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Sunday, January 25, 2026

Fish culvert project at site of Kenmore Jack in the Box

Kenmore Jack in the Box to be demolished

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a court ruling that required the State of Washington to replace culverts with the worst impacts on fish habitat by 2030. 

The culvert going under SR 522 at Jack in the Box (6100 NE Bothell Way) is one of those culverts. 

In 2025, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) purchased the former Jack in the Box property for the “SR 522 Cat Whisker Creek Fish Passage Project,” marking the closure of the fast-food restaurant. 

Earlier this month, WSDOT provided an update indicating that demolition of the existing building is planned for 2026, with fish habitat enhancement work anticipated in 2028. 

Learn how WSDOT is reconnecting streams under state highways to improve fish passage around the state here. 

For questions, please contact WSDOT project managers: eric.zackula@wsdot.wa.gov and kenneth.ezeokeke@wsdot.wa.gov.


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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2026 at 6:45 AM

    $10.3million for property acquisition and design? Any money yet for actual construction? Any estimate of cost per fish?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2026 at 1:28 PM

      Any amount of money is worth it to bring back our fish population

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2026 at 3:45 PM

      Think long term. We destroyed their habitat and it’s time to restore it. For the betterment of animals, plants, and yes, humans.

      Delete
    3. IDC9January 25, 2026 at 6:27 PM

      I suppose we'll have to see how many fish use Cat Whisker Creek once the project is complete to get a sense of much this particular portion of the project will cost per fish. It could be many years before we know. I've heard it can take 6-8 years after project completion for fish to make their way to some of these newly enhanced passages.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2026 at 10:40 PM

    Salmon cannot thrive in urbanized environments. Watch and you'll see. We can replace every culvert at ruinous cost, but the fish aren't going to come back unless the humans leave first.

    Salmon thrive on the Olympic Peninsula, the windward side of Vancouver Island, and in Alaska. What do these places have in common?

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2026 at 7:12 PM

    Will there be daylighting of the creeks/rivers/ streams? If we could see natural running water in our urban environments it would be a blessing to all as a bit of a connection to the natural world.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 27, 2026 at 1:24 AM

    I’ll drop in my line . . .

    ReplyDelete

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