North Wind's Weir Duwamish Salmon Habitat Acquisition and Restoration Project

Next Volunteer Opportunities at North Wind's Weir on April 3 and April 17

The next task for volunteers is the construction of goose exclusion fences in the intertidal zone on Saturday, April 3. See project details and volunteer requirements below. Then, on Saturday, April 17, volunteers will plant "emergent" marsh plants inside the fenced areas as part of Duwamish Alive!. Also on April 17, we'll spread more mulch around plants in the "upland" areas.

Photo of large exposed mudflat next to a river
The view above shows how completely the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration project can empty out during a very low tide. The photo above was taken at about a 0 foot tide with the river running 1,000 cubic feet per second (low for this time of year) on the afternoon of March 4. You can see the mudflat that -- when inundated as it is most of the time -- provides optimal rearing habitat for juvenile salmon. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

Planting of "Upland" Trees and Shrubs Largely Completed February 27

On February 27, 116 volunteers planted trees and shrubs at the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration site on the Duwamish River in Tukwila. Their efforts built on the volunteer plantings begun February 6 and largely completed planting in the "upland." Several corridors through the upland down to the large wood clusters have been left unplanted at this time to allow access for installation of additional anchors on the wood clusters. These corridors will be filled in with plants when the re-anchoring is complete.

Thank you to the volunteers on February 27 who came from People For Puget Sound, Boeing, University of Washington, Ikea, and Disney Day of Service!

Photo of people planting trees on a riverbank
Work on February 27 consisted of planting "upland" trees and shrubs around the east and north sides of the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration project. This view looks south along the east side of the project.

Photo of people planting trees on either side of a gravel path
This view shows volunteers planting trees and shrubs along both sides of the gravel path along the north side of the project.

Photo of a woman and two girls planting trees on a river bank
Planting trees is fun (especially when it's warm and dry)!

Large Wood Clusters Being Re-Anchored

On February 17, crews installed additional anchors on several of the large wood clusters. The additional anchors will compensate for the loose soil that allowed a few of the clusters to float more than was intended. If this additional anchoring works well, it will be applied to more of the large wood structures.

Site Planting Began February 6

On February 6, 131 volunteers continued transforming the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration site by planting hundreds of 600 trees and shrubs and 900 willow/dogwood stakes.

Photo of plants in pots on a gentle slope next to a river
In the morning of Saturday, February 6, the plants were set out, waiting for the volunteers to arrive. The beauty bark will help suppress weeds, retain soil moisture, and reduce soil erosion.

Photo of people planting trees on the banks of the a river
After an orientation to the project and safety briefing, the volunteers get to work planting potted plants and bare root plants in the "upland" or portion of the site farthest from the water.

Photo of man and boy planting a tree
Family members gaze on their contribution to the future of the restoration site -- a carefully-planted shore pine tree. The trees and shrubs will provide a home for terrestrial insects that in turn will feed the young salmon that swim in the nearby shallow waters.

Photo of a crowd of people on a distant riverbank
Over 125 volunteers participated in the February 6 tree planting at the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration project.

Photo of people planting stakes on a riverbank
In addition to potted and bare root plants, volunteers planted willow and dogwood stakes. This planting task involves driving a hole with a rock bar and then inserting a cutting from a willow or red osier dogwood bush. The stakes are planted close to the high tide mark because they need to be in contact with groundwater.

Photo looking up at a bald eagle perched on top of a power pole
Keeping a close eye on the planting on February 6 was this bald eagle, which reminds us that in the Duwamish River, wildlife habitat exists alongside vibrant industrial and commercial activity.

Construction Concluded December 18

Construction finished on December 18 and inspection took place December 21.

On December 17, KING 5 news reported on the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration project as construction was wrapping up. View the KING 5 story on North Wind's Weir restoration.

Photo of people in hard hats and vests standing on a river bank
The photo above shows staff from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, King County, and the construction contractor inspecting the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration project on December 21.

Photo of shoreline covered in beauty bark
The photo above shows the completed project on December 21, looking east. The upper limit of tidal action coincides with the lower boundary of the brown beauty bark. The beauty bark suppresses weeds and reduces erosion. The tree trunks chained to anchors will provide shelter for young fish during high tide.

Photo of riverbank covered with beauty bark
The photo above looks west across the project site on December 21. The area covered in beauty bark will be planted with trees and shrubs in February.

