Category Overview
Conserving land along our waterways protects important habitat and helps keep our rivers healthy, clean, and more resilient to drought. Riparian Protection projects conserve and restore fresh and saltwater habitat while protecting fish habitat. In doing so, the grants help provide our families, farms, and fisheries with clean water across the state.
Project Highlights
North Creek, which flows into the Sammamish river and Lake Washington, supports Silver, Chinook, and Sockeye Salmon as well as Steelhead, and Cutthroat Trout. These fish runs are threatened by the rapid development taking place in this 28 square mile watershed that flows through Everett, Mill Creek, Bothell, Snohomish an King Counties. The Muckleshoot Tribe and the Adopt-a-Stream foundation have joined with these jurisdictions to create a public/private partnership whereby all parties are working together to establish a North Creek Greenway designed to protect future salmon runs and provide a wildlife corridor from South Everett to the Burke Gilman Trail. Funds provided by the RHP will be used to secure permanent conservation easements of undeveloped riparian areas along the mainstem of North Creek as well as its tributaries. It is our intent to promote the North Creek Greenway throughout the watershed, soliciting interested parties to donate riparian lands or conservation easements in exchange for tax benefits, as well as advertising of limited funds to purchase conservation easements. However, we have targeted several properties that are adjacent to parks and public access areas along North Creek with owners interested in this program. Appraisals and the terms of the agreements are currently being negotiated. Established conservation easements will be monitored and maintained by the political jurisdiction where they are located.