Lone Tree Creek Restoration
The purpose of this project was to improve water quality and habitat conditions in the lower portion of Lone Tree Creek and associated wetlands. Lone Tree Creek is a small, independent tributary to Kiket Bay (part of the larger Skagit Bay) located on the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community reservation. It drains a watershed of approximately 627 acres with a channel that is approximately 5-6 feet wide near the mouth. The stream is typically dry for 3-4 months each year. Spits enclose the mouth of the creek and create a tidal lagoon that is approximately 5.3 acres at high tide. There is also a 0.25 acre estuarine marsh associated with the stream shortly upstream from the lagoon.
While most of the upper watershed is forested, the lower portion has been developed with roads, rural residences, and the Thousand Trails campground. As a result, the lower portion of the stream has been heavily modified. Despite the small size and substantial modification, the lower portion of Lone Tree Creek and associated wetlands provide habitat for a variety of anadromous fish species. Chinook, coho, and steelhead fry were captured in the tidal lagoon and lower portion of Lone Tree Creek during the winter of 2004. This habitat likely provides important low-salinity refuge for juvenile fish carried out to Skagit Bay during large flows in the Skagit River.
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Planning Office received funding for completion of the project. Skagit River System Cooperative provided assistance by developing a watershed assessment and evaluating restoration alternatives, permit writing, and providing construction oversight. The restoration project occurred on the lower 750 feet of Lone Tree Creek, located entirely within the Thousand Trails campground. Restoration activities included relocating approximately 275 feet of stream length out of a road ditch, restoring fish passage and improving hydrology in 750 feet of stream length by removing or replacing six culverts, improving riparian conditions, removing rip-rap bank protection, removing approximately 1600 square feet of artificial fills from tidal marsh, and installing large woody debris in the stream channel.
Before-and-after picture showing replacement of a blocking culvert with a bridge to allow fish access and improve hydrology.
Project Status/Timeline
The Lone Tree Creek Watershed Assessment and Lone Tree Watershed Restoration Alternatives and Recommendations were completed by SRSC in 2005. Permits were acquired and construction was completed during summer of 2006. Monitoring of Lone Tree Creek and Lagoon is ongoing.
Primary Project Contact
Todd Mitchell, Swinomish Office of Planning and Community Development
Funding Sources
Environmental Quality Incentive Program Grant (USDA, NRCS)
Section 319 Project Clean Water Act Grant (EPA)
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
Project Partners
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
Natural Resource Conservation Service, USDA
Thousand Trails Campground