DESCRIPTION
In 2020 the project is underway again, with 30% design in hand from a previous SRFB Grant and funding from the Puyallup Tribe. Funding for 90% Design was provided by King County CWM grant, with match from the Puyallup Tribe and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. The 2008 grant : The Puyallup Tribe of Indians used this grant to complete a preliminary design for relocating Boise Creek to its historic channel within the Enumclaw Golf Course. Boise Creek is host to 6 species of Pacific salmonids including two ESA listed species (White River spring Chinook and steelhead). This level of design incorporated a historical flood flow analysis, channel hydraulic analysis, wetlands delineation and soils review. It also included a rough total project cost estimate, materials quantity, and suggestions for access and staging that would have minimal disruption to the golf course. The proposed channel alignment would hug the southern boundary of the golf course at the base of a steep rock cliff. It is apparent that the creek had previously occupied this location due to remnant channel features and standing water in some of the depressions. Relocating the channel would provide shade, better cover and other habitat benefits for endangered salmonids and would reduce human disturbance to spawning fish, including the impacts associated with golf course maintenance activities.
A 30% design for Boise Creek Channel Relocation from RM 3.7 to 4.2 was completed by Herrera Environmental Consulting. This level of design incorporated a historical flood flow analysis, channel hydraulic analysis, wetlands delineation, and soils review. It also included a rough total project cost estimate, materials quantity, access and suggestions for staging that would have minimal disruption to the golf course. The proposed channel alignment would hug the southern boundary of the golf course at the base of a steep rock cliff. It is apparent that the creek had previously occupied this location as their are remnant channel features and standing water in some of the depressions.
All aspects of the project design have been completed. The next step is to get the support of the City of Enumclaw, which is concerned with short term business related disruption that would occur during construction. Disruption would be miniminzed by completing most of the work during the spring months when golfer attendance is low. Peak season work would involve the actual watering up of the new channel, fish removal from the current channel and plugging (adding fill, rock and wood) to the head end of this channel to prevent reoccupation. Various construction alternatives and timelines associated with each step of construction have been presented to the City with strategies to minimize and avoid course disruption.
Note: The original proposal included a preliminary design to provide fish passage above Boise Creek Falls located at RM 4.5. Herrera Environmental Consulting did an analyis of the existing falls and determined that they were a natural, not a man-made, obstruction. RCO staff informed them that policy does not allow SRFB funding to be spent on providing fish passage around natural barriers so that part of the project was dropped.
