Located on the Skykomish River, just upstream from its confluence with the Snoqualmie River, the Skykomish Habitat Mitigation Bank is an ecological mosaic of restored riparian habitats newly created stream channels and reconnected floodplain wetlands. In this ecosystem the river moves and interacts freely with a network of changing side channels and a large floodplain wetland complex. This is possible because a large dike was removed from the bank of the river as part of the creation of the project. This allowed for a reconnection of floodplain habitats and new side channel creation which has proven to be superior spawning and off channel rearing and refuge habitat for salmon.  Natural changes in the river will continue to drive processes that carve out complex habitat assemblages and associate diverse niches that adjust over time in response to ongoing river and floodplain dynamics. This type of habitat most closely mimics the function, quality, and sustainability of naturally-occurring habitats within the vicinity of the mitigation bank site.

Restoration, rehabilitation and enhancement of wetlands adjacent to the Skykomish River and side channels provide significant habitat, water quality, flood attenuation and sedimentation benefits to the watershed. The design of the side channel complex is intended to restore the river’s natural function. Through creation of the braided off channel area, peak flows from the Skykomish River will meander a course through the constructed channels which contain log jams, large woody debris and riffle-pool complexes. Peak flows from the Skykomish River are driving channel formation and migration and are creating complex habitat through large woody debris recruitment, undercut banks and additional riffle-pool areas. The SHMB has restored a variety of habitat types in addition to the braided channel complex including forested, shrub and emergent wetlands as well as floodplain uplands.