Mayor Nickels is a strong supporter of creek enhancement in the city. The city devotes more than $4 million per year to improve creeks in Seattle. These projects improve habitat for salmon and other aquatic life, improve drainage, and create more natural and inviting open spaces for people.

Creek enhancements are designed to improve fish passage and to increase available creek habitat, as well as address water quality and quantity issues such as flooding and non-point pollution. City staff monitor creek project sites before and after construction for indicators of creek health.

Recent improvements to our creeks include:

• removing barriers to fish passage on Thornton Creek at Lake City Way
• increasing storm water detention at the Jackson Park Golf Course to control volume and improve water quality in Thornton Creek
• restoring stream channels and adding native vegetation along Longfellow Creek
• adding woody debris to eroding areas in Taylor Creek
• preserving open space adjacent to creeks at Yancy Street in West Seattle and along Thornton Creek
• partnering with community groups throughout the city to ensure long-term stewardship
• educating schoolchildren and adults about common activities that affect salmon

Natural Drainage Systems are an innovative approach that focuses on the big picture - reducing storm water volume and pollutants in watersheds that drain to creeks. Seattle is an international leader in this approach and we have had people from around the world come here to learn from our drainage experts.

Natural drainage projects benefit the entire ecosystem, improving the health of creeks and the creatures who live in the ecological web - bugs, amphibians, fish, and birds, among others.

Involving citizens as creek stewards is an important aspect of creek restoration. The City's Creek Steward Program works in partnership with local community groups, businesses and schools to enhance our urban creeks. Some of the activities in the program include:

• opportunities for volunteers to care for public creekside sites as long term Creek Site Stewards
• weekend work parties to improve creek habitat through native plantings and removal of invasive weeds
• consultations to help residents improve landscaping practices that affect creeks
• training for volunteers to monitor stream bugs as indicators of creek health and to identify and count returning salmon
• workshops that help residents learn about a variety of creek-related topics, from "Creekside Living" to "Living With Beavers"

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