First in a Four-Part Blog Series from the King County Flood Control District
By Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director
This year marks a 25-year milestone of coordinated watershed-based salmon recovery partnerships for Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs). The King County Flood Control District (KCFCD) is proud to join in the celebration! Established under the Water Resources Act of 1971 and formalized in Washington Administrative Code, WRIAs provide a foundational framework for watershed management across the state. Washington is divided into 62 WRIAs based on natural watershed boundaries—areas where rain and snowmelt collect and flow through tributaries, streams, and rivers. Since 2001, local agreements have enabled watershed-based forums to coordinate and guide local approaches to water management, habitat protection and restoration, and salmon recovery.
In King County, the KCFCD plays a vital role in supporting watershed restoration efforts. For over 12 years, the KCFCD has allocated a portion of its capital budget through the Cooperative Watershed Management (CWM) Grant Program to fund salmon habitat protection and restoration and watershed health priorities in WRIA 7 (Snoqualmie/South Fork Skykomish), WRIA 8 (Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish), WRIA 9 (Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound), and WRIA 10 (Puyallup-White).
Since doubling the CWM program’s budget in 2020, the KCFCD now provides 70–80% of the secured funds for WRIA restoration efforts annually. In 2025 alone, the District awarded $12.26 million in CWM grants, leveraging an additional $4.8 million in matching funds, to support habitat and water quality projects across all nine King County council districts.
Each grant award is determined through a competitive, independently managed process guided by the priorities of each WRIA’s forum. This significant investment reflects the KCFCD’s longstanding commitment to collaborative, science-driven watershed restoration and flood risk reduction. To mark this important anniversary, the KCFCD is launching a four-part blog series spotlighting successes in each of the WRIAs it supports—starting with the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum in WRIA 7.
WRIA 7: A Model of Partnership, Progress, and Resilience
WRIA 7 refers to the Snohomish Basin, which flows to Puget Sound through a large swathe of Snohomish County by Monroe, Everett and other cities. With large areas in both King County and Snohomish County, the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum focuses on watershed health in the Snoqualmie and South Fork Skykomish rivers in eastern King County, and it’s where the KCFCD’s commitment to flood risk reduction, habitat restoration, and community engagement shines. Since 2012, the KCFCD has invested more than $17.2 million through its CWM Grant Program in over 273 projects within WRIA 7. These projects have leveraged an additional $26 million from partners, including Tribes, nonprofits, state and local agencies, and community organizations.
“The Snoqualmie and South Fork Skykomish watersheds are home to incredible natural beauties and communities,” said King County Flood Control District Vice Chair Sarah Perry, who represents District 3. “Through WRIA 7, we’ve fostered partnerships that bring meaningful, lasting benefits for people and our environment. It’s a shining example of how local investment and regional collaboration create stronger, more resilient communities.”
Building Resilient Landscapes
Among WRIA 7’s many success stories is the Fall City Floodplain Restoration Project—the largest floodplain restoration project by area ever completed by King County. Supported by CWM and additional funding from Floodplains by Design and the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Fund, this project has reconnected 145 acres of floodplain and created over a mile of vital side-channel habitat for threatened Chinook salmon. The project is not only restoring ecological health, but also reducing flood risk for nearly 300 acres of surrounding land.
Another transformative project was the restoration of the San Souci neighborhood along the Tolt River, where repeated flooding once stranded residents. CWM funding helped remove old levees, culverts, and road debris to return the floodplain to its natural function—improving salmon habitat and community safety.
Looking ahead, the Stillwater Floodplain Restoration and Lower Miller Floodplain Restoration projects are set to further improve habitat and protect infrastructure, including emergency evacuation routes. These projects demonstrate a forward-thinking approach to climate resilience, ensuring our landscapes are better equipped to handle extreme floods and wildfires.
Growing Healthy Forests and Clean Water
Since 2012, the King County portion of WRIA 7 has seen the completion of 127 riparian restoration projects through the CWM grant program—planting native trees and shrubs, removing invasive species, and restoring streamside habitat across hundreds of acres. These efforts have led to the removal of 90% of invasive knotweed in the upper Snoqualmie River Basin and enhanced shade and water quality along key salmon-bearing waterways like the Raging River.
Investing in Science and Monitoring
Sound science is the foundation of effective restoration. The KCFCD has invested nearly $2.9 million in 41 monitoring and assessment projects in WRIA 7. From alluvial water storage assessments to salmon growth studies, this research helps focus restoration where it will have the greatest impact.
One recent study, Designing Habitat Restoration Projects to Increase Juvenile Chinook Growth and Food Resources, is investigating how habitat influences salmon diets and growth rates—crucial insights that guide more effective project design.
Inspiring the Next Generation
CWM funding doesn’t just support landscapes—it supports learning. Since 2012, over $1.3 million has been invested in education and outreach programs. One standout initiative is the Salmon in Schools (SiS) program, which brings salmon eggs into classrooms, allowing students to raise and release fry while learning about watershed health and salmon recovery.
Meanwhile, the Youth Engaged in Sustainable Systems (YESS) program provides high school students with paid summer internships in environmental restoration, preparing them for future careers in conservation and building real-world skills.
As we celebrate the 25-year milestone of regionally coordinated salmon recovery in King County’s WRIAs, the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum in WRIA 7 stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, science, and sustained investment. From floodplain reconnection to youth education, the King County Flood Control District is proud to be a driving force behind this progress.
Stay tuned for the next blog in our four-part series, where we’ll spotlight WRIA 8 and the incredible work happening in the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed Salmon Recovery Council. To learn more, please visit our CWM Grant Program webpage.