Arboretum Creek Project Receives $1.25 Million from King County

Flood Control District Grant Will Provide Critical Construction Funding for Restoration of the Park's Historic Stream Corridor

This month, the King County Flood Control District approved a $1.25 million grant to Seattle Parks and Recreation for the Headwaters Project in Washington Park Arboretum.

The project will fully restore year-round water flow to Arboretum Creek, enhancing local biodiversity in and along the park's principal stream. It will also reduce salmon-killing pollutants that currently flow into Lake Washington; provide cool water for salmon just upstream from the Montlake Cut; divert storm water from King County's sewer system; and protect the Seattle Japanese Garden from flooding.

Prior to this grant, the King County Flood Control District and King County WaterWorks Grants Program had already provided more than $900,000 to cover design expenses for the Headwaters Project.

The project was kick-started in 2017 by local non-profit the Friends of Arboretum Creek (FOAC). With support from the Arboretum partner organizations-Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Arboretum Foundation, and UW Botanic Gardens-FOAC has since inspired funding for the project from more than 50 individuals and multiple organizations.

In 2024, Seattle Parks and Recreation-the primary landowner in the Arboretum-assumed leadership of the project and has now secured the largest grant in the project's history.

"We're so grateful for this generous support from the King County Flood Control District and all of our partners," said the Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent AP Diaz. "Working together on this project means we can restore Arboretum Creek to benefit local wildlife and give our community a healthier, more resilient natural space to enjoy."

"A huge thanks to the King County executives, and especially the King County District 2 Executive Girmay Zahilay, for approving this grant," says local naturalist and FOAC co-founder Larry Hubbell. "It will provide at least a third of the critical construction funding required to implement the Arboretum Creek Headwaters Project, which includes reconnecting multiple freshwater springs in the neighborhood to their historical watershed and creating a new, subsurface gravel wetland that will naturally clean storm water before releasing it into the creek."

"The ultimate goal of this re-wilding project," continues Hubbell, "is to attract fish and fish-eating birds back to the stream, while helping connect Arboretum visitors to nature."

Hubbell and the Friends of Arboretum Creek will continue to provide support for the project through fundraising and by hosting monthly volunteer work parties to care for the stream and adjacent riparian habitat.

"This is truly a community-driven project, and new volunteers are always welcome," says Hubbell.

Hubbell is also on the board of directors at the Arboretum Foundation, which has been a key partner throughout. "The Foundation has committed significant funding, secured funding partnerships, and advocated for the Headwaters Project at critical junctures during the last seven years."

"We appreciate the leadership and vision of the Friends of Arboretum Creek for the Headwaters Project, which is a critical step in achieving our shared goal of improving the overall health of the Arboretum watershed," says Elizabeth Lunney, Interim Executive Director of the Arboretum Foundation.

About the Headwaters Project: For project details, visit the website of the Friends of Arboretum Creek, https://www.arboretumcreek.org/. You'll find design specifications for the new surface gravel wetland, funding information, a video of a flooding event in the Japanese Garden, and more. The site also has a sign-up link for work party volunteers.

About Washington Park Arboretum: The 230-acre Arboretum is cooperatively managed by Seattle Parks and Recreation and the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, with major support from the Arboretum Foundation. The City owns the land and maintains the roads, trails, lawns, and utilities, while the University owns and curates the plant collections. The Foundation raises important funds to support Arboretum operations and special projects.