Miller Creek restoration project connects regional habitat in Burien and SeaTac

A major restoration effort along Miller Creek has been completed, creating new salmon habitat and improving public access near the Miller Creek Trail, the Port of Seattle announced on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025.

The $3.5 million dollar interlocal project was delivered in partnership with the City of Burien and the City of SeaTac.

The project replaced two fish passage barriers, added 450 feet of new salmon habitat and restored 1.4 acres of floodplain near South 144th Street and Des Moines Memorial Drive South (map below), just north of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

According to the Port, the work connects upstream Burien restoration projects with nearly two miles of Port mitigation habitat along Miller Creek, creating a contiguous ecosystem that strengthens regional salmon recovery.

Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman said the project shows how aligned efforts across jurisdictions can deliver broad environmental benefits.

“The restoration of Miller Creek clearly demonstrates that local governments can significantly enhance the region’s environment and quality of life when we align our interests across jurisdictions,” Felleman said. “The power of the Port’s collaboration with the cities of Burien and SeaTac has resulted in the removal of barriers to salmon migration which create critical connections to habitat restoration work further upstream. These connections will also increase the number of salmon in Puget Sound, to the benefit of fishermen and whales alike.”

Burien Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore said the project marks another step toward the city’s environmental and community goals.

“This project is another milestone to celebrate in the City’s progress toward delivering on plans to shape a better future for our community and the environment we share,” Moore said.

SeaTac Mayor Mohamed Egal noted that the project also addressed a longstanding infrastructure concern.

“SeaTac knows how important it is to keep Miller Creek healthy, as detailed in our Stormwater Management Action Plan,” Egal said. “In addition to the previously mentioned benefits to Miller Creek, this project also resolved a stormwater infrastructure problem after realigning the creek to flow through the new underpass. This allowed for the removal of a failing drainage culvert in Des Moines Memorial Drive South that could have compromised the structural integrity of the roadway.”

The Port contributed 800,000 dollars and provided land needed for the work. It also supplied nearly 20 salvaged logs from its Flight Corridor Management Program for use in habitat structures along the restored creek.

Construction began in spring 2023, paused in February 2024 and was completed this fall. New amenities have been added along the Miller Creek Trail as part of the integrated public trail system serving Burien, SeaTac and nearby South King County communities.