Thursday, October 1, 2026
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The City of Olympia is seeking state funding to design a long-planned fish passage project on Ellis Creek, which aims to remove a barrier to salmon migration beneath East Bay Drive.
The city council approved a resolution on Tuesday, Jan. 13, authorizing staff to apply for a Recreation and Conservation Office Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board Grant.
The grant would fund final design work for the Ellis Creek Fish Passage Project. The plan is to replace an undersized culvert that blocks fish passage and limits access, and improve stream function.
Ellis Creek flows into Budd Inlet at Ellis Cove and runs through Squaxin Park, where the city protects about 175 acres of undeveloped natural area. City staffers describe the watershed as one of the highest quality aquatic and upland habitats remaining within city limits.
The project is included in the Olympia Storm and Surface Water Management Plan and Capital Facilities Plan. It also aligns with the 2045 Comprehensive Plan, which commits Olympia to the recovery and protection of salmon and the preservation of tribal treaty rights.
A staff report noted that the project supports the conservation and restoration of wildlife and aquatic habitats, protects salmon and other priority species, and utilizes science-based approaches to enhance the health of Budd Inlet and its tributaries, as part of regional salmon recovery efforts.
The grant may require a local match of up to 15% of the design cost, though the city can request a reduction or waiver.
Preliminary estimates place future construction costs between $12 million and $16 million, subject to refinement once design work is complete.
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olyhiker
This sort of thing is why we can't balance a budget. Take a look at Ellis Creek. It's barely a trickle.
Wednesday, January 21 Report this
Digger
There was an attempt to replace the culvert. It was abandoned because of the difficulty of removing debris under the road.
Thursday, January 22 Report this
Boatyarddog
Every stream ebbs and Flows, water levels vary.
Thursday, January 22 Report this
Boatyarddog
They say Moxlie Creek has no fish, it does! I see them in the fall.
Thursday, January 22 Report this
JW
Let's try to soak the taxpayers even more for yet another salmon project.
Thursday, January 22 Report this
OvercastDays
This would be a great thing to accomplish for the city. I understand it’s a lot of money, but Ellis Cove is a beautiful inlet that is in pretty good shape ecologically speaking. This is the major flaw in an otherwise pretty functional environment as near-urban ecosystems go, so it’s not like this is just putting lipstick on a pig (much as that expression feels unfair to pigs). I’ve seen salmon trying and seemingly failing to best the gushing torrent below the culvert before; it’s sad to see the creek flowing an unnaturally high velocity out of the culvert onto a pile of concrete debris.
Friday, January 23 Report this
OlyBlues
You have to love the double standard of the Olympia City Council who allows and condones the total destruction of the environment and wetlands at the Jungle as well as hundreds of illegal transient camps along the Percival Creek Canyon all the way down to Capitol Lake where there is active Salmon spawning. Mass pollution of urine, feces, drugs, propane tanks, trash, you name it. But yes by all means let's give the city MORE money to protect and build habitat for transients to destroy. What a total joke!
Friday, January 23 Report this
Boatyarddog
JW stop with the agitator stance. Say something intellegent. Fish are crucial to our Ecology, Draw Tourism, perpetulate The Fishing Industry, ect. You... Just a weak Whiner, that has no input in County affairs, in other A WASTE OF noise.
Friday, January 23 Report this