Bothell plans fish creek through downtown

BOTHELL, Wash. — The city of Bothell is preparing to dig up a creek that's been underground for almost 100 years.

The plan is to daylight Horse Creek that runs underneath downtown Bothell.

"There's a lot of people interested in trying to create fish-passable areas for salmon and other fish species," said Terrie Battuello, assistant city manager of Bothell.

The $17 million project is part of a $150 million revitalization plan for downtown Bothell.

The old Horse Creek will be moved from the Bothell Way NE corridor to the 98th Avenue NE corridor.

The new channel will be made up of a series of open-channel segments and fish-passable culverts at road and driveway crossings.

"I don't need it. I don't need it. If I want to see it I would go to Ballard and look at the fish locks," said Joan White who has lived in Bothell for 43 years.

Battuello said the city decided to move forward with the project not only because it would be an urban amenity, but also because it was recommended by the Army Corps of Engineers, Washington Fish and Wildlife and local tribes.

The hope is that when the creek is opened up, it will attract wildlife.

"These creeks did have salmon and other fish in them and so the idea is to restore that habitat," said Battuello.

"I like the idea of that. I think creeks should be allowed to be open to the sun and if they can get fish up and down them all the better," said Catherine Nelson of Bothell.

The city is in the middle of the permitting process for the project.

It should be finished in about two years.

KIRO