Metropolitan King County Council Chair Dow Constantine joined local, state and federal officials July 28 in breaking ground for the North Winds Weir, a project that will greatly improve the Duwamish River habitat for juvenile salmon.

“This is one of the most valuable projects recommended by the Green/Duwamish River basin salmon habitat recovery plan,” said Constantine, co-chair of that effort. “Over the years, the Duwamish River has been battered by pollution, inappropriate land uses and poor stewardship, but this ecosystem is on the mend.”

Constantine was joined at the groundbreaking by representatives of several jurisdictions around the weir, including State Rep. Zack Hudgins and Tukwila Mayor Jim Haggerty.

The project is named for a rocky ledge that juts into the river and is visible only at lower tides. It is located at the critical point where the freshwater of the Green/Duwamish River and saltwater of Puget Sound mix.

When completed in 2010, the North Wind’s Weir restoration will offer federally-protected Chinook salmon with shallow water habitat, feeding opportunities, and abundant hiding places as they make the transition from freshwater to saltwater. The project also includes a small boat hand launching area and a trail down to the river.

The project, which creates two acres of off-channel, shallow water habitat at the 6.3 mile mark of the Duwamish River, is a collaboration between King County and several other jurisdictions.

King County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state of Washington, the King Conservation District, and the cities of Tukwila and Seattle have all provided funding for this project. The county will maintain the property after construction is completed.

“This project shows that our community treasures the Duwamish River and is willing to work hard to help in its recovery,” said Constantine, the prime sponsor of legislation to provide county funding for the project. “It will support and enhance our habitat recovery efforts upstream and provide an urban green space for its neighbors to enjoy.”