Wetland enhancement at Chinook Bend Natural Area

The Carnation Treatment Plant produces reclaimed water that is sent to Chinook Bend for wetland enhancement.

The Chinook Bend Natural Area is next to the plant's river outfall site at the Carnation Farm Road Bridge.

Wetland enhancement at Chinook Bend Natural Area

King County partnered with Ducks Unlimited  to help design the wetland enhancement project. The Snoqualmie tribe and other interested stakeholders helped to develop a design for the wetland. Artwork in the natural area, funded by King County’s 1% for Art program, was done by 4Culture  and Betsy Damon.

The wetland design focuses on enhancing native plants and controlling reed canary grass through the use of a water control structure, which allows for moist soil management as well as fish passage. The design included removing an existing culvert and pipe system that drained the former degraded wetland, installing a new water control structure and "daylighting" the water flowing out of the wetland. The design increased the size of the wetland to nearly four acres, benefiting wildlife and enhancing opportunities for passive recreation at Chinook Bend.

Chinook Bend aerial

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