Boise Creek
Boise Creek
Site History
Boise Creek is a tributary to the lower White river in Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA ) 10
The previously wandering creek was first straightened and armored with creosote pilings in light of the growing railroad industry in the 1930s. The lower 500 ft of Boise Creek was relocated between the Northern Pacific Railroad and State Route 410. The floodplain became steeper and more rigid, and the waterways lost gravel and woody debris. This led to poor water quality and higher flooding risk. King County now manages the area, and the road and railroad have been removed.
Plans for restoration
The goal is to create a thriving salmon habitat. This will require cooling waters for ideal salmon spawning temperatures, which will be addressed through more shade cover. Woody debris added will create riffles, pools, and other diversified stream bodies that will allow areas for spawning habitat, areas for salmon to rest, and more surface area for insects and other food.
The goal with habitat restoration is to establish successional planting and create a biodiverse riparian buffer. This buffer will create a successional habitat that will increase shade cover, lower water temperature, create woody debris, improve stream stability, increase biodiversity, all of which will contribute to providing refuge for salmon spawning. This will be done by choosing woody trees like red alder, black cottonwood, and bigleaf maple for the lower riparian zone, while filling the site with shrubs to diversify the area and hold the soil.
Choosing native plants that will both compete with invasives and beautify the area along the walking trail is a great way to show communities what passion for the environment can accomplish.
Traditional Foods
Boise Creek lies within the Muckleshoot Tribe’s ceded territory. The project also includes the planting of culturally significant and traditional food species to support tribal sovereignty and strengthen the long-term relationship between people and place. By integrating these species into the restoration design, FTG seeks to honor Indigenous land stewardship practices and supports community-led habitat care.
These plants contribute to biodiversity while restoring the historical presence of Indigenous food systems in the landscape. Their long-term care reaffirms the Muckleshoot Tribe’s ongoing relationship to this ceded territory and invites broader participation in land stewardship grounded in respect and reciprocity.
This work also challenges the colonial idea that nature exists only in the absence of human interaction. The belief that the healthiest ecosystems are those untouched by people ignores the thousands of years of Indigenous land management that shaped and maintained biodiverse, thriving habitats. By planting and stewarding traditional foods, we help bring land use and care back to this space, not just for Indigenous community members, but for everyone. Through continued access, learning, and participation, this project cultivates a deeper relationship between people and place, fostering true long-term stewards of the land.
--Elise Krohn, traditional food specialist, Northwest Indian College
As a Community We are Stronger
As part of this project, FTG plans to host multiple community volunteer events at the Boise Creek site. These events will support both the initial installation of native conifers, black cottonwood, and shrubs, as well as site preparation activities such as invasive removal and soil stabilization. Involving volunteers, ranging from local community members to students, will strengthen regional stewardship and build broader awareness of the ecological and cultural importance of riparian restoration.
Helping community members and their youth plant and grow their own trees brings together local communities, cultural leaders, and environmental partners to help educate and promote restoration of the lands around them. Those who are invested in their local natural resources are more likely to be invested in their success. This outreach will be an integral part of continuing this restoration project beyond its written scope into the future and develop across socioeconomic boundaries. This portion will be organizing community events and creating awe and wonder as the locals can watch their own plants grow up, maturing into a beautiful, natural landscape that they can see every day.
