Aiding Salmon in the Sultan

Constructing a new side channel through an open field in the floodplain is no easy task. Last year, the PUD completed a million-dollar side channel project, made possible through grant funding from the Department of Ecology.

Construction activities for the extension of the side channel network of the Sultan River began July 2024, and in-water work was completed just two months later. The project has resulted in an addition of approximately 1,908 lineal feet of wetted side channel habitat and an additional 135,150 square feet of riparian restoration area.

“We want to thank the partners that made this possible including the City of Sultan, Volunteers of America, the Jackson Project’s Aquatic Resource Committee, local landowners, and the Washington State Department of Ecology” said PUD CEO/General Manager John Haarlow.

The PUD will host a ribbon cutting on Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon to celebrate the completion of a new side channel at Osprey Park in Sultan. Attendees will meet at the Volunteers of America’s Sky Valley Center at 617 1st Street in Sultan. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. and will include speeches from PUD Commissioner Sid Logan, Mayor of Sultan Russell Wiita, and Volunteers of America Western Washington CEO Brian Smith.

Following the ribbon cutting, community members can join PUD biologists on tours of the new side channel to learn how salmon and steelhead will utilize this new resource. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Light refreshments will be served.

The project excavated more than 7,000 cubic yards of materials to make way for the side channel, which act as critical habitat for salmon and provide options for refuge during high flows, offer better conditions for young salmon to grow, and re-engage historic floodplain habitats back to the river. Wood structures placed in the side channel help create diverse habitats by giving fish hiding cover and by shaping the riverbed during high flows.

The PUD obtained conservation easements from landowners for the project, including the City of Sultan, Volunteers of America, and a private landowner.

“By dedicating this land to the creation of additional salmon habitat, we are not only preserving a vital species that is integral to our region’s ecosystem, but we are also enhancing the quality of life for our community members,” said Sultan Mayor Russell Wiita. “This initiative will provide educational and recreational opportunities, foster a deeper connection with nature, and ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the rich biodiversity that makes Sultan such a great place to live.”