Two Kitsap County streams are being restored to allow, in part, for development. What is unique about these projects is that the restorations benefit both development objectives and the health of the stream. The two are not always mutually exclusive. Although biologists typically advise developers about what they can’t do near streams, sometimes their advice is to move, alter, or otherwise restore a stream. Such restoration can benefit land near riparian areas, some of which may be targeted for development.

The U.S. has 3.5 million miles of rivers. The 1992 National Water Quality Inventory stated “only 56 percent fully supported multiple uses, including drinking water supply, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and agriculture, as well as flood prevention and erosion control. In the remaining 44 percent of stream miles inventoried, sedimentation and excess nutrients were the most significant causes of degradation. Sediment problems result from soil erosion from watersheds and stream banks.” Stream corridors are increasingly recognized as critical ecosystems supporting interdependent uses and values.

This movement responds to a need created by many decades spent altering riparian lands. “Considerable time is spent repairing stream channels. Very little effort is made to understand how riparian areas have responded to previous alterations and repairs.” according to Dave Rosgen, recipient of an EPA Outstanding Achievement Award. Rosgen has developed a stream classification system used throughout the U.S.

One local stream restoration project was completed at Duncan Creek. Jeffrey A. Hecker, Architect, Bremerton, worked with wildlife biologist Ron Gold of RG Forestry Consultants recently on a residential project near Manchester.

Hecker explained, “An existing compound of buildings were constructed some 50 years ago in a wetland area. The creek had been channelized with rock walls on one side and creosoted logs on the other side to free up land to build a house.” The client wanted to restore the creek as a salmon stream and create a new living compound that could support this goal.

“Environmental studies were performed to determine how to best realign the creek to bring it up to storm water standards. The creosoted logs were removed,” he explained. “Three log weirs were inserted to obtain the ideal levels. The stream was moved away from the home, garage, and greenhouse to improve its habitat. Culverts were replaced and the creek was revamped to create new spawning beds.” According to Hecker, there is now a new 300’ of Duncan Creek that is once again producing salmon.

Today, interest in restoring stream corridors is expanding nationally and internationally, as indicated by increasing numbers of case studies, published papers, technology exchanges, research projects, and symposia.

The Web site, www.usda.gov/stream_restoration provides extensive resources for would-be stream workers. According to the website, “Restoration practitioners share simultaneously in the good fortune and responsibility of participating in a new endeavor — stepping beyond the current concept of natural resources conservation to a newer concept of restoring the living environment to an ecologically viable condition — to create places that improve rather than degrade over time.”

The document encourages locally led, public involvement in restoration planning and implementation. The challenges in restoring thousands of miles of degraded stream corridors must involve the participation of government agencies, public and private landowners, permit holders, and local volunteer, civic, and conservation groups and individuals.

At least one local volunteer conservation group is engaged in stream restoration projects. The Seattle Poggie Club (www.seattlepoggies.com) is a non-profit organization originated for the purpose of practicing and teaching respect and conservation of precious resources.

Another local stream restoration project currently under consideration involves Dogfish Creek in Poulsbo. That creek used to go along the path of Hwy. 305. When constructed, the Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) took the flattest area and changed the path of the stream. It created a series of culverts to divert the system. Occasionally the stream would take its own path back. The subterranean south fork pops out near a shopping center. It was leaking into people’s basements.

Dr. Chris May recommended the City of Poulsbo move the creek, and a decision on this move is pending. The City was surprised because it is used to biologists telling them what they can’t do. In this case, moving the creek may prevent spending of $500,000 by the WSDOT to redo eight culverts near a heavily impacted area in Poulsbo. This is, according to Kathleen Barrantes, a microbiologist, who added, “The best place for the stream is where it historically ran, on the other side of Hwy 305 where there are already wetlands.”

Barrantes works with the Liberty Bay Foundation, a non-profit group dedicated to the education and restoration of the Liberty Bay watershed. She is also a grant writer for Kitsap County.

Barrantes cautioned that stream restoration is not always successful. “Gorst was a stream restoration with a meandering path that was beautiful, but didn’t work the way it was originally designed — but nature fixed that. Storm waters had to go somewhere, and flooding created its own more natural path through the property. If a stream is impacted at its location, a biological study might determine a better location. People shouldn’t go and move their streams without consulting a professional. However, they may learn that the best medicine is to move the stream to a better quality path. Considerations include flow, water levels, forest cover, and duff layers rich in biota that help benthic invertebrates with food for salmon.”

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Environmental Restoration Division’s new web pages are now online at www.wa.gov/wdfw/hab/envrest/index.htm. Here you can find more information about stream restoration, download culvert, fishway and dam fish passage inventory data.