North & South Fork Stillaguamish River ELJ's FY 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

The Stillaguamish Tribe used PCSR funds for instream restoration treatments in the South Fork Stillaguamish River Gold Basin reach to benefit Puget Sound Chinook, coho, and steelhead. During the summer of 2022 the Tribe installed more than 460 pieces of wood, including over 120 rootwad logs as part of a 1,100-foot live crib wood treatment. This treatment was a replacement for a section of this $5M dollar project that had failed during the previous winter.



This project began in the late winter of 2021-22 when the Tribe discovered that the Large Woody Material (LWM) bank treatment in the Gold Basin Landslide Remediation project had partially failed. The Tribe worked during the spring of 2022 to rapidly develop designs for a repair to implement during the 2022 summer instream work window (plans attached), develop an RFP for prospective contractors to bid on, and secure the necessary permits to implement the repair. The Tribe was successful on all fronts and selected Trimaxx Construction, Inc. to build the project from July through September 2022.

The actual work proceeded without a hitch, aided by a very dry summer and a highly capable team of contractors. The Tribe diverted the South Fork away from the damaged section, de-fished the isolated area, installed a temporary bridge over the river, and pumped the work area dry. The installation of the wood took place over about 8 weeks, tying into solid treatments upstream and down, and buttressed at the toe by large rocks harvested from adjacent gravel bars.

The amount of sediment held back by the project is staggering, even early in the project’s history. It is estimated that it has already prevented over 150,000 yards of fine sediment from making it to the river where it could smother salmon eggs in the gravel.



When this project was initially conceived funds were intended to be directed towards an instream implementation project in NF Stillaguamish River. Design work advanced toward this purpose; however, landowner issues eventually prevented the project from being implemented. Consistent with the initial scope an alternative high priority instream project was implemented in the SF Stillaguamish at Gold Basin.

Habitat treatment metrics have been reviewed by the Stillaguamish Tribe and NWIFC to ensure there is no duplication in reporting with other funding sources that contributed to the project.



10/12/17 note: This project record has been edited to add incremental funds from FY17 in the amount of $76, 121, added to the original $50,000 from FY16.

11/08/18 note: This project record has been edited to add incremental funds from FY18 in the amount of $50,000, added to the previous $126,121 from FY16 and FY17.

1/16/2020 note: This project record has been edited to add incremental funds from FY19 in the amount of $55,000.

4/16/2021 note: This project record has been edited to add incremental funds from FY20 in the amount of $51,866.



This project included multiple fiscal year contributions, that were spent first-in first out. Although the project was reported as complete in September of 2022, the FY 2016 contributions being one of the first increments of funding was spent in calendar year 2018.

The Stillaguamish Watershed Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan identifies habitat factors limiting Chinook production as: estuary, sediment, hydrology, LWD, riparian and floodplain. This project proposal deals primarily with placement of large woody debris.



The addition of $126,121 will initiate the funding match to install log jams in the North Fork Stillaguamish near the mouth of Deer Creek and Boulder River. The goal outlined in the Stillaguamish Chinook Recovery Plan is to place 51 ELJ’s in the North and South Forks over the first 10 years of implementation. This installation will bring the total to 35 jams in the North Fork. A reach level assessment of the North Fork from Arlington to Darrington has been completed. Using a combination of Lidar, 2009 aerial photography and FLEER analysis, sites were chosen that produce the habitat benefits necessary to move Chinook salmon recovery forward. Prioritized locations have been finalized within the reach from river mile 18 to river mile 30. Jams will be constructed trying to incorporate multiple factors leading to restoring watershed process (e.g. pool habitat, temperature reduction, complexity, reduction of bank erosion).



This NWIFC PCSRF funding will match the SRFB funding for the summer 2017-18 construction seasons.