The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, awarded an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contract Sept. 24 to begin design of the Mill Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project.

The $469,049 contract funds the design phase of the project. The goal of the project is to create a natural habitat for rearing and storm refuge for multiple species of fish and wildlife. The project will restore the stream to its natural channel, provide shading with new plantings, and remove non-native invasive species.

The overall restoration would extend from just upstream of the confluence with the Green River, to just downstream of Peasley Canyon, on the west side of State Route 167 in Auburn.

David Miller and Associates Inc., a small business located in Vienna, Va., received the award, announced Sept. 24.

The City of Auburn is the local sponsor for the project, and is providing the local funding required to obtain the ARRA funds using a grant the City received from the King Conservation District in 2009.

”Improving water quality, fish habitat, and flood storage on Mill Creek is an environmental priority for the City and we are pleased to be moving forward with the development of a detailed plan to achieve those things,” said Chris Andersen, the City’s Environmental Protection Manager.

Andersen added that in its role as local sponsor, the City will also be coordinating with local property owners and other interested parties as part of the development of the design plan.

The project team anticipates completing the design work at the end of 2011 and starting construction in the summer of 2012.

Green/Duwamish Ecosystem Restoration Project

This project is a comprehensive restoration program for the entire Green/Duwamish ecosystem spanning the tidal estuaries to the spawning and wildlife habitat areas in the upper basin. The Mill Creek project is one of 45 separate projects that emphasize the restoration of critical habitat within the Green/Duwamish River watershed.