Boise Creek Community Project
About Boise Creek
Boise Creek, which runs southeast of Enumclaw from the Cascade foothills to the White River, is a significant spawning stream for salmon and cutthroat trout. Property owners in the area share concerns about flooding, drainage, salmon recovery, invasive weeds, soil health, and degraded water quality.
To address these concerns, King Conservation District and Pierce Conservation District are collaborating on the Boise Creek Community Project. Funded by a generous grant from The Russell Family Foundation and a WRIA 10 grant, the project will provide expanded services to Enumclaw area landowners.
How King County’s Science and Technical Support staff are working in South King County to help improve water quality in Boise Creek:
Boise Creek Fecal Coliform TMDL Work from King County DNRP
Community Events and Activities
The Boise Creek Community Project team members included Liz Clark and Nikki Wolf. Our team was available to talk to local groups and school classes and private meetings with community members. They also shared information about resources and services available to area residents. Contact Liz Clark about potential future collaboration. Find out more about the Stream Steward program here.
Past events have included:
- Boise Creek Boer Goats Farm Tour – August 29, 2013
- Pasture Walk – September 13, 2013
- Stream Steward Training – October 12, 2013
- Stream Restoration Planting Event – November 16, 2013
- Holiday Gathering – December 10, 2013
- January Movie Screening – Ingredients – January 29, 2014
- KCD Educational Presentation at the Enumclaw Senior Center – February 26, 2014
- Resource Fair – March 29, 2014
- Knotweed Workshop – July 2014
- Enumclaw Street Fair – July 25-27, 2014
- Stream Steward Training – December 16, 2014
- Well and Septic Class – August 26, 2014
- Farm Tour: Forest, Fish and Family – September 24, 2014
- Farm Walk: Tilth Producers of WA and Enumclaw Sustainable Farmers Network – October 6, 2014
- Stream Steward Training – October 28, 2014
- Stream Steward Training with Enumclaw High School Students – December 4, 2014
- White River Hatchery Tour: All About Salmon – December 13, 2014
- Stream Steward Training – December 16, 2014
- Native Trees of Western Washington Booksigning with Kevin Zobrist – January 17, 2015 at The Sequel Books, Enumclaw, WA
Knotweed Resources
Please find out more about knotweed by visiting these links:
King County Invasive knotweed control videos – King County Noxious Weeds
Knotweed control projects in King County – King County Noxious Weeds
Invasive Knotweed Brochure – King County Department of Water, Land and Resources (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Knotweed Factsheet – King County Department of Water, Land and Resources
Knotweed Information Card (Acrobat PDF)
Japanese Knotweed – Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board
Background Information About Boise Creek
Here are some fact sheets and files to help community members in the Boise Creek Watershed gain a better understanding of the project:
Detailed watershed map links (internal and/or external)
- Boise Creek Basin Map – King County DNR (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
- Lower Boise Creek Channel Restoration Project – 2011
- Middle Boise – Evans Restoration Project – 2013
- White River Watershed Map – WRIA 10 (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Water quality study links to external sites
- Boise Creek Bacterial Source Tracking Study – 2012
- Boise Creek Bacterial Source Tracking Study – 2011
- Summary of Findings (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
- Boise Creek Rapid Rural Reconnaissance Report – 2013
- Chapter 1 containing a detailed contour map (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
White River Watershed
Boise Creek is prime salmon spawning habitat. Some wonderful video examples can be seen here:
Fall 2013 Salmon Run on Boise Creek This was recorded October 29 at the Lower Boise Creek Restoration Site during the fall salmon run. American Dipper Birds enjoy the logs across the creek in this recently restored area.
Chinook salmon spawning in Boise Creek
This video was filmed on September 25th, 2012, at the Lower Boise Creek Restoration Project site, near the confluence of Boise Creek with the White River, Washington.
Steelhead spawning in Boise Creek
This video was filmed May 15th, 2013 at the Lower Boise Creek Restoration Project site, near the confluence of Boise Creek with the White River, Washington.
Pink salmon do battle in Boise Creek
This video was filmed September 9th, 2013 at the Lower Boise Creek Restoration Project site, near the confluence of Boise Creek with the White River, Washington.
Here are some guides for identifying salmon in the Boise Creek Watershed:
Meet the Salmon in Your Neighborhood – Salmon identification guide from Pierce County
Do you need to report a problem?
Drainage and water quality report investigation
Partnering Agencies, Businesses and Groups
Groups doing work in this area
- The Russell Family Foundation
- Puyallup Tribe of Indians
- Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
- Livestock Programs
- Agricultural Drainage Assistance Program
- King County Agriculture Commission
- Noxious Weed Board and Noxious Weed Control Program
- Stormwater Services
- Water and Land Resources Division
- King County Small Habitat Restoration Program
- King County Agriculture Commission
Helpful agencies in Pierce County
- Pierce Conservation District
- Pierce County Watershed Councils and Advisory Groups
- Puyallup and Chambers Salmon Recovery