Gold creek is designated as critical habitat, yet seasonal dewatering creates a fish passage barrier for ESA-listed bull trout for spawning adults and strands juveniles in disconnected pools

This Cooperative Agreement awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Fish Passage Program (CFDA 15.685) will provide $5,000,000 to the Kittitas Conservation Trust to implement the Gold Creek Restoration Project in Easton, Washington. The key deliverables include:

1. Restoring 30 acres of riparian and forested wetland habitat to increase the duration of streamflow in Gold Creek, which is designated as critical habitat for the ESA-listed bull trout.

2. Installing 141 large wood structures within 2.5 miles of the Gold Creek streambed and adjacent floodplain to restore instream fish habitat.

3. Removing a 0.25-mile levee, reconstructing 8 side channels totaling 1.4 miles, and reconnecting 245 acres of floodplain to recharge groundwater aquifers.

4. Restoring 47 acres of riparian and forested wetland habitat with native vegetation.

The overall goal is to decrease the extent and duration of seasonal dewatering in Gold Creek to improve passage and habitat for the bull trout. The award period is from June 3, 2024 to September 30, 2029.

The gold creek restoration project will decrease the extent and duration of seasonal dewatering in gold creek and provide more complex habitat by restoring the aquatic connectivity of the lower gold creek valley. The objectives of the project are to: 1) increase duration of stream flow by restoring the borrow pits to riparian and forested wetland, totaling 30 acres. 2) restore 2.5-miles of instream fish habitat by installing 141 large wood structures within the streambed and the adjacent floodplain. 3) recharge groundwater aquifers by removing a 0.25-mile-long levee, reconstructing 8 side channels totaling 1.4 miles, and reconnecting 245 acres of floodplain. 4) restore 47 acres of riparian and forested wetland habitat with native vegetation.