Shell Creek

Objective

Restoring self-sustaining populations of coho and chum salmon throughout the Shell Creek watershed.

Approach
  • Identify stream habitat factors affecting salmon survival and productivity in Shell Creek and develop and advocate recommendations to resolve or minimize the effects.
  • Advocate for critical area protections in City Code necessary to preserve and enhance stream habitat.
  • Advocate for measures to reduce or eliminate toxic pollutant entry into Edmonds streams.
  • Advocate for removal of fish passage barriers and man-made structures that affect salmon habitat
  • Develop and advocate recommendations for treatment and/or removal of pollutants in Edmonds streams.
  • Advocate for revisions to City stormwater management practices to reduce/eliminate excess stormwater flows into Shell Creek.
  • Conduct outreach to educate the public on restoring salmon to Edmonds Creeks
Current Efforts
  • Supporting ongoing Edmonds Stream Team efforts to monitor, enhance, and restore salmon in Shell Creek.
  • Advocating that City spend limited budget in 2025/26 on fixing identified creek problems in Yost Park rather than spending over $300,000 on planned consultant study
  • Supporting continuation of the community effort to engage the property owner of the impassable waterfall in discussions on replacing the waterfall with step-pools that will allow salmon passage.
  • Developing recommendations for revisions to Critical Area Ordinance to better protect and enhance stream habitat for salmon.
  • Supporting ongoing Edmonds Stream Team efforts to engage with Edmonds College’s proposed involvement (via course curriculum and field studies), in Shell Creek stream assessment and restoration planning.
References
Shell Creek in the News