Portage Creek/Hecla Wetlands

Completed September 2003

Cost:

Portage Creek is an important coho-producing tributary to the Stillaguamish River that originates on a glacial terrace southeast of the city of Arlington. This project relocated Portage Creek back into the historical channel it occupied prior to its diversion. This relocation allowed the stream to resume a more natural course with a gentler and more consistent gradient (i.e.-without a fish-blocking waterfall).

The former channel was excavated to expose the old stream gravels and substrates. The complexity of the channel was enhanced by the addition of large woody debris (LWD) and rocks. A large log jam was placed just upstream of the current waterfall to prevent the stream from reoccupying the current channel while the existing ponds became off-channel wetlands connected to the stream through a channel connected to the lowermost pond. After completion, this project created a channel that was more natural in gradient and complexity and was passable to all life stages of fish year round.

This project aided in the restoration of the natural processes associated with wetland and riparian communities as well as providing excellent spawning and rearing habitat for salmonid populations. This project removed artificial migration barriers to coho and trout species, re-opening approximately 3500 linear feet (11000 sq ft) of high quality spawning habitat, and created approximately 500 linear feet of new spawning habitat and 3000 sq ft of winter and summer rearing habitat.