Summary

King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove on Wednesday announced that Tukwila will receive $250,000 in funding from the King County Flood Control District to alleviate flooding and help fish navigate a local creek.

Story

King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove on Wednesday announced that Tukwila will receive $250,000 in funding from the King County Flood Control District to alleviate flooding and help fish navigate a local creek.

The funding will be used to restore fish passage between Gilliam Creek and the Green River and improve habitat conditions within lower Gilliam Creek. Currently, Gilliam Creek is mostly inaccessible to aquatic species due to aging infrastructure.

“Two years ago, when I became Chair of the King County Flood Control District, I committed to ensuring our grant programs not only helped prevent flooding but did so in way that created a better environment – for our fish, for our children and for future generations,” Upthegrove said. “This project will protect property and improve public safety, while also improving the environment for chinook salmon and other fish species."

The project is funded by Flood Reduction Grants though the King County Flood Control District (KCFCD). In 2020, Upthegrove became Chair of the KCFCD and led the effort to reaffirm the District’s commitment to a countywide multi-benefit approach to flood risk reduction by creating three new grant programs in addition to the original Flood Reduction Grant program.  The three new programs address the countywide flood issues associated with urban streams, coastal erosion/coastal flooding, and culvert replacement/fish passage restoration.