Last week, The Journal reported that San Juan County will get $341,000 in Salmon Habitat Restoration grant funds, and that a Beaverton Valley Road site has been chosen as the preferred location for a new solid waste transfer station.

Somewhere in these discussions, we should appreciate that we have a hidden gem in the form of the Beaverton Valley watershed. In a process known as “daylighting,” several communities in our region have successfully restored their local streams. Salmon Creek (aka Beaverton Creek) is a critical island resource. Though long since covered and forgotten, it still flows under our streets. With appropriate foresight and planning, it too could be restored as an open stream.

Lately, the creek has been rising and stormwater has overflowed a small section of Tucker Avenue near the culvert. Throughout the winter storm season, outflow from the valley has been roaring through the Beaverton Bay neighborhood. While it didn’t make it on this year’s habitat list, we as a community should recognize that this seasonal stream once again has the potential to live up to its name as “Salmon Creek.”

Loren Johnson
Friday Harbor