Box Canyon Large Wood Replenishment Box Canyon Creek is an important place. It is the only site where a genetically distinct population of threatened bull trout spawns (lay eggs) and rears (grow up into big bull trout). There are only three bull trout populations left in the upper Yakima Basin and all
Upper Kachess River Restoration Completed November 2025 When settlers constructed dams in the upper Yakima Basin without fish passage in the early part of the 20th century, lake and river ecosystems were profoundly impacted. One species that was particularly affected was bull trout. These dams isolated headwater populations of bull trout
Williams Creek Aquatic Restoration The Williams Creek Aquatic Restoration Project (#15-1247) the first phase of proposed restoration of tributaries and floodplains in the Williams Creek watershed. The project is linked to the US Forest Service (USFS) Swauk Pine Restoration Project. This large-scale project takes a watershed approach to restoring both upland forest
Tillman Creek Flow Augmentation The Tillman Creek Flow Augment Project mitigated for development that required residential groundwater withdrawals within the Tillman Creek sub-basin. Flow augmentation adds water into a stream to help increase the amount and quality of water. During warm summer months, Tillman Creek went dry, or dewatered, on the stretch
This project improved water quality and salmon habitat on an important reach of the upper Yakima River.
Indian Creek Ground Water Monitoring Several years ago, the Yakama Nation placed approximately 1,000 trees on the Indian Creek floodplain. The creek had become disconnected from its floodplain. Over time, the Indian Creek cut down into the channel bed and in some places, it was incised as much as 6 feet. Kittitas
Gold Creek is the head waters tributary to the upper Yakima River and home to a genetically distinct population of bull trout that is at risk of extirpation. The Gold Creek project will address habitat deficiencies that are negatively impacting bull trout so that they remain a part of this important ecosystem.
Lower Cle Elum River Restoration Project The Lower Cle Elum River Instream Habitat and Side-Channel Restoration Project is a two-phase project that improved spawning and rearing habitat for native salmon and trout species on the stretch of the river beneath the Cle Elum Dam. The project is located within the conservation easement
Completed in 2010, this restoration project removed two fish passage barriers in the Currier/Reecer Creek tributary of the Yakima River.
Swauk Creek Instream & Riparian The Swauk Creek Instream Project took a holistic approach to address human impacts. Swauk Creek is tributary to the Yakima River in northern Kittitas County. The creek is home to Mid-Columbia Steelhead. Other important fish native to the Swauk watershed include Coho salmon, Spring Chinook salmon, Rainbow
