Taylor Creek Restoration Project

Project description

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is planning improvements to Taylor Creek, located near the south end of Lake Washington in southeast Seattle. This project seeks to address localized flooding and sediment deposition by improving drainage infrastructure, removing fish passage barriers and improving natural habitat, restoring the natural drainage system of Taylor Creek and its watershed, and increasing equitable community access to open space in Southeast Seattle.

SPU purchased properties at the lower reaches of Taylor Creek, which will allow SPU to increase the quality and size of habitat along Taylor Creek and Lake Washington shoreline, particularly for threatened juvenile Chinook salmon. SPU proposes to replace the undersized, deteriorating Rainier Ave S culvert with a new fish passable culvert. Upon completion, this project would restore and improve approximately 3,300 feet of Taylor Creek and will increase publicly accessible open park space in southeast Seattle. 

Location

This project stretches from the shoreline of Lake Washington, south across Rainier Avenue S, and into Lakeridge Park (also known as Dead Horse Canyon) at the south end.

What's happening now?

In response to community feedback about the tree removal impacts of the initial sediment management strategy (which included a temporary access road), the design phase for the creek restoration was paused while the project team evaluated alternative sediment management options and construction methods in Dead Horse Canyon (Lakeridge Park).

SPU and Seattle Parks & Recreation, with input previously provided by the community, selected Option C: Small hand-placed structures and timber frame bank supports as the preferred option! To learn more about Option C, the process for developing new options and how the decision was made, visit our online open house.

The project team is preparing for the upcoming restoration design which is expected to kick off at the beginning of 2025. Once design is developed to a preliminary level, the project team will share more information about the structure details, locations and expected impacts.

Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Police Department SWAT teams will be conducting training at the abandoned apartment complex at 10005 Rainier Ave S, which is owned by Seattle Public Utilities. Training will take place up to two days per week generally between the hours of 9am to 3pm until deconstruction activities begin later this year. Training activities are non-destructive (no fire, no water) and SPU is pleased to be able to offer this valuable training opportunity to our south Seattle first responders.

Taylor Creek Early Work Projects

While the new sediment management strategy is being designed, SPU has decided to move ahead with design for two less impactful but still very important components of the project. These early work projects are smaller scale and can be constructed independently of the larger creek restoration project.

The Lakeridge Slope Stabilization Project will install underground micropile walls at two locations in the canyon to help stabilize the trail and underlying sewer line from potential landslides. This work is necessary to mitigate the risk of an environmentally harmful and costly sewer line break in the canyon. This project has reached 60% design.

SPU hired a professional arborist to review our design plans and survey the trees in the canyon to help us better understand potential impacts to trees. Their report concluded that 9 trees will need to be removed during excavation. Any trees that are removed will be replaced with three new trees per Seattle Municipal Code, and any area impacted by construction will be restored and re-vegetated in accordance with Seattle Parks & Recreation’s best practices. Please see the project documents for the arborist report.

The Taylor Creek Outfall Improvements Project will tightline two stormwater outfalls along the east side of the canyon. Currently, these outfalls are discharging stormwater directly onto the canyon walls, causing erosion. This work will fix this problem by allowing stormwater to reach the creek without eroding the canyon. There are no tree removal impacts expected in Dead Horse Canyon with this work.

SPU has issued a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Determination of Non-Significance for this work. 

Construction for both projects is expected to take place during the summer of 2026. More information about the Taylor Creek Early Work Projects is available on our online open house.

Community benefits

The Taylor Creek Restoration project would:

• Increase the quantity and quality of refuge habitat for juvenile salmon in the lower channel and delta
• Replace the culvert under Rainier Ave S with a larger bridge to accommodate more flows
• Reduce erosion in Dead Horse Canyon and reduce sediment input to the lower reaches of Taylor Creek coming from the canyon
• Improve fish passage by removing barriers
• Provide public access to the new natural area north of Rainier Ave S once construction is complete
• Construct road and pedestrian safety improvements along Rainier Ave S in coordination with the Seattle Department of Transportation

Community engagement

SPU is committed to providing information and updates on project activities. Updates may be available in multiple formats: website, emails, drop-in sessions, virtual and in-person briefings, and public meetings. There will be opportunities for the public to engage and provide feedback throughout the project. Check back for more information about upcoming opportunities to get engaged and sign up for the project listserv.