Mountlake Terrace Ecosystem Restoration

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .mil

A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.

Secure .mil websites use HTTPS

A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

US Army Corps of Engineers

Seattle District Website

/ / / / /

Photo Gallery

Corps of Engineers dike repairs will protect 800-year-old fishing village

Photo of a U.S. Coast Guard vessel approaching the Quillayute Sea dike, in Quillayute, La Push, Washington. The dike is vital to support the Coast Guard Station Quillayute River which performs search-and-rescue operations from the marina located on the reservation, and whose responsibility covers 63 miles of the Pacific Ocean coast and extends 50 nautical miles offshore.

MORE
Corps of Engineers dike repairs will protect 800-year-old fishing village

Photo of a portion of the Quillayute Sea dike, in Quillayute, La Push, Washington, currently only visible at low tide. The $5.7 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers repair project will protect the La Push community within the Quileute Indian Tribe’s reservation land on the Olympic Peninsula’s northwest coast in Clallam County, Washington.

MORE
Corps of Engineers dike repairs will protect 800-year-old fishing village

Photo of a portion of the Quillayute Sea dike, in Quillayute, La Push, Washington, currently only visible at low tide. The dike is currently below the authorized height 8 feet above mean lower low water level. Repairs should begin Sept 1, 2023.

MORE
Corps of Engineers dike repairs will protect 800-year-old fishing village

Photo of a portion of the Quillayute Sea dike, in Quillayute, La Push, Washington, currently only visible at low tide. Repairs to the Quillayute Sea dike protecting the Quileute Tribe’s 800-year-old fishing village, will begin this fall.

MORE
Corps awards $5.5 million contract toward Mountlake Terrace Lake Ballinger aquatic ecosystem restoration project

Drone photo of Ballinger Park looking north, Nov. 22, 2022. The photo was part of a series taken by the city of Mountlake Terrace to analyze and record future improvements to the area. (Photo courtesy city of Mountlake Terrace Police Department Sgt. Moss)

MORE

Programs and Projects

Water Resource Projects Agreements

Programs and Projects Home

Civil Works Authorities

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investment

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and President Joe Biden signed it into law in November 2021. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers submitted a detailed spend plan to Congress as required by Jan. 14, 2022, 60 days after enactment of the legislation. The projects receiving funding were announced Jan. 19, 2022.

According to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Works’ Policy Guidance on Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Act provides $465,000,000 for the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP), which allows USACE to plan, design, and implement water resource projects, on a smaller scale, without additional project specific congressional authorization. This is particularly useful for local governments and agencies needing help with anything from streambank protection to storm and flood damage reduction.

Of the $465,000,000 allocated to the CAP, $115,000,000 is specifically for Section 206 projects, at full Federal expense, to restore fish and wildlife passage by removing in-stream barriers, and to provide technical assistance to non-Federal interests carrying out such activities.

Mountlake Terrace Lake Ballinger Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project

Scope

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, has partnered with City of Mountlake Terrace to restore wetlands, riparian corridors, and fish and wildlife habitat within Lake Ballinger under Section 206 of the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP). This program authorizes the Corps of plan, design, and construct small scale projects under existing program authorities from Congress. The project will create and preserve critical habitat for species of concern (e.g. amphibians) and provide significant habitat for migrating birds and many species of waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway.

The project site is located at Ballinger Park in Mountlake Terrace.

Sponsor

The sponsor of the project is the City of Mountlake Terrace, Washington.

Objectives

Restore wetlands, riparian corridors, and fish and wildlife habitat.
Create and preserve critical habitat for species of concern (e.g., amphibians) in a rapidly developing urban area
Provide significant habitat for migrating birds and many species of waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway
Create more places for birds, fish, turtles, salamanders, and aquatic mammals to live
Replace a vehicle crossing and add a pedestrian boardwalk, to ensure access and limit plant damage.
Complete minor enhancements to pond habitat
Develop a more contemplative park that’s close to home for visitors to interact with.

Milestones

January 11, 2023 - Seattle District awarded a $5.5 million contract to Tunista Construction LLC of Federal Way, Washington
- 2023 - Established construction site and staging of equipment and materials.
- 2023 - Construction begins.

Documents

Construction Management Plan - [JD to confirm]
Environmental Permits [JD to confirm]

Public Notices

Construction begins [INSERT DATE]. Tunista Construction LLC advises its work hours for the first two weeks will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved construction work hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. The contractor may only work during periods approved by the Army Corps, even if the city approves variances to work outside those hours.