The City of Auburn was notified last week that the King Conservation District will award $200,000 in grant funds to complete the Fenster Levee Setback project on the Green River.

The KCD Board of Supervisors approved the grant award at their monthly meeting on July 12. The KCD funds will be used along with funds awarded to the project last December by the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board and by funds from the City. KCD also provided grant funds to the City for acquisition of part of the project site in 2008.

Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis was pleased to hear of the award.

“This is a win-win project,” he said. “It will create valuable habitat for fish and wildlife, and it will help to protect people and property during flood season.”

The levee setback will be constructed on the north 4.5-acre portion of the City’s Fenster Nature Park property on the west side of the Green River, and will involve the reconstruction of approximately 880 feet of the existing river levee, locating it further away from the river to reconnect the river to its natural floodplain.

The project will create and enhance habitat for young fish that are incubating or rearing in the river, including Chinook salmon and steelhead, which are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. The project will also increase floodwater storage capacity to help protect downstream landowners during increased river flows.

About the Fenster Levee project

The City plans to work with King County to construct the levee setback, which will complete the work started by the City and the County under Phase 1 of the project on the south portion of the Fenster site, which was completed in 2008.

Completion of the Fenster project will also compliment the Pautzke Levee setback project completed by King County just south of the site in 2009. After construction of the levee setback, the City plans to work with the Veteran’s Conservation Corps for replanting, monitoring, and maintenance of the site. Final design and construction of the project is scheduled to occur in 2011 -2012.

About the King Conservation District

The King CD provides information and technical assistance programs that are available to all landowners within the district’s boundaries (most of King County) on a voluntary, non-regulatory basis. The district provides grants for conservation-focused projects and programs, and initiates community outreach activities that include workshops, education programs, site visits, farm plans, and consultation on land, water, and wildlife management.

As one of 47 conservation districts in the state, the King CD is a natural resources assistance agency authorized by the State of Washington and guided by the Washington State Conservation Commission.

For more information on the King Conservation District, visit www.kingcd.org.