Rocky Creek is one of the largest watersheds in WRIA 15. Rocky Creek is approximately five miles in length with an additional 10-12 miles of tributary length. Overall habitat characteristics are rated as good for Rocky Creek (May and Peterson, 2003.) The drainage is host to many wetland and lake complexes, which provide optimal rearing habitat for species such as coho, steelhead and cutthroat.
This project proposes the removal of a barrier culvert located on a private driveway and the West Fork of Rocky Creek (15.0021). The existing pipe is a round corrugated steel pipe 0.9 meter diameter, outfall 0.2 meters, slope 1.8%, velocity 1.1 feet per second (7/31/2000). A Level A assessment was used to determine barrier status. The culvert is crushed on the downstream side and rusted throughout the interior. The high velocities that occur during peak migration periods and outfall drop result in a severe impediment to fish migration.
There is 10,500 feet of extremely good habitat downstream of this culvert (144th Street), and 7,900 feet of good and 700 feet of fair habitat upstream of this culvert on the main stem of Rocky, along with additional good (2,000), fair (2,300), and poor (800) habitat on the western tributary of Rocky upstream of this culvert (Jennifer Belknap, URS, DRAFT KGI Basin Plan, 2004).
Rocky Creek supports Chinook, coho, chum, cutthroat and steelhead trout.
