Snohomish Conservation District replaced two fish passage barriers on lower Kristoferson Creek to improve fish passage to 0.8 miles of stream and wetland habitat for threatened Chinook salmon, steelhead, and other salmonid species. The Conservation District also completed a public outreach initiative to engage the community in this salmon recovery project. The Snohomish Conservation District partnered with Island County Public Works to complete the “Kristoferson Creek Fish Passage Improvements Project,” which replaces these two fish passage barrier stream crossings with fish-passable crossings. By correcting these barriers, this project improved passage for juvenile Chinook and steelhead as well as for other fish by opening access to 0.8 miles of habitat for rearing and spawning, including tidal wetland and beaver wetland habitats. The goals of the project were to: • Remove two fish passage barriers on lower Kristoferson Creek to provide 100% passage for all life stages of salmonids • Improve habitat connectivity and hydrologic processes to enhance the estuarine wetland upstream of the lower crossing This project accomplished the following objectives: • Removed two fish passage barriers to provide passage to 0.8 miles of habitat: -Worksite 1: Replaced four undersized 12-inch diameter concrete pipes beneath Barnum Road/Triangle Bay Road with a 12.0 foot span by 6 foot tall box culvert culvert to pass all life stages and all species of salmonids -Worksite 2: Replaced the 4.10 foot diameter round, corrugated aluminum culvert beneath Russell Road with an 11.0 foot diameter round culvert to pass all life stages and all species of salmonids • Enhance 0.1 miles of riparian habitat by planting native vegetation along Kristoferson Creek and improving the channel bed gravel through the two culverts • Enhance 0.2 acres of estuarine wetland by improving tidal exchange • Coordinate two outreach events to educate the public about the project Following two years of design, permitting, and stakeholder engagement, the Conservation District completed a Small Public Works competitive bid process to hire a contractor and oversaw construction of the two crossings during summer 2018. The District continued to engage stakeholders in the project throughout construction and post-construction to both educate the public and other stakeholders (including elected officials) about the project, salmon recovery, and ecosystem restoration. The project improved fish passage and tidal connectivity between Triangle Cove and Kristoferson Creek and the associated wetlands. The project leverages and complements previously-completed work by a private landowner who fixed two barriers on Kristoferson Creek in 2014/2015 and removed a third barrier in 2018 as well as the planned culvert replacement of the final fish passage barrier beneath NE Camano Drive (likely construction date: 2021). The District also completed an effective stakeholder engagement initiative to promote this project, salmon recovery, and general ecosystem recovery in Puget Sound and the greater Salish Sea.