Council Feature: Lea Anne Burke

An area of approximately 1,856 sq. miles, the Snohomish River Basin contains about 2,718 miles in stream length, the second largest Puget Sound basin. At the confluence of the Pilchuck and Snohomish Rivers, the City of Snohomish is surrounded by largescale ecological restoration projects that take the efforts of many regional partners. Removal of the Pilchuck Dam opened 37 miles of the Pilchuck River’s watershed to salmon (see pgs. 10–11). Projects within the Qwuloolt Estuary, Union and Blue Heron Sloughs, and Spencer and Smith Islands have restored 1700 acres of the Snohomish River’s estuary. Undersized for Endangered Species Act-listed Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout, as well as coho, chum and pink salmon. Improved trail conditions and recreational access to the river will provide park users with better access to fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing. This funding comes from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

All projects require ongoing maintenance. One threat to these projects is the prevalence of noxious weeds. Weeds cost our region millions of dollars in lost agricultural production, environmental degradation and added maintenance. Fastgrowing invasive plants transform riverbanks by restricting access to water, increasing soil erosion, displacing native vegetation, reducing available sunlight, and altering the nutrient cycle. Degradation of habitat caused by noxious weeds pose a serious threat to native plants, as well as salmon and other wildlife. To learn more about noxious weeds, learn more about the Snohomish County Noxious Weed Control Program at https://snohomishcountywa.gov/722/ Noxious-Weeds or 425-388-7548.

Lea Anne Burke, Councilmember #6 (Lumbee, She/Her) burke@snohomishwa.gov

culverts are being replaced. Creosote pilings are being removed. Trees are being planted at Pilchuck Julia Landing (see pg. 7). Work continues.

This December, Snohomish County received a federal award of $5.85 million for the Thomas’ Eddy Hydraulic Reconnection. This project will reconnect the river to 200 acres of floodplain at Bob Heirman Wildlife Park, at river mile 17, near the end reach of tidal influence. More than a mile of river shoreline will be restored with woody debris added to enhance habitat complexity. This provides critical rearing and spawning habitat