The current phase of the Sweetwater Creek restoration project is complete! We're very pleased with the results and want to share some before, during and after photos with you to show the improvements in the creek.

This restoration project was part of a master plan established 10 years ago by the Hood Canal Watershed Project Center and Bruce Dees and Associates. The first phase of that plan was the development of the beloved Theler Wetland Trails. It's exciting to see this next piece of the plan in place.

To finish the work on Sweetwater Creek we will be adding appropriate native plants this fall when the rain starts, giving them a much better rate of survival. Additionally, this area will be part of a demonstration project later this year using the latest prescribed method to permanently kill invasive Japanese Knotweed.

Scroll down to see photos before, during, and after the restoration.


Looking towards the culvert that runs under Highway 3 in Belfair. There are two 90' bends in the creek along this portion that will be made into healthier 'meanders'.












The stream is choked with knotweed and has a narrow channel with no riffles or pools (right).





If you look closely in the photo to the left you can see tires and an old barrel or some other metal object in the stream bank. Truckloads of garbage and debris were removed during the project.







The new channel for the lower portion of the creek is created and woody debris is added to the new channel. During this process the creek is still flowing in the old channel and not impacted by the restoration work.













With the streamwater diverted around the construction area (in the red tube), and fencing in place to catch silt, the middle section of the creek is now under construction (right).




We found more tires, a water heater, a bathtub, and some tiles, used as bank protection by a long ago property owner. All told, 47 tires were removed during reconstruction.

Placement of woody debris in the new upper channel, which will improve fish habitat and the health of the stream ecosystem. During this work the stream water continues to be diverted around the construction area, photo above right.

This is the lower portion, most of it is newly created channel. There are pools, riffles, logs, and the new channel was carefully cut betwen existing trees to shade the water, improving fish habitat. You can see the permanent bank protection on each side of the new stream bank, above the new gravel and rocks. There are deeper pools and shallow riffles with larger rocks, helping to oxygenate the water. It is not only beautiful, but a healthy, natural looking stream (left).


Looking up towards the road at the top portion of the new creek. More new logs, a new tree stump, new gravel and rocks have been put in place (right).

Finishing touches: putting down native grass seed mix along the new bank. We'll add native plants along the new channel this fall when the rain starts. The knotweed will be treated later this year with the most current prescibed method for long term eradication. We'll post more new photos when the planting begins.