Funding and Partnerships The Lower Tolt River King County and the City of would like to thank our project supporters. Floodplain Reconnection Project Funding sources Background • City of Seattle • King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks • King County Flood Control District The Tolt River is the largest salmon-bearing tributary to the and a key part of the Basin. Each year • King Conservation District nearly 20 percent of the Snoqualmie Watershed’s threatened Chinook • Salmon Recovery Funding Board salmon return to the Tolt to spawn. • Acquisition and Restoration Fund Historically, the Tolt River flowed through old-growth forests, descending more • Washington Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account than 3,000 feet from the Cascade crest to meander across a mile-and-a-half of the Snoqualmie Valley floodplain. Over time, the Tolt’s most downstream reach Additional in-kind support was constrained by levees built in the 1940s that flanked both sides of the river • Boy Scouts of America and other volunteers assisted with channel, impeding natural channel formation and the river’s connection to its planting of native vegetation floodplain. These changes greatly reduced aquatic habitat conditions and have • Snoqualmie Watershed Forum assisted with early project contributed to the decline of our Chinook salmon populations. Recent estimates development, grant-writing, and public outreach put Snoqualmie Chinook salmon populations at about six percent of their historic levels. Department of Natural Resources and Parks Restoring the lower Tolt River ranked as one of the highest priorities Water and Land Resources for Snoqualmie Chinook recovery in the Snohomish River Basin Salmon Division Project contact Conservation Plan. Clint Loper About the Project 206-477-4757 n 2009 the City of Seattle and King County partnered to complete the Lower [email protected] I Tolt River Floodplain Reconnection Project in King County’s Tolt-MacDonald Park. King County Department of The project set back approximately 2,500 feet (half mile) of levee along the Tolt Natural Resources and Parks River restoring natural process to nearly 50 acres of floodplain habitat important Water and Land Resources Division to spawning and rearing salmon. The overall project cost totaled $6.3 million. 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 600 Other project features included: Seattle, WA 98104-3855 • An outlet channel and engineered log jams in the floodplain to dissipate flood energy and promote more diverse habitat conditions. • A new set back levee to maintain flood protection for the park and the Alternative Formats City of Carnation, while increasing the area available for storage and conveyance of floodwaters. 206-477-4800 (voice) or 711 (TTY) • Recreational amenities including a paved levee trail connected to the City of Carnation, additional parking, a family picnic area, and interpretive signage. • Safety elements including a clear take-out location for boaters and floaters. Over time the river will move through the floodplain, naturally creating and improving habitat. This means the site will change from year to year. King County will monitor these changes and adaptively manage the site as needed.

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Department of Natural Resources and Parks Water and Land Resources Division New parking area Existing levee remains intact

New trail Footprint of removed levee

All top elevations New setback levee 3 along the setback 0 2

Campground levee are at or above R

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l i those of the previously Excavated outlet channel a r T existing levee ed v This revetment will protect a P w Paved trails the campground from erosion Ne

New trail spur to Gravel trails downtown Carnation

New parking areas Old levee removed to open up Log structures disperse Log structures habitat and dissipate high ­ows for salmon in this interior wetland/ New interpretive signs ­oodplain area

New trails Imagery: 2009 Orthophotography prior to project construction

Excavated outlet channel

New parking

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d e The information included on this map has been compiled v a by King County staff from a variety of sources and is P subject to change without notice. King County makes no w e representations or warranties, express or implied, as to N accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or rights to the use of New picnic area such information. King County shall not be liable for any general, special, indirect, incidental, or consequential Trail connection damages including, but not limited to, lost revenues or lost profits resulting from the use or misuse of the information improved below contained on this map. Any sale of this map or bridge information on this map is prohibited except by written To permission of King County. lt Hill Rd Recreational river user take-out 0 70 140 280 420 560 700 Existing levee remains intact in Feet this section and along the south bank Map created by: Laird O'Rollins; June 15, 2011 Project Overview Lower Tolt River Floodplain Reconnection Project