The City of Washougal, in partnership with the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, will begin construction on the Campen Creek Reconnection Project starting August 11, 2025, with work expected to conclude by September 26, 2025.
To ensure public safety during construction, Mable Kerr Park will be temporarily closed to the public until the end of construction. Access from Gifford Place will be fully restricted, and access via Sunset View will be limited to the first half mile of the park.
Following construction, the restored area will be revegetated with native trees and shrubs through 2026. Community members interested in participating in planting events are encouraged to sign up for the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership’s Campen Creek Reconnection Project listserv: https://estuarypartnership.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/estuarypartnership/subscribe.jsp?subscription=146
The Campen Creek Reconnection Project will restore approximately 9 acres of natural habitat within Mable Kerr Park. This effort will improve habitat conditions for salmon and other wildlife. In addition to ecological benefits, the project will improve public safety through the removal of hazardous trees, upgrade walking trails, and include the installation of a new pedestrian bridge.
While Mable Kerr Park is temporarily closed, 21 other city parks remain open. To explore alternative park options, please visit: https://www.cityofwashougal.us/Facilities.
This project is made possible through funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, the Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board, the Washington Department of Ecology’s Centennial Clean Water Program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.