Snohomish - Index Galena Road
Project Number: 1924
From milepost 6.4 to milepost 6.9
RATA Funds: $1,200,000
Legislative District: 39
Status:
Date Approved: 2017
In November 2006, Index-Galena Road was extensively damaged by a major flood event on the North Fork Skykomish River that washed out multiple sections of the roadway between Milepost (MP) 6.4 and Milepost 6.9. This event resulted in Index Galena Road being closed at MP 6.4, just east and upstream of the Trout Creek Bridge. Access to the area east of this point can be reached by using Beckler River Road (a Forest Service Road) just east from the town of Skykomish and through Jack’s Pass. This detour route is available seasonally and provides the sole vehicular access for property owners and other recreational users to camp sites and hiking trails, as well as for emergency services.
Index-Galena Road (County Road 54600, NF 63) provides access to recreational areas, hiking trails and camp sites within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Wild Sky Wilderness area, and to private property. Index-Galena Road is a two lane rural road with a functional classification of Rural Collector and has a posted speed limit of 35 MPH.
The purpose of the proposed Index-Galena Milepost (MP) 6.4 to MP 6.9 project is to restore essential travel and prevent future damage to the roadway. Essential travel includes:
• Re-open direct visitor access to recreation and nature within Wild Sky Wilderness and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie Forest.
• Restore year round access to the US Forest Service for administrative and land management.
• Restore access for recreation business
• Improve Emergency Response service
• Reconnect County roads and residents
In November 2006, Index-Galena Road was extensively damaged by a major flood event on the North Fork Skykomish River that washed out multiple sections of the roadway between Milepost (MP) 6.4 and Milepost 6.9. This event resulted in Index Galena Road being closed at MP 6.4, just east and upstream of the Trout Creek Bridge.
There are many benefits to restoring access along Index-Galena Road. The estimated annual value of recreation beyond the washout is $5,300,000. Numbers indicate that the payback period could be 5 to 8 years. Many benefits are closely related to the project needs described above. Specific benefits include:
• Improved attendance at the USFS San Juan and Troublesome Creek campgrounds.
• Restore trailhead use at the principal hiking trail locations. (Use has dropped 50% since washout)
• Access so Forest Service can continue planned tree thinning harvest
A one mile length of road was replaced between Index-Galena Road mile 6 and 7 restoring access to the upper reaches of the north fork of the Skykomish River. The project moved the road out of the river channel onto the hill side reducing risk from future river inundation
Index-Galena Road (County Road 54600, NF 63) provides access to recreational areas, hiking trails and camp sites within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Wild Sky Wilderness area, and to private property. Index-Galena Road is a two lane rural road with a functional classification of Rural Collector and has a posted speed limit of 35 MPH.
The purpose of the proposed Index-Galena Milepost (MP) 6.4 to MP 6.9 project is to restore essential travel and prevent future damage to the roadway. Essential travel includes:
• Re-open direct visitor access to recreation and nature within Wild Sky Wilderness and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie Forest.
• Restore year round access to the US Forest Service for administrative and land management.
• Restore access for recreation business
• Improve Emergency Response service
• Reconnect County roads and residents
In November 2006, Index-Galena Road was extensively damaged by a major flood event on the North Fork Skykomish River that washed out multiple sections of the roadway between Milepost (MP) 6.4 and Milepost 6.9. This event resulted in Index Galena Road being closed at MP 6.4, just east and upstream of the Trout Creek Bridge.
There are many benefits to restoring access along Index-Galena Road. The estimated annual value of recreation beyond the washout is $5,300,000. Numbers indicate that the payback period could be 5 to 8 years. Many benefits are closely related to the project needs described above. Specific benefits include:
• Improved attendance at the USFS San Juan and Troublesome Creek campgrounds.
• Restore trailhead use at the principal hiking trail locations. (Use has dropped 50% since washout)
• Access so Forest Service can continue planned tree thinning harvest
A one mile length of road was replaced between Index-Galena Road mile 6 and 7 restoring access to the upper reaches of the north fork of the Skykomish River. The project moved the road out of the river channel onto the hill side reducing risk from future river inundation