Photo of riverbank covered in beauty bark
The photo above shows the northern portion of the project at the conclusion of construction on December 21. The "trees" installed vertically are perching trees that also will provide a habitat for cavity-dwelling birds such as woodpeckers.

Aerial photo of large embayment on a river
The photo above provides an aerial view of the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration during the morning of December 18. At low tide, the project will be nearly completely drained. Photo by Ned Ahrens, King County.

Photo of large embayment on a river bank
A second view of the project on the morning of December 18. Coincidentally, these aerial photos were taken not long after the following two photos. Photo by Ned Ahrens, King County.

Photo of embayment along a river
The photo above shows the North Wind's Weir restoration project on the morning of December 18. Most of the mudflat habitat that is most beneficial to young salmon is underwater in this picture. Beauty bark is being blown down to stabilize the soil and suppress weeds. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

Photo of river embankment with beauty bark along the shoreline
The photo above shows the North Wind's Weir restoration project on the morning of December 18. The beauty bark is placed above the high tide line. The area covered in beauty bark was planted with trees and shrubs in February 2010. The area between the lower limit of the beauty bark and the water's edge will be planted with marsh plants in April 2010. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

Photo of embayment next to river
The photo above shows the site on December 16. The chain link fence along S. 112th St. in the foreground had just been removed and the split rail fence is under construction. The yellow material around the east and north edges of the excavated area is coir fabric, a coconut-based fabric used to stabilize the soil. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

As of December 15, the earthmoving was nearly entirely completed at the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration project. Tidal cycles were filling and draining the site as intended.

Photo of open water next to graded bank with tree trunks lying on it
The photo above shows the project on December 15 during an 8 foot tide (5.7 feet on site plans). The traverse berm that formerly ran left to right in the middle of the excavated area has been completely removed. Tree trunks ("large wood") have been placed in their final locations and anchored in place.

Photo of large embayment next to a river with gentle muddy banks and tree trunks scattered around
The photo above looks west through the opening to the Duwamish River on December 15. The yellow boom is the float for the silt curtain intended to minimize the spread of turbidity from the project area to the river.

Photo of embayment next to a river with gentle muddy banks with tree trunks scattered on them
This December 15 view looks southwest along the eastern edge of the project. The black object in the lower left is a culvert for stormwater from a neighboring property. The culvert has a Tideflex duckbill check valve to keep tidewater from backing up to the neighboring property. The white material on the quarry spall below the culvert is ice from the previous week's cold weather.

Photo of tree stuck in bank next to large embayment on a river
This final December 15 view looks southwest across the majority of the site. The tree is a snag that has been placed to provide perching habitat for birds.

Photo of large embayment on a river
The photo above shows the project on December 9. Ice is floating in the middle of the excavated area and has accumulated around the edges. Even though this part of the river is tidally influenced, fresh water -- which freezes more easily than salt water -- sits on top of the salt water that fills most of the site. Three snag trees can be seen at the right and upper parts of the site. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

Photo of wide stretch of a river with construction equipment on the bank
The photo above shows the site on the morning of December 7. The northern berm is out of view under water, having been graded to its final elevation. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

Photo of river with construction equipment on the shoreline
The photo above also was taken on the morning of December 7. Although not quite complete, the project now was functionally part of the Duwamish estuary. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

Photo of man standing by excavated muddy area
The photo above looks northeast across the site at low tide in the afternoon of December 7. The material in front of the man will be excavated. The darker material that looks like "ring around the bathtub" shows the extent of high tide in the site to date.

Photo of open water surrounded by mud
This photo looks west across the site to the entrance to the Duwamish during low tide on December 7. The log at left has been driven into the ground to serve as a snag for birds and insects.

Photo of excavated area filled with water next to river
The photo above shows the southern cell during the morning of December 4, the first day tidal waters completely filled the site. Earlier in the morning, tidewaters covered the berm on the right. The ultimate main entrance to the river -- which will allow the site to drain completely at low tide -- still remains to be dug. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

Photo of excavated area filled with water next to a river
The photo above shows the central temporary berm between the southern (left) and northern (right) cells on the morning of December 4. The morning high tide covered the central berm and although the tide is going out in this photo, still covers the berm between the northern cell and the river. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

The December 4 milestone of first complete tidal inundation was reached during the final earthmoving phase of the project which began three days prior. Beginning in the evening of December 1, crews began the final phase of earthmoving to open up the project site to the Duwamish River. At 10 p.m. on December 1, a small group of Boeing employees (who work across the street) and project supporters went on a tour of the site to see the work kick off. They walked through a surreal landscape as construction equipment roared and rolled across the site under bright construction lights.

