The city of Issaquah has begun habitat restoration work on the east fork of Issaquah Creek. Now the clock is ticking to correct the water pathway adjacent to Confluence Park before salmon arrive to spawn.

The restoration — costing about $1 million in funds from the city, the King Conservation District and the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office — began last week with the clear grading of the fork out of the bank in the upland shore of the park.

“Right now we’re handling the excavation of the flood plain, soil and rocks, and moving them offsite,” Surface Water Manager Kerry Ritland said.

The excavation begins the process of widening the creek to create high flow terraces so that the waterway will be less confining for salmon returning to the Issaquah State Salmon Hatchery.

Come July 1, the project crew will place habitat logs in the creek, large wooden debris to create improved pool riffle habitat and prevent bank erosion.

Work is scheduled to be complete in September, prior to the return of the salmon.

The project was permitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in May on the condition that the city pay $250,000 for the relocation of the nearby Tolle Anderson house, which the Corps found to be a historically significant property in the impact area of the project.

The house currently remains on site as the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation seeks out landowners to take the structure.