Goals

The goal of the Qwuloolt Project is to restore historic tidal circulation and other natural processes and functions to the site. 

Project objectives established by the partners include:

• Create a self-sustaining project requiring minimal construction and maintenance
• Create a physical, chemical, and biological template on the site that allows natural processes to occur and critical functions to improve
• Promote natural channel formation
• Create areas for the development of diverse plant and forest communities
• Facilitate the rate of recovery and revegetation of native species
• Maintain migratory pathways for existing fish populations
• Maximize cover, forage, and other habitat functions for fish
• Balance public access and aesthetic considerations with ecological objectives

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Plan

Approach

The overall approach of the Qwuloolt Project is to create a cost effective, self-sustaining, and resilient estuary system on site that requires minimal construction and maintenance and allows natural processes to occur and critical functions to improve over time.

More specifically, restoring the Qwuloolt will involve restoring stream channels and typical site relief on the site, constructing setback levees to protect neighboring properties within the floodplain, planting native vegetation to promote habitat recovery, and removing four tide gates and levee sections along Ebey Slough to restore tidal connection with the broader Snohomish River estuary system. 

Restoration Activities

Site Plan

Over the past few years, project partners have worked cooperatively to develop a restoration plan for the Qwuloolt. In early 2006, partners held a public informational meeting and open house to solicit feedback from the community on several levee breach alternatives.  You can view restoration alternatives evaluated as part of this process, including trail and public access alignments, on the Maps & Documents page. Based on input from the community, planning partners selected a large levee breach alternative as the preferred alternative for further refinement.

Since 2006, project partners have worked to refine the preferred alternative to enhance ecological and biological objectives and to reduce overall project impacts and costs  In early 2009, with the engineering and design assistance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, project partners completed the following design for the Qwuloolt:     

Design

Implementation

The Qwuloolt Project will be implemented in two phases:

        - Stream Restoration
                In 2007, one mile of stream channel in lower Allen and Jones Creeks was restored to its                         historic location and natural alignment.  The project involved excavating 5,000 feet of new                     channel and filling in the old ditched channels to ensure that the creeks functioned properly.                    Look at Photos.

        - Estuary Restoration
                This phase of the project aims to restore tidal connection and a functioning estuary system                     on the Qwuloolt.  It will include levee setback construction and levee removal activities.                          Designs for this phase are outlined below.  Construction is planned for 2009-2010.  

Design

Stream Restoration

The stream restoration component of the Qwuloolt Project restored one mile of stream channel in lower Allen and Jones Creeks.  Ditched portions of the streams were realigned to their historic locations as seen in this 1938 aerial photo.  

Channel Designs

The project included excavating 5,000 feet of new stream channel within the project area. Some of the existing ditched channels were also filled to ensure that the creeks function properly.  The tide gates and levees on Ebey Slough at the mouths of Allen and Jones Creek were not altered.  The figures below illustrate the new stream channel alignments for Allen and Jones Creeks.

Allen Creek
The  work on Allen Creek involved excavating 1,400 feet of channel that will act as a backwater channel for the main stream channel.  It was connected to a remnant portion of the historic Allen Creek channel at the downstream end but was not connected to the main Allen Creek channel on the upstream end.  The existing Allen Creek channel was not altered.  

Jones Creek
The  work on Jones Creek required excavating 2,500 feet of stream channel in order to match historic stream channel meanders.  The new channel was connected to Jones Creek on the upstream and downstream ends.  A small tributary, approximately 1,300 feet in length, was also be excavated south of the main channel.  Existing ditched channels were filled to ensure that the creeks functioned properly.  

You can view Restoration Photos or Contact Us for more information. 

Estuary Restoration

The estuary restoration phase of the Qwuloolt Project will restore tidal processes and an estuarine marsh system to 340 acres of floodplain.  The following project elements will be implemented:

• Removal of 1,800 linear feet of levee along Ebey Slough
• Construction of setback levees (1,700 ft and 4,000 ft) and a 0.8 acre fill area to protect adjacent properties located in the floodplain
• Construction of a 6 ½ acre water runoff storage basin
• Filling ditches and excavating starter channels to facilitate tidal channel formation
• Constructing small internal berms to increase habitat complexity and attenuate waves
• Planting native trees and shrubs

Typical Setback Levee Design

For plan sheets see Designs.

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Timeline

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Estimated Cost

Restoration of the Qwuloolt, including Allen and Jones Creek stream and estuarine restoration activities, is expected to cost approximately $7 million.  This project is made possible through the cooperation and financial support of its many partners including tribal, local, county, state, and federal agencies as well as private individuals and organizations.

Grant assistance has come from:
    
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Community-based Restoration Program
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Open Rivers Initiative Program
        National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Puget Sound Marine Conservation Program
        Natural Resource Conservation Service's Wetland Reserve Program
        Pacific Coast Joint Venture
        US Fish and Wildlife Service's National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Program   
        Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program
        Washington State's Acquatic Lands Enhancement Account   
        Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
        Washington State's Salmon Recovery Funding Board