DESCRIPTION
Lone Tree Creek Watershed is located on the Swinomish Reservation. The creek flows to northern Skagit Bay and includes associated wetlands and pocket estuary that provide habitat for a variety of salmonids. The creek discharges directly over shellfish beds that are an important resource for the Swinomish People, and the contributing waters from the creek have been prioritized for improvement and protection.
The property is owned by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and leased to the Thousand Trails Campground for use as an RV park and campground. The campground infrastructure restricts the natural condition and impairs the water quality in Lone Tree Creek resulting in low or flashy in-stream flows, drainage problems, and overland flow during storm events. We now seek to build upon prior restoration in reducing the impacts of development and pollution in the creek.
The proposed project will reconfigure the stream channel to restore habitat complexity, increase ecological and habitat function, and improve water quality. The completed project will:
Daylight a substantial length of Lone Tree Creek by constructing a naturalized stream channel and removing culverts that currently restrict natural passage of stream flows, sediments, and fish passage within the campground.
Improve water quality and reduce direct runoff into the stream by expanding native vegetation buffers and placing large woody debris within the stream.
Lone Tree Creek Watershed is located on the Swinomish Reservation. The creek flows to northern Skagit Bay and includes associated wetlands and pocket estuary that provide habitat for a variety of salmonids. The creek discharges directly over shellfish beds that are an important resource for the Swinomish People, and the contributing waters from the creek have been prioritized for improvement and protection. The property is owned by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and leased to the Thousand Trails Campground for use as an RV park and campground. The campground infrastructure restricts the natural condition and impairs the water quality in Lone Tree Creek resulting in low or flashy in-stream flows, drainage problems, and overland flow during storm events. We now seek to build upon prior restoration in reducing the impacts of development and pollution in the creek. The proposed project will reconfigure the stream channel to restore habitat complexity, increase ecological and habitat function, and improve water quality. The completed project will: Daylight a substantial length of Lone Tree Creek by constructing a naturalized stream channel and removing culverts that currently restrict natural passage of stream flows, sediments, and fish passage within the campground. Improve water quality and reduce direct runoff into the stream by expanding native vegetation buffers and placing large woody debris within the stream.