Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing Application for the Recreation and Conservation Office Brian Abbott Fish Barrer Removal Board Grant for the Ellis Creek Fish Passage Design Project
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing Grant Application for the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) Brian Abbott Fish Barrer Removal Board grant for the Ellis Creek Fish Passage Design Project and authorize the City Manager to sign the grant agreement should the application be successful.
Report Issue:
Whether t to approve a Resolution authorizing Grant Application for the RCO Brian Abbott Fish Barrer Removal Board grant for the Ellis Creek Fish Passage Design Project and authorize the City Manager to sign the grant agreement should the application be successful.
Staff Contact:
Susan Clark, Engineering and Planning Manager, Public Works Water Resources, 360.753.8321
Kym Foley, Environmental Habitat Planner, Public Works Water Resources, 360.570.3957
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
The Ellis Creek watershed represents some of the highest quality aquatic and upland habitats remaining within City limits. Ellis Creek enters Budd Inlet at Ellis Cove and 175 acres of surrounding undeveloped natural area are protected and conserved by the City in Squaxin Park, creating ideal ecological and land use conditions to support a population of spawning salmon in the stream.
The Storm and Surface Water Utility, with support from a consultant and guidance from the Squaxin Island Tribe and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, is finalizing a design alternatives and feasibility study to address an under-sized culvert where Ellis Creek passes under East Bay Drive. The existing culvert currently restricts fish passage and limits access to upstream habitat. The proposed project would replace the culvert with a solution that creates access for salmon and improves stream function. If awarded, the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board grant will fund the final design phase of the project.
The Ellis Creek Fish Passage Project is identified in the Storm and Surface Water Management Plan (2018) and the 2026-2031 Capital Facilities Plan. It is in alignment with language in the Council-adopted 2045 Comprehensive Plan clarifying the City’s commitment to salmon recovery and upholding Tribal treaty rights. Specifically, the project addresses the following policies in the Comprehensive Plan:
• PN2.6: Conserve and restore wildlife and aquatic habitat in both existing habitat corridors and other ecologically important sites. Protect salmon, amphibians, pollinators, migratory birds, and other similarly prioritized species.
• PN4.2: Prioritize and implement restoration efforts based on the best scientific information available to restore natural processes and improve the health and condition of Budd Inlet and its tributaries. Align prioritization and implementation with regional action strategies designated for the recovery of salmon in Puget Sound.
City staff from Parks and Transportation have been and will continue to be engaged in the project’s development.
Climate Analysis:
Sea level rise and heavy precipitation associated with climate change put increasing pressure on salmon populations already impacted by urbanization. Further, these forces will continue to threaten infrastructure located below the high-water mark that was designed decades ago under different hydraulic conditions. Replacing the Ellis Creek undersized culvert will increase capacity for heavy stream flows and tidal influence at the project site, increasing resilience of the roadway and utility infrastructure along East Bay Drive. For salmon, key ecological conditions like water temperature, riparian vegetation, and stream bed materials are heavily impacted by climate change. The intact watershed conditions along Ellis Creek within Squaxin Park help maintain cooler water temperatures and reduce erosion of sediment, creating an opportunity for salmon to thrive in this system despite climate-related challenges.
Equity Analysis:
This work will enhance habitat in the usual and accustomed area of the Squaxin Island Tribe and aligns with both Tribal treaty rights and the Tribe’s salmon recovery priorities. City staff have engaged and will continue to engage the Freshwater Habitat Program manager and the Natural Resources Department Manager at the Squaxin Island Tribe to receive input and technical support throughout all phases of the project. During design, alternatives will be explored to identify construction staging and transportation revisions that minimize impacts to community members who rely on East Bay Drive as a major transportation corridor. Once complete, the project will provide new opportunities for outreach and engagement to the public about the environmental, cultural, and economic importance of salmon, including the longstanding stewardship of Indigenous communities who have protected these resources since time immemorial.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
In addition to guidance provided by the Squaxin Island Tribe, salmon recovery has been a recurring theme throughout recent community engagement activities. Olympia’s community members have expressed strong interest in protecting salmon habitat in our region and understand the role City governments play in salmon recovery through stormwater management, habitat restoration, and addressing fish passage barriers. This was evident in public comments received during the 2045 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update.
Financial Impact:
The Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Grant will be used to fund final design of the Ellis Creek Fish Passage Project. The grant may require a match of up to 15 percent of the estimated total project cost of $2,200,000 to $2,500,000, or approximately $330,000 to $375,000, with the opportunity to request reduction or elimination of the match requirement at the time of application. The planning level estimate for construction of the Ellis Creek Fish Passage Project is approximately $12,000,000 to $16,000,000, subject to further refinement as the final design work is completed.
Options:
1. Move to approve a Resolution authorizing City staff to apply for a Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) Brian Abbott Fish Barrer Removal Board grant for the Ellis Creek Fish Passage Design Project and authorize the City Manager to sign the grant agreement should the application be successful.
2. Do not approve a Resolution authorizing City staff to apply for a Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) Brian Abbott Fish Barrer Removal Board grant for the Ellis Creek Fish Passage Design Project and do not authorize the City Manager to sign the grant agreement should the application be successful. The City will not receive funding for final design and must wait an additional two years before the next Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board grant opportunity, further delaying construction.
3. Take other action.
Attachments:
Resolution
Resolution Recreation And Conservation Office
Sample Agreement