The Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians plans to acquire and protect 100–150 acres of critical riparian and floodplain habitat along 2.7 miles of the North Fork Stillaguamish River. These properties, prioritized under the Stillaguamish Watershed’s Floodplain Acquisition Strategy, support key Chinook salmon spawning and rearing areas and will help connect previously protected lands. Focusing on properties between Cicero Bridge and Fortson, this effort advances the long-term goal of restoring a continuous habitat corridor from salmon spawning grounds to tidewater, strengthening the Stillaguamish Chinook Recovery Plan and recovering land back to the Stillaguamish tribe.
State / Province: Washington
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Icicle Creek Irrigation Efficiency Project
The Washington Water Trust is a key partner in this project which enhances instream flows and supports ecosystem restoration in Icicle Creek, a critical habitat for ESA-listed steelhead in Washington state. By permanently removing an upstream irrigation diversion, replacing it with a downstream diversion, and implementing efficiency upgrades, the project will significantly increase water flow to the creek. This initiative is part of the larger “Icicle Strategy,” aiming to meet flow targets, enhance habitat, and improve the reliability of agricultural and domestic water supplies. It also facilitates future projects, such as the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery upgrades, critical for sustaining tribal fisheries and restoring the watershed.
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Crab Creek and Odessa Aquifer Agricultural Efficiency Program
To tackle falling water levels in the Odessa Aquifer, state, federal, and local partners have launched the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP). The plan aims to shift up to 87,000 acres of farmland from groundwater to more sustainable surface water from the Columbia River. With $48.5 million already secured, this effort will conserve about 55,000 acre-feet of groundwater annually, benefiting 25 mid-Columbia communities that rely on this vital resource. In addition, CBCD is helping farmers improve irrigation in the Odessa and Quincy areas by promoting efficient technologies like mobile drip irrigation (MDI). This system delivers water directly to plants, reducing waste from evaporation. Over the next five years, CBCD plans to upgrade up to 42 irrigation systems with MDI, partnering with local vendors to make it happen.