During the following days, work occurred both during the day and at night during low tides to allow equipment to work in the dry.

Photo of construction equipment and logs on bank above a muddy pond
The photo above shows construction on the morning of December 2. The track hoe is moving the logs to place them in clusters, where they will provide shelter for fish.

Photo of trackhoe reaching down earthen bank next to a river
The photo above shows a trackhoe making final contours to the bank of the Duwamish on December 2. The area where the photographer is standing had been further excavated overnight.

Photos of people in vests and hard hats standing in muddy construction site next to a river
The photo above shows the project team and contractor meeting on December 1 to assess progress. At this meeting, they decided to go ahead with the final grading work during the low tides and dry weather of this week.

Construction Progresses During November 2009

Photo of construction area next to a river with water in large ponds surrounded by construction equipment
The photo above shows the site on November 25. The majority of the grading was complete and large wood was being placed on the slopes. Compare this view to a photo of the same location taken two weeks prior. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

Photo of excavator placing a log on a slope above a pond
This photo shows workers securing large wood pieces together. The wood will provide shelter for young salmon. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

The following photos were taken on November 11. Water in the excavated areas is a mix of stormwater, water from a broken water pipe (fixed when the photo was taken), and seepage through the sandy soil from the high water table. Water is pumped from one pond to the other to give crews space to work.

Photo of excavated area next to a river
View on November 11 looking north toward the project site from the Boeing Customer Services Building located south of S. 112th St. Compare this view to a photo of the same location taken one week prior. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

Photo of construction site with water in pond
View looking northwest across the site on November 11. The Duwamish River is beyond the construction equipment. Pump in the foreground is used to shift water between the ponds as needed. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

Photo of bulldozer grading a bare slope
A bulldozer grades the eastern slope of the site on November 4. Tree trunks piled up in far distance eventually were placed in the large open area to provide refuge habitat for young salmon.

Photo of bulldozer grading a slope with more construction equipment in the distance
This photo looks southwest on November 4. The eventual opening to the Duwamish River will be located between the construction trailers and the excavator on top of the bank in the center distance of the photo.

Photo of large excavated pit with construction equipment in the distance
This photo looks south and shows the north-south extent of the project on November 4. Water in the bottom is from seepage. The open area was further deepened during November before an opening was excavated to the Duwamish in early December.

Photo of excavator placing soil in dump truck
Approximately every 10 minutes during the November excavation, a dump truck entered the site and was loaded with excavated soil. This soil was used for clean fill.

Photo of pit with construction equipment in it
This photo looks northeast across the extent of the site on November 4. The eventual opening to the Duwamish was located between the photographer's location and the trackhoe on the far left. Note that some large pieces of wood already have been placed on the southern slope at right.

Photo of river bank with construction equipment on top of the bank
This photo looks south (upstream) on the Duwamish River. Contaminated soil from this stretch of the river bank was removed during the winter of 2009. Compare this November 4 view to a picture taken at this location in February.

Photo looking down on a construction site next to a river
View on November 4 looking north toward the project site from the Boeing Customer Services Building located south of S. 112th St. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

Construction Began in Early October

The contractor began work at the beginning of October by clearing the remaining rubble and several trees from the property.

July 28, 2009 Groundbreaking

A celebratory groundbreaking for the final, main construction phase of the North Wind's Weir estuarine restoration project occurred July 28, 2009.

Download the program for the groundbreaking (Adobe Acrobat).

Photo of man speaking with river in background
Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerton welcomed people to the site for the July 28 groundbreaking.

Man standing at podium with river in the background
State representative Zack Hudgins, whose district includes the project site, spoke about the various ways Washington State is helping local partners recover the Duwamish River and Puget Sound.

Picture of line of people in hard hats shoveling dirt
Representatives of the many organizations that contributed to the North Wind's Weir estuary restoration project helped with the ceremonial groundbreaking.

Photo of people standing next to a box sitting in a hole in the ground
Those breaking ground found "buried treasure": a box containing chocolate salmon symbolic of the rewards to come when the site is providing habitat for millions of young salmon.

