Restoring Rivers One Creek at a Time
/If you’re driving along State Route 530 towards Darrington, you might overlook a quiet creek nestled beneath the mountains. Don’t let its small stature fool you, however. Ashton Creek holds something of immense value: cold water.
Ashton Creek flows from the slope of Whitehorse Mountain, carrying the chill of snowmelt, until the water eventually meets the North Fork Stillaguamish River.
Water temperatures are a matter of life and death for aquatic species. As water becomes warmer it contains less dissolved oxygen, which salmon and other aquatic life need to survive. Keeping waterbodies like Ashton Creek shaded with buffers of native trees and shrubs is critical for maintaining cool temperatures.
Alex’s new livestock exclusion fence for his daughter’s horses. In the background, you can see the old barn that was the previous owners.
In 2021, our Habitat Restoration team had the opportunity to restore one of these buffers, thanks to the willingness of a landowner living along Ashton Creek. While much of the property was filled with native plants, the area along the creek had been taken over by Himalayan and evergreen blackberry bushes.
“I've always enjoyed nature, and on the back side of the property the native growth is pretty much untouched, and it's beautiful,” said the landowner, Alex*. “I wanted to restore the stream area as close to that untouched beauty as possible.”
The team set to work removing the blackberries and planted a 100-foot riparian buffer filled with a small army of hardy Western red cedar, Douglas fir, and other native trees. While they’re relatively small now, these plants will shade out invasives and the hot sun as they grow, slowly returning the land to a place where fish and wildlife can thrive. The team also installed a livestock exclusion fence so that Alex can host his daughter’s horses when needed, without worrying about them entering the buffer area or the creek.
Before, Alex couldn't see past the tangle of blackberry bushes. Now, he sits "mesmerized for hours" watching the salmon run the stream and spawn.
Riparian buffers like the one in this project have a long list of benefits, besides keeping water cool. They absorb rainwater and release it slowly, which reduces flooding and provides additional water flow to rivers like the North Fork and other waterways where fish seek refuge during the summer months.
The trees and shrubs planted in riparian buffers also create habitat for wildlife, filter contaminants, and prevent erosion. Degraded water quality can have lasting consequences that stretch far past the small freshwater streams that wind down the mountains and across the floodplains. The salmon living in these waters— Chinook, steelhead and bull trout— are crucial for iconic marine animals like the Southern Resident Killer Whale.
Over the last five years, our Habitat Restoration team has planted over 30 acres of riparian habitat throughout the North Fork Stillaguamish River. Most of the projects, like Alex’s, are 100-foot riparian buffers made possible through state and federal funding, along with landowner cooperation.
In 2021, we installed 35 acres of habitat and maintained 68 acres throughout Snohomish County and Camano Island. We work hard to support our home’s diverse habitats alongside our project partners and the community.
We’re a part of a strong network including organizations like the Stillaguamish Tribe, Sound Salmon Solutions, Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Washington State Department of Ecology, the Recreation and Conservation Office and Salmon Recovery Funding Board, the Tulalip Tribes, and Wild Fish Conservancy, all working to restore and protect our local waterways.
Each riparian restoration project helps lead to a healthier Puget Sound. Much of our work, however, can only be accomplished through partnerships with landowners who choose to be part of this effort.
“To undertake a riparian buffer takes time and patience,” Alex said. “The reward will be for the generations after me.”
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under two assistance agreements: one agreement to the Washington State Department of Ecology and one agreement to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Salmon Recovery Funding Board. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
*Note: We have not included the landowner’s actual name due to their request to remain anonymous.
