While locals have long treasured Hylebos Creek, people across the state and country are getting a chance to appreciate the creek in a new publication, Restoration Narratives.

The glossy, full-color publication reports on significant Washington State restoration projects funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Community Salmon Fund. The Spring Valley Ranch project and West Milton Nature Preserve project are among the 16 projects featured.

"Restoration Narratives is our way of celebrating these local community-based restoration efforts," said NFWF Western Office Director Krystyna Wolniakowski. "Salmon recovery in Washington depends on efforts like the Spring Valley Ranch project and others profiled in the publication."

The Friends' projects were chosen due to the strong partnership between the Friends, and government agencies like the City of Federal Way and the Washington Department of Transportation and the strong community support for Hylebos Creek conservation efforts.

The 64-page publication will be distributed statewide and to decision makers at the national level.

"I'm delighted to see our project get this kind of recognition," said Friends' executive director Chris Carrel. "Here we are, just a bunch of folks trying to make our community better, and to be seen as an example of leading edge restoration work is quite gratifying."

With NFWF funding, the Friends has been replanting a 1.7-acre section of the Spring Valley Ranch property this past winter. Matching funding for this work was provided by the King County Community Salmon Fund.

Later this summer, The Department of Transportation will conduct the bulk of the project, restoring over 1,500 feet of Hylebos Creek and its floodplain wetlands.

This reach of the Hylebos is critical for spawning salmon, particularly Chinook and coho salmon. At the same time, the city will be building a new bridge over the creek and fixing perennial flooding problems at the road.

Restoration Narratives also cites the Friends of the Hylebos' West Milton Nature Preserve project, a NFWF-funded project, with matching funding provided by Pierce County Community Salmon Fund. That project is restoring stream and wetland habitat on the 5-acre West Milton Nature Preserve in Milton.

Friends of the Hylebos Wetlands is a nonprofit conservation organization working to protect and restore the environmental quality of Hylebos Creek, the West Hylebos Wetlands and the surrounding watershed.