Shell Creek

Project description

By Dave Teitzel 9/29/2019

General information
Shell Creek is a natural, spring-fed creek that originates near the eastern boundary of Yost Park, a large city-owned park in Edmonds, Washington that has been preserved in a largely natural state. After exiting Yost Park to the west near Main Street, Shell Creek flows for approximately three miles through a series of culverts under city streets and private driveways as well as private yards until it empties into Puget Sound. The water quality in Shell Creek has been regularly tested since 2015 by a volunteer group of students from Edmonds-Woodway High School entitled “Students Saving Salmon” (led by Joe Scordino – a retired biologist). The quality of the water is very good and much of the habitat is good for salmon spawning/rearing. Adult salmon have been observed annually in Shell Creek for many years by streamside residents. Students began annual surveys in 2016 and have confirmed that both coho and chum salmon are spawning in the lower portion of the creek. Spawning habitat is also available upstream in several areas of the creek—especially in the preserved areas of Yost Park.

The problem
Although the stream passes through several culverts as it flows through Edmonds, salmon have transited the culverts and spawned almost up to 7 th Ave (approximately two miles from the shore of Puget Sound). However, near 7th Avenue at 625 Carol Way (zip code 98020), a man-made waterfall installed in the past represents a complete barrier to fish passage. This is very unfortunate, as approximately one mile of excellent fish rearing and spawning habitat exists in Yost Park to the east of the waterfall—habitat traditionally available to fish which is now inaccessible due to the waterfall barrier. The waterfall is approximately 5’ in height and was formed by placing rocks and concrete in the stream bed. In September 2019, a search was made by the City of Edmonds of its permit files, and no evidence can be found the waterfall installation was ever permitted. The waterfall is located at the property line of the private property between 625 Carol Way and the Soundview Apartments (just west of 7th Avenue).

Remedial actions
Contact was made by Mr. Scordino and representatives of the City of Edmonds with the owner of the private home at 625 Carol Way (Mr. Brian Washburn) and an owner representative of the Soundview Apartments to explain the fish passage problem created by the waterfall between the two properties. The owner of the Soundview Apartments understands the issue and is willing to allow the creek to be modified on their property to create a series of step pools to replace the waterfall and enable fish to pass beyond that point. Mr. Washburn initially indicated to Mr. Scordino and the City of Edmonds that he was willing to work with the city to address this problem, but has subsequently changed his mind due to concerns that removal of the waterfall will reduce his property value. The City of Edmonds has made attempts to contact Mr. Washburn to discuss this issue further (twice by letter and e-mails by Councilmember Dave Teitzel in 2018 and 2019, and once by a certified letter co-signed by Mayor Dave Earling and Council President Adrienne Fraley-Monillas in 2019), but no response has been received. In addition, members of the Students Saving Salmon organization have attempted to talk to Mr. Washburn about this issue, but he has declined to discuss it further and refused students access
to his property for salmon surveys. We believe the City was aware of this fish blockage issue earlier than 2016 but can find no documentation regarding investigative steps that may have been taken.

Next steps
It is our hope the issue can be resolved amicably between the city and Mr. Washburn to enable revision of the waterfall to facilitate upstream fish passage. However, failing that possibility, the city is exploring other options that may compel action. Edmonds is committed to protecting and restoring as much fish habitat as possible in view of the continually declining salmon runs in the Puget Sound area and has a strong desire to a) secure property owner permission to pursue revision of the waterfall and b) pursue state and federal grant opportunities to fund this relatively small project which could have a substantial positive effect on opening of prime fish habitat. It is our understanding from Mr. Matt Curtis of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) that the state legislature in 2019 has directed WDFW to do a rulemaking around RCW 77.57 regarding removal of fish blockages on private property, which may provide guidance to Edmonds regarding steps we may follow to reconfigure the fish blockage waterfall in Shell Creek. The City of Edmonds is very supportive of WDFW’s use of the Shell Creek fish blockage waterfall as an example of how man-made barriers of this sort on private property should be resolved to make available as much fish habitat in urban and suburban areas as possible as we collectively work to restore fish runs in the Puget Sound area.