Project overview
The Washington State Department and contractor Interwest Construction Inc. (ICI) of Burlington removed barriers to fish migration at two locations along State Route 9 in Skagit County. The project installed new fish passable structures along an unnamed tributary to Nookachamps Creek (milepost 49) east of Mount Vernon and an unnamed tributary to Hansen Creek north of Sedro Woolley (milepost 59).
Together, these new fish-passable structures restore access to approximately 2 miles of natural stream habitat for bull trout, coho, resident trout, sea-run cutthroat and steelhead. They also improve the resiliency of SR 9 in these areas.
What to expect
Construction at the two locations is occurring simultaneously.
The unnamed tributary to Nookachamps Creek is located along SR 9 just south of Mount Vernon Big Lake Road (milepost 49) east of Mount Vernon. The unnamed tributary to Hansen Creek is located along SR 9 (milepost 59) just north of Kalloch Road (milepost 59) north of Sedro-Woolley. The new culverts have been installed at both locations, but work is continuing on and off the roadway. People traveling through the area should expect occasional daytime (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and nighttime (9 p.m. to 5 a.m.) alternating traffic at both sites.
WSDOT will remove two barriers to fish migration at two locations along SR 9 in Skagit County.
Replacing the outdated culverts with new structures opens approximately 2 miles of upstream habitat for salmon and other fish species to spawn and grow in the two tributaries. The new designs include natural elements, such as logs and boulders, to stabilize the channel, create habitat features and restore the natural flow of the stream that was disrupted when the original culverts were installed under SR 9.
The new structures and natural features make it easier for fish to move through the tributaries by slowing the water and creating a more natural creek environment. To protect and restore salmon runs, WSDOT has corrected fish barriers found along state highways since 1991. Since 2013, this work has accelerated due to a permanent federal injunction which applies to state roads in most of western Washington.
Fish passage design carefully considers today’s climate as well as future climate change risks. Completed projects are built to handle increased stream flow and flooding – meaning roads are less likely to flood or close during storms. The nature-based designs used in these projects help ensure they withstand current and future climate hazards. They also are built to today’s modern earthquake safety standards.
These new structures are built to last at least 75 years – helping reduce road closures during floods and providing more reliable transportation routes for the communities we serve. Ultimately, these projects benefit fish and people.
