Zackuse Creek Fish Passage & Habitat Restoration
Lake Sammamish indigenous kokanee salmon populations have been dwindling over the last several decades to a point where they were petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act in 2007. Land use changes from increased development have heavily impacted the quantity and quality of habitat that kokanee need to survive in the Lake as well as in the key tributaries that feed the Lake.
The City of Sammamish, King County, Trout Unlimited, private landowners and the Snoqualmie Tribe are all working together to reconnect kokanee to important spawning habitat on lower Zackuse Creek, a tributary to the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish. Several identified fish passage barriers have prevented kokanee from accessing existing quality spawning habitat for the last 30-40 years. Collaborative restoration efforts include:
- City of Sammamish will remove 1 undersized barrier culvert under East Lake Sammamish Parkway and replace with larger fish friendly culvert crossing.
- King County will remove 2 additional fish passage barrier culverts under Lake Sammamish Trail and Shore Lane and replace with larger fish friendly culverts.
- City of Sammamish and Snoqualmie Tribe will improve 400 linear feet of stream channel and enhance 4 acres of existing forested wetland buffer habitat upstream of the East Lake Sammamish Parkway in cooperation with multiple private landowners.
- Trout Unlimited, King County and the Snoqualmie Tribe will monitor and assess spawning adult kokanee returning to Zackuse Creek.
