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July 1, 2003 SKAGIT COUNTY AND DIKE DISTRICT #3 RECEIVE $902,270 GRANT FOR SALMON RESTORATION Levee to be set back to improve salmon habitat and flood conveyance SKAGIT COUNTY - Skagit County Dike District #3 and Skagit County Public Works Department recently were awarded a grant of $902,270 from the Salmon Program administered by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB). The funds will be utilized to relocate 2,500 feet of levee which is currently adjacent to the main channel of the Skagit River, relocating the levee along the Dike Road between Mount Vernon and Conway. Salmon habitat being restored by this project includes 22 acres of tidal backwater wetland and channel habitats. While this project focuses on providing rearing and transitional habitat, which are limiting factors for Chinook and Coho, bull trout and other salmon species will also benefit. The project also includes conservation easements that will protect the newly restored and existing habitat as well as the two bald eagle nests located on this property, according to Lorna Ellestad, Skagit County Public Works. This section of levee is the site of previous failures and during the 1990 floods, levee sections upstream were threatening to overtop. When this property became available, District #3 Dike District Commissioners elected to purchase the property to improve flood flow conveyance. As local farmers, they have also been concerned about their ability to safely transport large farm equipment on Dike road which is a road with limited sight distance and narrow shoulders. “By partnering with the SRFB on a salmon restoration project and Skagit County on a road shoulder widening safety project, multiple benefits will be provided with an efficient use of public funds,” said Dave Olson, Dike District #3 Chairman. Applications totaled 207 submitted for consideration in the Salmon Program. Each project went through an evaluation process prior to being recommended for funding. In this case, the project was reviewed by the Skagit Watershed Council. The SRFB approved funding for seventy projects on Friday, May 2, 2003. Funding for the Salmon Program comes from funds administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Dike District # 3 and Skagit County Public Works will leverage local funding totaling $865,000 with SRFB grant monies to implement the project. Total estimated project cost is $1,767,270. SRFB is the state’s administrator of the grant program.
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