The project to create a better system for salmon habitat in Issaquah Creek is finally done. Originally scheduled to be completed in September 2013, the project was delayed by weather and ground water problems.

Darin Combs with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said the contractors encountered much more groundwater than expected, and last September’s rainfall didn’t help matters.

“We’d never seen the creek that high in the 10 years I’ve been here,” Combs said.

The valves were opened on Monday, March 3 and Issaquah Creek water once again began flowing into the hatchery ponds and incubation trays from the upper intake.

The operation is now in the hands of Fish and Wildlife, handed over from the contractor, SNC-Lavalin. Everything is running smoothly except that they still don’t have power, so temporarily a large diesel powered generator is being used.

The new intake screens are self-cleaning, using bursts of air supplied by a 1,000-gallon air tank and two compressors housed in a brand-new solid concrete mechanical room. Everything is computerized, so it’s easy to determine if a screen is clogged.

“We were out of compliance with the fish ladder and the old water intake,” Combs said.

The old dam, which has been replaced by the new intake, dated back to 1937. The old fish ladder, with 12-inch high steps, was too high for the returning fish since they were nearing the end of their lives and running out of energy. Now, new rock weirs with an open area in the middle, make it easier for the fry to migrate. Each step-up is 9-inches, followed by little pools for the fish to rest before making the next jump.

“It’s critical — they don’t have much life left in them when they get to this point,” Combs said.

The best part — it all looks very natural.

Salmon are amazing and curious creatures. They’ve adapted over the centuries to come back to their native water. Combs said Chinook and Coho will go all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Coho salmon will go south as far as California and north to Canada. But Chinook, or “king salmon” will go as far as Alaska. A chinook that started life in Issaquah Creek could come back weighing 35-pounds.

So why is all of this necessary? Simple, said Combs. People want fish.

“The habitat wouldn’t support all the fish without the hatchery,” Combs said.

The five screens clean in 12 seconds each. The compressors then shut down for one minute to allow pressure to build back up in the air tank, and the next screen is cleaned. When this occurs, it looks like a little geyser by each screen. Combs said they run through the cleaning process at least twice a day.

“It’s really adjustable; you can do a lot of fine tuning with this system,” he said.

They can see on the computer which screen is being cleaned, and when it’s complete. But they can also look at the water to see the bubbles.

In addition to the project to create this new water access, nearby Cabin Creek also was reconfigured where it flows into Issaquah Creek. Little step-ups were created for about 200 yards.

The creek banks disturbed for the construction have now been re-contoured and planted with native plants. As the plantings flourish, Issaquah Creek will soon look more like it did before man began to alter the environment.

The $4 million project, was approved by the Legislature in 2013.

Natural rock weirs replaced old concrete ones that were difficult for the salmon to jump. Each weir has an open area in the middle to make it easier for the salmon to migrate.

Darin Combs with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife points to the “brain” of the operation. The whole thing is computerized.

The mechanical room at the new upper intake of the Issaquah Hatchery. On the right is a 1,000 gallon air tank, and on the left are two air compressors used to clean the screens at the intake.

Some stumps were left by the creekside to provide hiding places and shade for the salmon, which they like.