Habitat Restoration and Native Plant Project

The goal of this project is to enhance or restore stream and riparian habitats damaged by past land-use actions. This project targets the restoration and enhancement of habitats needed for the recovery of salmon as described in the Snohomish River salmon and steelhead habitat limiting factors inventory. The Pacific Salmon Treaty also calls for salmon enhancement for rebuilding native stocks. This project continues Tribal habitat restoration actions and a native plant nursery program started in 2001.
This project’s principle objectives are to improve the quality and quantity of in-stream habitat and riparian conditions along a section of Coho Creek and continue the native plant nursery program and use the nursery to supply restoration materials for revegetation efforts by the Tulalip Tribes or others. The benefits provided by the project using FY2008 funds included the construction of 500 feet of stream channel and replanting the new riparian area associated with the channel. These funds were awarded and 2009 but were largely spent in 2010 with the construction of the stream channel.

The benefits provided by the project include the restoration of 500 feet of stream and riparian area, as well as the propagation and broadening the use of native vegetation that has cultural significance. The primary species to benefit from these actions include coho salmon, chum salmon, and cutthroat trout. Stream restoration will increase the quality (e.g. deeper pools with cover) and quantity (e.g. increased stream length) of both spawning and rearing habitat and increase connectivity to the riparian zone. The stream bank and riparian planting will improve riparian complexity, providing shade and a future source of large woody debris.