Rutledge Johnson Partial Levee Removal and Floodplain Restoration

The Rutledge Johnson levee is located on public property on the of the Cedar River in the Mouth of Taylor Creek.  The site is about 1.1 miles northwest of the State Route  18-Highway 169 interchange near Maple Valley.

Project goals

In reconnecting the floodplain, the project outcomes will be to improve salmon habitat:

• Improve the habitat for Chinook, steelhead and other Puget Sound salmonids that rely on the Cedar River;
• maintain or reduce current levels of flood and erosion risk to people, property and infrastructure; and
• allow public access to the site for safe recreation considering the changing nature of the river and its banks.

   

  Project benefits

  This project focuses on reconnecting the floodplain and habitat by removing a section of the Rutledge Johnson levee.  The loss of critical habitat features is a primary factor limiting Chinook salmonids in the Cedar River.

   

  Key project outcomes include the following:

  • Removal of up to 600 feet of the Rutledge Johnson levee.
  • Access to 16 acres of newly available floodplain on publicly owned open space.
  • Reoccurring flow-through connections to an existing side channel and wetlands.
  • Renewed access to future sources of wood recruitment to improve habitat in the reach.
  • Maintain or reduce current levels of flood and erosion risk.
  • Restored, forested buffers along the river and side channels with native riparian trees and shrubs.

Removing an old section of the Rutledge Johnson levee will improve support for healthy aquatic habitat. Increased floodplain capacity will provide greater flood storage and help to dissipate floodwaters.

Project site map

Project updates

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Project timeline

Project documents

Project-related documents will be posted here as they are completed.

Project design funding

• King County Water and Land Resources Division
• Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board
• King County Flood Control District Cooperative Watershed Management Program
• Open Space Rivers Corridors Award