By Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director and King County Staff
The King County Flood Control District, together with King County as service provider, is preparing to begin construction on the Fort Dent Levee 2020 Repair Project along the Green River in the City of Tukwila. Construction is scheduled to begin on or before June 15 and continue through October 31, 2026.
The project will repair and stabilize a damaged section of the Fort Dent Levee that protects the Green River Trail, Fort Dent Park, and Starfire Sports from erosion and flooding during high water events.
What Is a Levee?
A levee is a raised structure built along a riverbank to help contain and direct floodwaters. Levees reduce flood risks by helping prevent rivers from overflowing into nearby communities, infrastructure, parks, and other developed areas during periods of high water.
Protecting People, Property, and Critical Community Resources
The Fort Dent Levee is located on the right bank of the Green River in Tukwila. The levee was damaged during flooding events in 2019, 2020, and again in 2025. Repairing the levee will reduce flood risks to nearby public infrastructure, recreational facilities, and community spaces while helping avoid the need for costly emergency repairs in the future.
Construction improvements will include repairing damaged levee sections, stabilizing the riverbank, and creating a more resilient slope designed to better withstand future flood events.
The project also includes a levee setback, which means a portion of the levee will be moved farther away from the river. This approach provides additional room for the river to spread out during high flows, improving flood protection and long-term levee stability.
Project Goals
The Fort Dent Levee 2020 Repair Project is designed to:
- Make levee repairs to minimize future maintenance costs and reduce flood risks to people, community resources, and infrastructure.
- Provide habitat benefits to fish and wildlife, including Endangered Species Act-listed Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout, and by adding vegetation to provide shade and slope stability to the levee in place of invasive blackberry.
- Limit disruptions to community use of the Green River Trail, Fort Dent Park, and Starfire Sports during construction.
Supporting Salmon Habitat and River Health
In addition to flood risk reduction, the project includes environmental improvements that benefit fish and wildlife habitat along the Green River.
Construction will add large logs along the riverbank to create shallow-water habitat where young salmon can rest and hide from predators. Crews will also plant native trees and shrubs to provide shade along the river, helping reduce water temperatures and improve habitat conditions for salmon species, including Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout.
Replacing invasive blackberry vegetation with native plantings will also help improve slope stability and reduce future maintenance needs.
Construction Schedule and Trail Impacts
Construction is expected to take begin by June 15 and end by October 31, 2026.
During construction:
- The Green River Trail will be fully closed at Fort Dent Park.
- The primary detour route for trail users will be Interurban Avenue South, with signage directing pedestrians and bicyclists.
- A temporary pedestrian-only trail through Fort Dent Park will remain available intermittently during construction, although bicycles must be walked and the route is not wheelchair accessible.
Stay Informed
King County will continue working to minimize disruptions to trail users, park visitors, nearby businesses, and the surrounding community throughout construction.
Community members are encouraged to sign up for project updates and announcements as construction progresses. To receive updates, please sign up for the project email list.