The Stillaguamish Watershed Council (SWC) has been working since 1990 to maintain a healthy Stillaguamish River watershed through collaborative efforts involving various stakeholders. Key restoration projects include replacing fish-blocking culverts with bridges, stabilizing creek banks, and reestablishing riparian habitats to enhance water quality and aquatic life. Initiatives also involve community engagement, such as local school children helping to plant native vegetation for ecological restoration.

1. www.stillaguamishwatershed.org
Dedicated to restoring and
maintaining a healthy
Stillaguamish River Watershed
since 1990

2. The mission of the Stillaguamish Watershed Council
(SWC) is to maintain a healthy, functioning Stillaguamish
Watershed by providing a local forum in which
agencies, organizations, communities, and the public can
engage in a collaborative watershed based process of
decision making and coordination.
This slideshow highlights the work of the SWC
www.stillaguamishwatershed.org

3. Cherokee Creek Fish Passage Restoration
Sponsored by Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
The Stillaguamish Tribe, in
conjunction with the Family
Forest Fish Passage
Program, replaced a culvert
that was blocking fish
passage on Cherokee Creek
with a new bridge. As a
result approximately 1 mile
of new habitat is now
accessible to all species of
Pacific salmon and trout.
Project Location

4. Cherokee Creek Fish Passage Restoration
Sponsored by Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
Before: This culvert was Bridge After
preventing fish from
swimming upstream. The Stillaguamish Tribe, in
conjunction with the
Family Forest Fish
Passage Program, replaced
a culvert that was blocking
fish passage on Cherokee
Creek with a new bridge.
During

5. Jim Creek Bank Restoration
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
The Stillaguamish Tribe of
Indians sponsored a
riparian restoration project
on Jim Creek that involved
stabilizing a bank with
natural logs and
slash, planting a buffer
with native vegetation and
installing fencing that
keeps livestock out of the
creek. As a result, the
water in Jim Creek
downstream will be
clearer, cleaner, and more
friendly for fish.
Location

6. Jim Creek Bank Restoration
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
Bank Before Bank After
The Stillaguamish Tribe of
Indians sponsored a riparian
restoration project on Jim
Creek. As a result, the
water downstream will be
clearer, cleaner, and more
friendly for fish.
Bank During

7. South Fork Riparian Restoration
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
The Stillaguamish
Tribe of Indians
purchased and planted
nearly 60 acres on the
South Fork
Stillaguamish, across
from the mouth of Jim
Creek.
Location

8. South Fork Riparian Restoration
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
The Stillaguamish
Tribe of Indians
purchased and planted
nearly 60 acres on the
South Fork Floodplain
Stillaguamish, across Forest Buffer
Enhancement
from the mouth of Jim
Creek. Bank Armor Mouth of Jim
Removed Creek
S. Fork Stillaguamish River.
Flows left to right in image
Restoration Overview

9. South Fork Riparian Restoration
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
purchased and planted nearly 60 acres on
the South Fork Stillaguamish, across from
the mouth of Jim Creek. Local school
children helped plant native trees and
shrubs, including a meadow and apple
orchard for deer habitat.
Each blue pipe is a native tree or
shrub planted as part of the project.
Local Students Planting

10. North Fork Riparian Restoration
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
The Stillaguamish Tribe of
Indians, in conjunction with
Forterra, purchased and
restored about 35 acres on
the North Fork
Stillaguamish. Dilapidated
structures were demolished
and removed, and a riparian
buffer was planted with
native vegetation. The
Tribe has plans to install
engineered log jams at this
Location site in the future.

11. North Fork Riparian Restoration
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
Property Before Property
Today
The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, in conjunction with Forterra, purchased and
restored about 35 acres on the North Fork Stillaguamish. Dilapidated structures
were demolished and removed, and a riparian buffer was planted with native
vegetation. The Tribe has plans to install engineered log jams at this site in the
future.

12. North Fork Riparian Restoration
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
The Stillaguamish
Tribe of Indians, in
conjunction with
Forterra, purchased and
restored about 35 acres
on the North Fork
Stillaguamish.
Dilapidated structures
were demolished and
removed, and a riparian
buffer was planted with
native vegetation. The
Tribe has plans to
install engineered log
jams at this site in the
Before future.

13. Blue Slough Reconnection
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
This project reconnected
2500 feet of remnant side
channel that has been
disconnected from the
mainstem North Fork
Stillaguamish since the
1930s. This project
removed a 2-3 foot layer
of "muck" and enough bed
material to put the channel
at the elevation of the
river. The final phase of
construction installed new
corrugated metal culverts
to connect the slough to
the river at both ends
allowing continuous flow
through the channel.
Location

14. Blue Slough Reconnection
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
This project reconnected
2500 feet of remnant side
1,200 ft of improved channel that has been
channel disconnected from the
9-ft culvert mainstem North Fork
6-ft culvert Stillaguamish since the
1930s. This project
Upper pond removed a 2-3 foot layer
Lower pond ~1.27 acres of "muck" and enough bed
~3.65 acres material to put the channel
1,030 ft at the elevation of the
channel river. The final phase of
construction installed new
corrugated metal culverts
to connect the slough to
the river at both ends
allowing continuous flow
Project Site Plan through the channel.

15. Blue Slough Reconnection
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
This project reconnected a 2500 feet of remnant side channel that has been
disconnected from the mainstem North Fork Stillaguamish since the 1930s. The final
phase of construction installed new corrugated metal culverts to connect the slough
to the river at both ends allowing continuous flow through the channel and providing
winter and summer rearing for chinook juveniles. In addition, a log jam complex was
installed near the upstream culvert to provide backwater refuge for smolts entering
the side channel

16. Blue Slough Reconnection
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
Coho and Chum were seen
spawning in the channel soon after
reconnection
This project reconnected a 2500 feet of remnant side channel that has been
disconnected from the mainstem North Fork Stillaguamish since the 1930s. The final
phase of construction installed new corrugated metal culverts to connect the slough
to the river at both ends allowing continuous flow through the channel and providing
winter and summer rearing for chinook juveniles. In addition, a log jam complex was
installed near the upstream culvert to provide backwater refuge for smolts entering
the side channel

17. Riparian Enhancement Inmate Crew
Sponsored by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians
The Stillaguamish Tribe has
partnered with the Snohomish
County Department of
Corrections to establish a
Riparian Enhancement Inmate
Crew. Minimum security
inmates participate in this
program, helping with a variety
of restoration projects
throughout our watershed. They
control dangerous invasive
weeds and plant thousands of
native plants each year.

18. For more information about the Stillaguamish
Watershed Council visit our website at:
www.stillaguamishwatershed.org