Community Invited to Celebrate New Salmon Side Channel on the Sultan

Sept. 18 event will include ribbon cutting, speeches, and tours of the new salmon habitat

Snohomish County 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, Washington. This project, funded largely by a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology, brought together public and private entities to create new habitat for salmon and steelhead in our region.

Attendees will meet at the Volunteers of America’s Sky Valley Center at 617 1st Street, Sultan, WA, 98294. 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.

“This project is an excellent example of what is possible when public and private entities work together for the benefit of our community, cultural, and natural resources,” said Dawn Presler, PUD Lead – Natural Resources. “The PUD was proud to lead this collaborative effort and continue to deliver on our commitment to excellence in environmental stewardship.”

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.”

Construction activities for the extension of the side channel network of the Sultan River began July 2024, and in-water work was completed August 30, 2024. 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.

Since construction of the new channel, fish rearing and spawning have already been observed. Salmon were first observed using the channel in late September 2024. Chum salmon were seen spawning in the southern end of the channel in early October 2024. During the as-built site visit, juvenile coho salmon were observed throughout the channel extension and around every engineered log structure. Incidental observations of other wildlife have been noted including various species of birds and deer across the project.

For more information on the PUD’s environmental stewardship efforts, visit www.snopud.com/stewardship.