The Story of West Beach Creek
West Beach Creek is one of the few streams in the San Juan Islands without a natural barrier and was therefore historically accessible to sea-going fish. The fish passage barrier we removed was formed by the combination of a driveway embankment and dam on private property which created a pond on the upstream side. Two 24-inch culverts located high up on the driveway blocked fish access, limited flow, and created a buildup of sediment in the creek up to the culvert at West Beach Road.Â
The project removed the small culverts and dam, replacing them with a 16-foot diameter culvert. The new passage allows fish to pass upstream and downstream and accommodates high tides and future sea level rise. The lower creek’s natural water and sediment flow processes have now been restored for juvenile and adult Cutthroat trout and juvenile Chinook, Chum, Pink, and Coho salmon.Â
COLLABORATORS: The restoration of West Beach Creek was made possible by collaboration with the landowners, Washington DNR/Puget Sound Corps and Friends of the San Juans. Design services were completed by the Watershed Company and construction was completed by Matia Construction.
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FUNDERS: Salish Sea Alliance received funding for the feasibility, design, and construction of the project from the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board, the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Fund, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fish Passage Program, and Alcoa Foundation. Â