Last week, Vashon-Maury Island Basin Steward Greg Rabourn and a team of King County Department of Natural Resources employees placed multiple logs in the Judd Creek estuary in an attempt to create a healthy habitat.

Over the course of four days, the logs, provided by an islander who was clearing land and wanted them to be used for ecological projects, were towed into the estuary under Vashon Highway at high tide. They were secured with chains so that they wouldn’t float away when the tide rose and will remain to create a breeding ground for plant life and a habitat for small fish and insects that are ultimately necessary for salmon.

“For hundreds of years, we (humans) spent a long time clearing out waterways,” Rabourn said as he explained that logs were once plentiful in the estuary before people removed them in attempts to get boats through. “Logs and wood are actually extremely important for streams. Basically, you’re supporting the base of the food chain and giving salmon places to hide.”

He said the logs in Judd Creek are placed strategically to still allow enough room for people to paddle kayaks through.

The estuary is the most recent area that logs have been placed. In previous years, Shinglemill Creek and the other areas of Judd Creek have had logs strategically placed to create spawning pools and encourage plant growth.