Morse Creek Riverine Restoration

Category Overview

The State Lands Restoration and Enhancement category provides funding to two state agencies to help repair damaged plant and animal habitat. These grants focus on resource preservation and protection of public lands. Projects in this category help bring important natural areas and resources back to their original functions by improving the self sustaining and ecological functionality of sites.

Project Highlights

The Department of Fish and Wildlife will use this grant to restore habitat historically used by all the imperiled Morse Creek fish and by coastal cutthroat trout. Work will include removal of 1,100 feet of dike, restoration of the 1939 stream channel, reconnection of the stream with 9.3 acres of floodplain and construction of two log jams. Morse Creek is home to imperiled coho salmon, pink salmon, Strait of Juan de Fuca summer chum, bull trout and winter steelhead. Much of the stream reach is severely degraded and is extremely poor habitat for fish. The reach is channelized, confined, over-steep, diked and lacks a variety of habitat for the different stages of a fish’s life.

Quick Facts

WWRP Applicant: Fish & Wildlife Dept of Category: State Lands Restoration & Enhancement WWRP Grant: $200,000.00 Applicant Match: $0.00 Project Type: Restoration County: Clallam Legislative District: 24 Status: Closed Completed RCO Project # Jun-59

Location Details

Drive westbound from Sequim on Hwy 101. Cross the Dungeness River bridge and then drive 9.8 miles to the Morse Creek hill. Just before the bottom of the hill, turn right onto Strait View Drive. Immediately turn left into the parking lot of the log building (Morse Cr Center). Park and walk upstream under the Hwy 101 Morse Creek Bridge. Walk upstream about 1,100 feet to the lower end of the project site. The site continues upstream another 1,100 feet from this point.

What is the WWRP

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) is a state grant program that creates and conserves local and state parks, wildlife habitat and working farms. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office administers WWRP grants, and the legislature funds the program.