| Location: | Upper Whipple Creek mainstem between NE Union Road and NE 166th Street | 
|
| Watershed: | Whipple Creek | |
| Budget: | $850,000 | |
| Funding Source: | American Recovery and Reinvestment act and the Clean Water Fee | |
| Construction: | July to September 2010 |
Whipple Creek project fact sheet (PDF)
Why is Clark County doing this project?
Whipple Creek needs our help. Nearly a century of land development has degraded habitat in Whipple Creek and is continuing to cause severe channel instability and erosion. This construction project is the result of collaborative planning by numerous local stakeholders, including a citizen’s advisor committee, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Legacy Lands Program, Clark County Clean Water Program, and Vancouver-Clark Parks. Purchased by the county in 2006, this 40-acre parcel lies in the Whipple Creek habitat corridor and is identified as a high priority for protection through a proposed Conservation Areas Acquisition Plan. The project will stop further degradation of the Whipple Creek channel in the highly valued natural area, protecting both wetland and floodplain function in managing storm flows.
The county’s Stormwater Capital Plan ranks the project as a high priority, recognizing the unique habitat values of the project area which is home to two threatened and endangered species. The project is scheduled for implementation in 2009-2010.
What is the scope of the project?
The Upper Whipple Creek Habitat Protection and Runoff Control project will protect and enhance 40 acres of critical habitat and wetland in Clark County from anticipated development upstream. The project includes: stabilizing the stream bed with rocks and large wood to stop erosion from threatening wetland areas; installing valley-spanning log jams that slow the storm flows and swamp the wetland and floodplain habitat; and restore native vegetation in the adjacent riparian areas.
What are the benefits?
The project will help stabilize the stream channel and also prevent further damage from impending upstream development, protecting aquatic habitat and wetlands. In addition, it will restore and enhance three to five acres of degraded wetland and reconnect the floodplain. A conservation covenant covering the entire parcel will also protect riparian habitats.
Project Manager: Scott Fakler, (360) 397-6118, ext. 4264 or Email scott.fakler@clark.wa.gov
