I’ve spent most of this summer with my boots in the mud alongside Issaquah Creek. From the hum of heavy equipment to the quiet moments when I’d stop and watch mergansers glide past or an eagle fly overhead, this project has been both inspiring and exhausting. I’ve seen deer wander the banks at dawn; helped salvage lamprey, crayfish, and numerous fish from the water; and witnessed the creek come alive in ways that reinforce why we do this work.

In the middle of all the logistics, the deadlines, and the challenges, I’ve had moments to pause and remember: this is about more than construction or contracts. This is about honoring what was here before us, restoring balance, and making way for a future where people and nature thrive together.

When October 11 comes and more than 100 community members gather here to plant trees and celebrate, we’ll all be reminded that this work is part of something bigger. Change doesn’t happen overnight – it happens incrementally, day after day, when we show up, put in the work, and invest in the future we want to see. And as the salmon return, I think they’ll like what we’ve accomplished here, together.

The Biggest Restoration Project in Greenway History: Complete!

After nearly a decade of planning, we’re thrilled to share that the largest restoration project in Greenway Trust history is complete! Between June 15 and August 15 (our narrow “fish window” when work could take place without harming salmon) we had all hands on deck. Thanks to the dedication of our contractor, BCI Contracting, and the collaboration of many partners, we delivered this ambitious project on time and on budget, even amid the uncertainty of potential federal funding freezes.

This project was designed with a big goal in mind: giving salmon a fighting chance. By adding large wood structures, reopening side channels, and reconnecting the creek to its floodplain, we’re starting to create the slow-moving waters, deep pools, and sheltered areas salmon need to rest, grow, and survive. Issaquah Creek is home to Chinook salmon, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, as well as countless other fish and wildlife species. With millions of juvenile salmon depending on these waters each year, the changes made this summer are a critical investment in their survival.

Project Accomplishments

Here’s what we achieved this summer:

• Restored 4,600 feet of Issaquah Creek in Lake Sammamish State Park
• Reopened 1,600 feet of side channels by reactivating an old oxbow, giving salmon more space to rest and grow.
• Reconnected the creek to its floodplain, improving water quality and habitat
• Added 500+ pieces of large wood to the creek to create deeper pools and slow-moving waters, plus additional top of bank wood to increase habitat complexity out of water as well.

Engaging the Community

One of the most inspiring parts of this project wasn’t just the physical transformation of the creek, it was how the community showed up. Through tours, events, media coverage, and countless conversations, we were able to share the story of what was happening here. There were questions, concerns, and even some wild rumors at first (no, Costco is not building a gas station in Lake Sammamish State Park!). But in the end, this project became a point of connection. Together, we celebrated a shared love of salmon, wildlife, and the natural spaces that make our region special.

We will continue to have opportunities to engage the community through volunteer events, interpretive walking tours, and educational programming for youth.

What Comes Next?

While the in-stream work is done, the project is far from over. Now comes the long-term work of clearing weeds and planting up to 15,000 native trees and shrubs along the banks (just this year alone), plus at least a decade of ongoing care to ensure they take root and survive. These trees will provide shade to keep waters cool, improve water quality, stabilize streambanks, and create even more habitat for fish and wildlife. In time, their branches and trunks will become part of the creek too, continuing the cycle of restoration. Greenway Trust staff and restoration crew members will play an essential role in this work, and we’ll have plenty for volunteers to do too!

That’s where you come in. On Saturday, October 11, we’ll gather with community members, partners, and special guests to kick off the planting season and put the first 1,000-2,000 trees in the ground, celebrate the completion of this project, and tour the restored creek. This is your chance to be part of the transformation – hands in the soil, working side by side with neighbors, and investing in the future we all want to see.

Learn more and sign up here (and invite your friends and family!). Can’t join us that day? We have plenty of other upcoming volunteer opportunities!

Join Us in Building a Greener Future

This project is proof that big change is possible when we come together: one log, one tree, one volunteer at a time. But the work isn’t finished. We need your help to ensure this habitat continues to thrive for generations to come.

• Join us on October 11 to plant trees and celebrate the project.
• Volunteer year-round with the Greenway Trust, including lots of upcoming opportunities to plant trees alongside this project!
• Donate today to keep restoration projects like this moving forward.

Because when the salmon return, they should come home to a creek that’s dynamic, thriving, and ready for the future.

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Thank You to Our Funders and Partners

This project would not have been possible without the incredible support of our partners, funders, and volunteers including:

Funders:

Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8) and the King County Flood Control District Cooperative Watershed Management Grant Program, the King County Flood Control District’s Flood Reduction Fund, the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) and Puget Sound Acquisition & Restoration program via WRIA 8 and the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the United States Environmental Protection Agency with support from Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08), and contributions from The Boeing Company. 

Volunteers:

We’re deeply grateful for every volunteer who has spent the past two decades pulling weeds, planting trees, and stewarding this land. Together, we’ve logged more than 70,000 volunteer hours at Issaquah Creek!

Project Team:

• Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission
• Northwest Hydraulic Consultants 
• Natural Waters, LLC
• Facet
• BCI Contracting, Inc

Contributors:

• Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Landowner and Partner)
• Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and Salmon Recovery Funding Board
• Muckleshoot Indian Tribe & Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Fisheries Department Staff
• Snoqualmie Tribe & Environmental & Natural Resources Department Staff
• Tulalip Tribes & Environmental Division Staff
• Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation & Yakama Nation Fisheries Department Staff
• Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08)
• City of Issaquah
• Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board and Washington State Recreation & Conservation Office
• King County Flood Control District
• King County Kokanee Work Group
• King County Water and Land Resources Division
• Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8) and WRIA 8 Technical Committee
• Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park
• Trout Unlimited
• The Boeing Company
• Carter Subaru and Carter Motors