February-April 2009 Soil Cleanup

 

Photo of lattice-like dam structure next to river
In 2008, most of the remaining contaminated soil was removed from the site. To remove the last remaining contaminated soil in the riverbank itself, it was necessary to construct a temporary barrier. This photo shows the "Portadam" being assembled in February 2009.

Photo of dam-like structure parallel to river bank
This photo shows how the "Portadam" sits right at the edge of the river at low tide. At high tide, river flow backs up enough to cover the rocks in the foreground and much of the Portadam. February 2009 photo.

Photo of lattice-like structure covered in blue tarps next to a river
This view, looking upstream, shows the "Portadam" in action, holding back the river water and allowing excavation work to continue. Pumps are used to remove water that seeps around the Portadam. February 2009 photo.

Photo of beach along river

This March 2009 photo shows the site after the remaining contaminated soil and Portadam have been removed.

Photo of river bank
This April 2009 photo looking downstream shows the new northern berm constructed during the removal of the last contaminated soil earlier in 2009. Coir fabric and straw are used to reduced erosion. The patch of green on the mudflat is emergent marsh vegetation.

Photo of riverbank
This April 2009 photo looks upstream during low tide. The straw-covered area is part of the newly-constructed northern berm. The eventual connection between the off-channel, shallow water habitat project and the river will occur upstream of the rocky promontory at the end of the straw-covered berm.

Photo of barren field next to river
View looking toward project site on April 20, 2009, from roof of Boeing Customer Services Building located south of S. 112th St. Photo courtesy of Norbert Woloszyn.

2008 Soil Cleanup

Photo of large excavated area

The majority of the contaminated soil was removed in 2008. Contamination consisted mostly of oil-soaked soil from previous industrial uses of the property. In addition, there were large (refrigerator-sized) chunks of concrete that had been buried on site. May 2008 photo.

Project Details

Download a vicinity map (Adobe Acrobat).

North Wind's Weir Estuarine Habitat Project Plans (Adobe Acrobat 3.7 MB)

North Wind's Weir Estuarine Habitat Project topography and vegetation design
(Adobe Acrobat 469 KB)

To learn more, contact Dennis Clark, 206-296-1909.

Project Description

Partners and Funding

Aerial photo of Site 1 Duwamish project areaImportance for Salmon

Other Watershed Salmon Restoration/Protection Projects

Volunteer Opportunities at North Wind's Weir in 2010

This project needs your help! Volunteers will help plant trees, shrubs, and wetland plants in 2010. They also will construct fences to keep geese away from the newly-planted wetland plants.

People of all ages and experience levels are welcome with the exception of the April 3 event, which is for adults and teens 16 and older only.

Date and Time Name More information and sign up
Saturday, April 3
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.

North Wind's Weir Restoration Goose Exclusion Fence Construction
Geese like nothing better than the tender marsh plants we are planting at the project. To foil these aquatic grazers, we will construct a fence around the areas we will plant with the marsh plants on April 17.

You will get muddy -- wear boots/shoes and clothing that you don't mind getting dirty.

Although fence construction is not rocket science, this project will be most enjoyable for people comfortable working with simple tools including pliers, wire cutters, and fence post drivers.

Adults and teenagers 16 and older only for this event, please.

Dennis Clark, WRIA 9 Salmon Habitat Team, 206-296-1909

Saturday, April 17
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.

North Wind's Weir Restoration Planting, Mulching, and Fence-Building
Plant wetland plants in the intertidal zone and complete construction of a goose-exclusion fence to protect the young marsh plants.

Those planting will get muddy -- wear rubber boots and pants/jacket that you don't mind getting dirty.

Those wanting to stay cleaner can spread mulch around the trees in the upland areas.

This is a Duwamish Alive! event, one of a series of projects up and down the Duwamish in Seattle and Tukwila on this day.

Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound,
206-382-7007 Ext. 182

Saturday, June 19
10 a.m. -
2 p.m.
North Wind's Weir Restoration Stewardship
We'll finish spreading still more mulch around the newly planted trees to help the soil retain moisture and provide an inhospitable environment for weeds.

Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound,
206-382-7007 Ext. 182

Autumn 2010 date TBD
North Wind's Weir Restoration Stewardship
We'll plant trees and shrubs in a few remaining corridors in the upland areas and do any necessary weeding to prepare the plants for their first winter.

Dhira Brown, People For Puget Sound,
206-382-7007 Ext. 182

Volunteer opportunities for other dates and at other locations in southern King County

General project questions: Dennis Clark, 206-296-1909.