Floodplains by Design

The Nooksack River: Floodplains that Work - Phase 3

Whatcom County will continue a multi-phase project to integrate flood hazard reduction and salmon recovery with the needs of agriculture and other land uses within the Nooksack River watershed.

Puyallup Watershed Floodplains for the Future

Pierce County will continue the Floodplains for the Future program that includes targeting integrated, multi-phase projects on 300 river miles and eight reaches of the Puyallup River watershed. The project will help improve salmon habitat, protect communities and infrastructure from flooding, preserve agricultural lands, restore 10.3 miles of natural riverine processes, reconnect 635 acres of floodplain, and preserve up to 100 acres of farmland.

Community Floodplain Solutions - Phase 3 Implementation

Snohomish County will continue the Community Floodplain Solutions program to advance implementation of integrated floodplain management in the Snohomish watershed. The program will increase ecological functions, reduce impacts from flooding, and protect and enhance farmland productivity. 

Stillaguamish Watershed Floodplains and Farmlands

The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians will coordinate a cooperative effort among watershed partners in Snohomish County aimed at increasing ecological functions, reducing flood impacts, protecting and enhancing farmland productivity, maintaining open space, and improving water quality. 

Hamilton Floodplain Education, Property Acquisition, and Restoration

Forterra NW will develop a Community Flood Education Program, support property owners with selling their vulnerable properties, and following the acquisition of vulnerable properties, restore the floodway through structure demolition, septic removal, and planting of native species on acquired properties in the town of Hamilton in Skagit County. 

Methow River - Twisp Confluence Floodway Restoration

The Yakama Nation will acquire up to nine at-risk private parcels threatened with Methow River flooding within the city of Twisp in Okanogan County to restore salmon habitat, protect lives and property, and keep non-regulated flood protection measures from being constructed in the Methow River-Twisp confluence. 

Hanson Ponds Floodplain Restoration

The Kittitas Conservation Trust will complete the design of the Hanson Ponds Floodplain Restoration Project, a multi-faceted project that will protect critical local and state infrastructure - regional sewer outfall and I-90, reduce flood hazard for adjacent and downstream landowners, improve floodplain function, create and enhance off-channel salmon and native fish habitat, create high-quality wetland habitat, and enhance recreational opportunities for the community. 

Sugar Channels Reconnection

The Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation will restore floodplain capacity and connectivity, provide additional opportunities for channel migration, improve instream structural complexity, and improve riparian conditions to support creation of off-channel and channel margin areas needed by salmon along 1.5 miles of the Methow River while maintaining necessary flood protection of infrastructure in Okanogan County.. 

Samish Basin Working Lands Conservation

The Skagit Conservation District will initiate modeling and data collection for large-scale Colony Creek restoration, water quality improvement, flood hazard reduction, increased farm productivity, enhanced fish habitats, and bacteria reduction in shellfish growing areas. 

Quillayute River Historic Oxbow

The Quileute Tribe will restore natural riverine processes of the Quilllayute River in Jefferson County using an integrated approach for multi-benefit outcomes. The project will improve floodplain function and connectivity, alleviate erosion, reduce flood hazards, improve salmon habitat, increase climate resiliency, and improve access to Tribal and recreational fishing.  

Lower East Fork Floodplain Reclamation

The Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership will reduce flood and erosion risk while restoring floodplain function along three miles of the lower East Fork Lewis River severely impacted by gravel mining and development. The project regrades the floodplain, removes four levees, relocates public infrastructure, and rebuilds the river channel in Skamania and Clark counties..

Facilitation and Technical Assistance

As the primary partner in the public-private Floodplains by Design partnership, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation will provide critical program support, including statewide technical assistance, technical studies, and facilitation of public-private-tribal advisory groups related to implementing the proposed capital projects. 

Restoring Snoqualmie River Floodplain Processes

Constructing high-priority agricultural drainage projects including removing 1,200 feet of levee and 1,400 feet of revetment, constructing new revetment and a flood protection berm, excavating a new 2,900-foot bank channel, and planting native vegetation in the Snoqualmie River floodplain.

Dungeness River Floodplains and Farmlands

Purchasing agricultural easements and acquiring land upon which to design, permit and construct nearly a mile-long dike setback project to restore 60-acres in the Dungeness River floodplain.
 

Puyallup Watershed Floodplains for the Future

Restoring 2.5 miles of natural riverine processes by reconnecting up to 37 acres of floodplain and preserving up to 350 acres of farmland throughout the Puyallup River watershed.

Mill Creek Floodplain Improvements

Conducting flood modeling and assessing the reach to design River Mile 17 project, including installing large woody debris structures, provide access to 17 acres of historic floodplain and approximately 1,225 linear feet of side channel in the Mill Creek floodplain.
 

Colville River Floodplain Improvement

Completing final designs and permitting for Phase 1 improvements and conducting feasibility work for Phase 2 of multi-benefit floodplain improvement projects for the Colville River floodplain.
 

Downey Farmstead Restoration

Completing remaining construction work, including excavating 100,000 cubic yards of material, installing 50 habitat structures, and installing native plants in the Green River floodplain.

The Nooksack River: Floodplains that Work Phase 2

Building on previous collaborative efforts to implement integrated floodplain management throughout the Nooksack River floodplain, including designing Ferndale levee improvement, Fish Camp integrated fish-flood project, and Glacier-Gallup Creek Alluvial Fan project.
 

Community Floodplain Solutions

Project includes acquiring properties and implementing various agricultural resilience and trail and water conveyance/connectivity improvement projects in the Snohomish River floodplain.  

Floodplains by Design facilitation and technical assistance

As the primary partner in the public-private Floodplains by Design partnership, the Nature Conservancy will provide critical program support including statewide technical assistance, technical studies, and facilitation of public-private-tribal advisory groups related to implementing the proposed capital projects. They will also contribute a minimum of $600,000 in match funding to support these activities.