Location: Smith Island

Description: The joint City of Everett and Corps of Engineers project will restore riverine and tidal influence to 93 acres of intertidal riverine habitat.  The project is divided into 35 acres as part of the cost-shared Federal Section 1135 project, and 58 acres as a mitigation project of the City of Everett.  The project is designed to restore intertidal salmon rearing habitat that historically existed along Union Slough. In addition, when the project is completed a 4600-foot length of the Union Slough dike will no longer need to be maintained as a flood control work.  It will be operated as a pedestrian trail and for maintenance access.  This change in operation will allow 4600 feet of riparian vegetation sufficient for providing shade and other habitat benefits. 

Steel sheet pile cofferdams were installed at the three dike breach locations to dewater the construction area.  Three 180-foot breaches were excavated and 3-sided precast concrete bridges installed to maintain the pedestrian trail on top of the existing Union Slough dikes.  Linear ditches were filled within the restoration area and "low flow" fish channels excavated underneath each bridge.  The cofferdams were removed after the bridge installations were complete in fall 2007.  The vegetation in the restoration area will change significantly as the tide is introduced to the restoration site.  Subsequent monitoring will be completed for vegetation, hydrology, water quality, fish use, benthic invertebrates, soil, and wildlife.  

Timeline: The dike breach and bridge construction work was completed in Fall 2007. The project is awaiting additional federal funding to complete needed bridge retrofits and paving of the trail.  
 
Advisement: Please note that due to the close proximity of the new trail to the hunting trail on Spencer Island across Union Slough, the trail between 4th Street and 12th Street will be temporarily closed during hunting season for the safety of trail users. Hunting seasons last from Fall to Spring each year.

Download map PDF.

Contact:      
     Heather Griffin
     425-257-7206
     hgriffin@ci.everett.wa.us