DESCRIPTION
The City's proposed North Creek Culvert Replacement Project at Harborview Drive project is located immediately upstream of the city's 2012 fish barrier removal project which removed a 36-inch-diameter culvert, replacing it with natural streambed and bridge for North Harborview Drive above. The proposed 2024 project will continue to improve fish passage by removing the next fish barrier along North Creek (also known as Donkey Creek) and replacing it with a bridge at Harborview Drive. The culvert to be removed, Culvert DK03, carries North Creek under the intersection of Harborview and Burnham Drive. An adjustable weir at the culvert exit diverts water to a remote site incubator (RSI) operated by local commercial fishermen. In its current state, the weir acts as a barrier to further upstream movement of salmonids on the main stem of North Creek. Existing weir and board material left in place creates a 1-foot drop at the outlet that poses a barrier to fish passage. Available fish habitat upstream of this culvert includes both salmon spawning and rearing habitat. The proposed project would immediately restore full access to approximately 2,000 LF of quality fish habitat along North Creek upstream of this partial fish barrier in city-owned property protected under a conservation easement.
The culvert to be removed and property for bridge installation is city-owned and will be maintained as such per regular public works operations duties. Initial design and permitting for this project has begun including engaging community stakeholders. The city is seeking funds to assist in construction.This project will remove a box culvert to eliminate the next fish passage barrier along North Creek. Any culvert can be a velocity barrier to salmon by increasing the velocity of the stream such that salmon must expend more energy than is necessary to reach their spawning grounds. Eliminating this culvert and restoring the stream will allow salmon to use that wasted energy to reach their ideal spawning grounds upstream and may result in more successful spawning. High velocity can also be detrimental to fry migrating out of the creek. A return to a natural-bottomed stream, with resting pools and riffle sections will benefit all salmonids present. Additionally, because the creek is tidally influenced, the design will consider the 2080 projected increase in water quantity due to climate change. The estuary, creek, and surrounding land is located within the ancestral homelands and main village site of the sx??babc? peoples. It is possible we may encounter culturally significant artifacts during the project.
