DESCRIPTION
The City of Sammamish will use this grant to fund final design and construction to remove three fish passage barriers on the lowest one half-mile of George Davis Creek, east of Lake Sammamish. In partnership with King County, the outcome will eliminate a total of four barriers between Lake Sammamish and the next barrier at NE 6th St (920113). The project is located in King County near East Lake Sammamish Parkway (ELSP) at NE 7th Court. The City will remove three barriers including 920017, 920111, and 920112 (the concrete dam 1,140 feet upstream of Lake Sammamish). The County will remove 920268 with their trail project. Combined, the outcome will restore fish access beyond the dam, to 4,000 lineal feet (.75 mi) of high-quality spawning and rearing ecosystem habitat. The target species supported are the native kokanee salmon, coho, sockeye, steelhead, and cutthroat and rainbow trout which will greatly benefit from the significant increase in habitat gain. During recent years, kokanee have been observed annually along the 100 feet of accessible stream, making this an exciting opportunity to revive the population and runs in this tributary stream to Lake Sammamish. Since 2018, WRIA 8, the Kokanee Work Group, the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, the City of Sammamish, King County, and several private property owners have identified George Davis Creek as a regionally significant stream for kokanee salmon restoration and a priority for capital investment to improve stormwater conveyance.