Fauntleroy Creek Culvert Replacement and Restoration Project
Client: Seattle Public Utilities
Overview of Floyd|Snider Contributions
Project Summary
Seattle Public Utilities owns and maintains a 24-inch-diameter, 220-foot-long, vitrified clay pipe culvert conveying Fauntleroy Creek under 45th Ave SW in the Fauntleroy neighborhood of West Seattle.
Seattle Public Utilities owns and maintains a 24-inch-diameter, 220-foot-long, vitrified clay pipe culvert conveying Fauntleroy Creek under 45th Ave SW in the Fauntleroy neighborhood of West Seattle. The culvert is a complete fish passage barrier and is in failing condition. The project will replace the failing culvert with a new 14-foot-wide, 237-foot-long, 3-sided, open-bottom culvert compliant with State standards. It will also restore habitat 180 linear feet upstream and 80 linear feet downstream of the new culvert to improve the site’s ecosystem function.
Our Approach
Floyd|Snider served as the environmental permitting lead for the Fauntleroy Creek Culvert Replacement and Restoration Project, developing a permitting strategy that responded to the unique site conditions of Fauntleroy Creek and also led negotiations with the federal, state, and local regulatory agencies to reach agreement on a series of streamlined permitting pathways.
Specifically, Floyd|Snider supported early discussions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate and confirm the use of available Nationwide Permits and to describe why the Endangered Species Act, which is typically the longest regulatory process, would not be triggered by the project despite its in-water work. At the state level, Floyd|Snider conceptualized a proposal to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) regarding a long-term bypass and exception from the prescriptive in-water work window given the absence of resident or anadromous fish in Fauntleroy Creek. Upon discussion and review of the materials, WDFW agreed to this proposal, resulting in significant project savings, minimized disturbance to the community, and earlier restoration of fish passage to the system. Floyd|Snider also led coordination with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) regarding the ability to waive local permitting given that the work is characterized as a Fish Habitat Enhancement Project.
This strategic support from Floyd|Snider in the permitting strategy development and regulatory negotiations has resulted in direct savings to the design and permitting schedule and increased efficiency and reduced cost associated with project delivery.
Project Milestones
2024. Permit applications submitted
2025. All project permits obtained
2026–2027. Anticipated construction years
Floyd|Snider served as the environmental permitting lead for the Fauntleroy Creek Culvert Replacement and Restoration Project, developing a permitting strategy that responded to the unique site conditions of Fauntleroy Creek and also led negotiations with the federal, state, and local regulatory agencies to reach agreement on a series of streamlined permitting pathways.
Specifically, Floyd|Snider supported early discussions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate and confirm the use of available Nationwide Permits and to describe why the Endangered Species Act, which is typically the longest regulatory process, would not be triggered by the project despite its in-water work. At the state level, Floyd|Snider conceptualized a proposal to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) regarding a long-term bypass and exception from the prescriptive in-water work window given the absence of resident or anadromous fish in Fauntleroy Creek. Upon discussion and review of the materials, WDFW agreed to this proposal, resulting in significant project savings, minimized disturbance to the community, and earlier restoration of fish passage to the system. Floyd|Snider also led coordination with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) regarding the ability to waive local permitting given that the work is characterized as a Fish Habitat Enhancement Project.
This strategic support from Floyd|Snider in the permitting strategy development and regulatory negotiations has resulted in direct savings to the design and permitting schedule and increased efficiency and reduced cost associated with project delivery.
Project Milestones
2024. Permit applications submitted
2025. All project permits obtained
2026–2027. Anticipated construction years