Second 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. Today’s blog is the second installment in the series and is about the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8) Salmon Recovery Council.
Understanding WRIA 8
The WRIA 8 watershed covers a broad area encompassing the Lake Washington, Cedar River, and Lake Sammamish subbasins and surrounding tributaries. The watershed stretches from the Cascade Mountains west to Puget Sound and includes the Cedar River, Sammamish River, Bear Creek, Issaquah Creek, and many smaller streams. These rivers and streams flow into Lake Washington, which drains into Lake Union and the Ship Canal before emptying into Puget Sound through the Ballard Locks.
WRIA 8 is the most populated watershed in the state and includes portions of more than 30 cities, including Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Bothell, Redmond, Issaquah, Renton, and Kenmore, as well as unincorporated King County and part of southwest Snohomish County. This densely populated and ecologically vital watershed supports several species of salmon, including threatened Chinook, sockeye, coho, kokanee, and chum. The watershed also provides drinking water, recreation, and economic benefits for millions of residents.
Voices of Support from the Flood Control District Board
Members of the KCFCD’s Board of Supervisors, who represent communities throughout WRIA 8, are strong advocates for the CWM grant program and the collaborative work of the WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council.
District 1
“The Lake Washington watershed is home to some of our region’s most visible and vulnerable salmon populations. From the viewing window at the Ballard Locks to the parks all along the Cedar River to the release of salmon fry in Lake Sammamish, their journey is on display for all of King County to experience, said Councilmember Rod Dembowski. For 25 years, WRIA 8 has worked against the odds to keep these fish alive in a place deeply impacted by human development, and I am proud of the Flood District’s partnership in that work.”
District 2
Supervisor Girmay Zahilay said, “The CWM grant program is helping us address long-standing inequities. In WRIA 8, we’re directing critical resources to historically underserved communities so that everyone benefits from a cleaner environment, healthier salmon runs, and reduced flood risks.”
District 3
“WRIA 8 is a model of collaboration, and the Flood Control District’s partnership through the CWM grant program helps invest in projects that build resilient communities and restore critical salmon habitat,” said King County Flood Control District Vice Chair Sarah Perry (District 3). “It’s a win for people and the environment.”
District 4
Supervisor Jorge Barón added, “Even in urban areas like my district in Seattle, we are seeing real benefits from WRIA 8 projects supported by Cooperative Watershed Management grant funding. This shows that restoring our waterways and supporting salmon recovery is not just a rural priority, it’s a regional one.”
District 5
Supervisor De’Sean Quinn stated, “The Flood Control District plays a vital role in restoring and preserving salmon habitat in WRIA 8. Through targeted investments, we’re protecting natural resources and laying the foundation for long-term environmental health.”
District 9
King County Flood Control District Chair Reagan Dunn (District 9) said, “The Flood Control District is proud to support WRIA 8’s collaborative partnerships with Tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. These partnerships are key to achieving our shared vision for salmon recovery and a more resilient Puget Sound.”
WRIA 8 Project Successes
The KCFCD has provided over $40 million to WRIA 8 through its CWM grant program since 2012. Thanks to the KCFCD’s CWM grant funding, WRIA 8 has achieved numerous project milestones that protect and restore salmon habitat, improve flood resilience, support critical monitoring and scientific research, and engage communities across the region. Here are just a few highlights:
Lower Issaquah Creek Stream & Habitat Enhancement Project: Sponsored by the City of Issaquah
Completed in October 2022, this project restored over 1,200 feet of Issaquah Creek just north of I-90, in one of WRIA 8’s Tier 1 salmon habitat streams. The project creates new floodplain areas and adds side and backwater channels designed to provide low-velocity refuge for juvenile Chinook salmon and other salmonid species. Issaquah Creek is a critical habitat corridor—used by over 2 million juvenile and adult Chinook salmon annually.
Over 250 logs with root wads were strategically placed to create deep pools, provide cover for rearing and resting fish, and restore natural channel complexity. The right bank was excavated to build floodplain benches and allow for future channel migration. Previously installed riprap and other armoring were removed to reestablish dynamic stream processes.
The project also removed invasive plants like Japanese knotweed and Himalayan blackberry, replacing them with native vegetation to establish a thriving riparian area. Hydraulic modeling confirmed the project met zero-rise floodplain standards, and future plans may include interpretive signage and passive recreation trails to engage the public in watershed stewardship.
Riverbend Floodplain Restoration Project: Sponsored by King County Water and Land Resources Division
Completed in 2023, the Riverbend project restored 52 acres of floodplain along the Cedar River east of Renton. The nearly mile-long segment of restored river now includes meandering side channels that provide slow-water rearing habitat for Chinook and other salmon and increase flood storage in this reach.
This $17.9 million project reduced flood risk to people, homes, and infrastructure by removing a levee originally built in the 1960s and reestablishing natural floodplain processes. Engineered logjams mimic natural woody debris, helping stabilize banks and improve fish habitat. The project site also included the removal of Cavanaugh Pond—once a gravel pit—allowing the river to return to a more natural state.
The KCFCD contributed approximately 30% of the funding. Seattle Public Utilities provided additional support, and more than $12 million in state and federal grant funding was secured. The Riverbend restoration project accomplishes 40% of WRIA 8’s goal to reconnect 130 acres of Cedar River floodplain by 2025.
In addition to habitat gains, the KCFCD acquired and helped relocate residents of the flood-prone Riverside Mobile Home Park, highlighting the project’s multifaceted approach to community safety and ecological restoration.
Sammamish River & Waynita Creek Restoration Project: Sponsored by the City of Bothell
This ambitious restoration project is currently in the preliminary design phase. With the support of CWM funding, the City of Bothell was able to purchase the former Wayne Golf Course, transforming it into a vital habitat restoration opportunity at the confluence of Waynita Creek and the Sammamish River.
Originally envisioned as a backwater channel restoration, updated modeling led to a redesign focused on creating floodplain connection at the confluence to provide more effective cold-water refuge and restored habitat conditions along Waynita Creek. The project will ultimately create approximately 10,000 square feet of new fish habitat, increase channel depth and width, facilitate groundwater exchange, and install large woody debris for channel complexity.
Final design is expected in 2025, with construction anticipated to begin in 2026 and continue for approximately three years, pending sufficient grant funding. Once complete, the restored confluence and floodplain will improve water quality, provide critical rearing habitat for salmon, and support broader watershed health.
Community Action Training School (CATS): Sponsored by Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group
CATS is a free, immersive education and leadership program for residents of communities throughout WRIA 8. Through a series of classes and field experiences, participants learn about the science, culture, policy, and challenges of salmon recovery and watershed health. The program empowers residents to become environmental stewards and changemakers in their communities.
CWM funding supports CATS’ community-centered model, which includes learning directly from local Tribes, nonprofits, and public agencies. Each participant completes a stewardship action project—ranging from community clean-ups to education campaigns—contributing to tangible, on-the-ground improvements in the watershed.
Looking Ahead
As we continue celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Water Resource Inventory Areas, WRIA 8 stands out as a shining example of what’s possible through strong partnerships, community engagement, and sustained investment. With the support of the KCFCD’s CWM grant program, WRIA 8 is making lasting improvements for people, salmon, and future generations.
Stay tuned for the next installment in our four-part series, where we’ll spotlight WRIA 9 and the important work happening in the Green/Duwamish and Central Puget Sound Watershed Ecosystem Forum.