
The Cedar River Salmon Journey (formerly known as Cedar River Naturalist Program) celebrates its 10th year of successfully educating the public about salmon protection in the CedarRiver basin. The CRSJ recruits fifty volunteers and trains them for eight key days of public education. Volunteers
are at the Locks in July/August and along the Cedar river in October/
November. They educate over 5,000 people annually. / $25,050 / $38,639 / $25,050
6 /
Seattle Aquarium Society
Kathy Sider / Beach Naturalist Program (O2)
The Beach Naturalist Program combines three powerful tools for effecting change: person-to-person communication; hands-on learning; and engaging conservation information. This year, in response to Project Subcommittee comments, the program developed a new button for salmon to prompt questions about salmon and the nearshore environment. Supporting salmon educational materials were also developed, including recording of salmon conservations with public. / $12,600 / $17,000 / $12,600
Total Monitoring, Studies, Outreach Request / $403,426 / $213,535 / $345,722
Total Monitoring, Studies, Outreach Allocation / $403,426
2007 Total KCD Funds / $1,400,722 / $1,400,722
Total Request and Match / $1,886,472 / $4,513,348
Shortfall - request minus funds / ($485,750)
Page 1KCD – WRIA 8 Project Subcommittee Report 7-18-07 final