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Fort Dent Levee Repair
Learn about the levee repair project along the Green River that was completed in 2026.
Construction updates
The Green River Trail is now OPEN at Fort Dent Park.
Construction was initiated June 22, 2026. The repair is substantially complete as of October 19, 2026.
Planting of the site will occur November 2 through November 24, 2026. During this time, the Green River Trail will remain open but work crews will be working next to the trail. Pedestrians and bikes should slow down and exercise caution when work crews are active.
The aerial photos below show the project before and after construction.
Fort Dent Levee before repair work began in 2026. Flood damage from 2019–2025 is visible along the riverbank.
Fort Dent Levee following 2026 construction, with setbacks, log habitat features, and improved bank stability in place.
Project overview
The Fort Dent Levee is located on the right bank of the Green River in the City of Tukwila.
The Fort Dent Levee is located in the City of Tukwila on the right bank of the Green River when looking downstream. This levee reduces erosion and flood risks to the Green River Trail, Fort Dent Park, and Starfire Sports.
The Fort Dent Levee was damaged by flooding in 2019, 2020, and 2025. The King County Flood Control District, together with King County as service provider, completed planning, design, and construction to repair and stabilize the levee. This project was substantially completed October 19, 2026.
This levee repair reduces flood risks to people and property. Timely action also minimizes damage to fish habitat and prevents the need for costly emergency repairs. The project will include planting native plants to provide shade and improve fish habitat, and to help reduce long-term maintenance needs and costs.
What is a levee?
A levee is a raised structure built along a riverbank to contain, control, or divert the flow of water and protect the land along the river from temporary flooding. A levee is usually made of earth and runs parallel to the course of a river.
About the project
- Repairs damage to the levee reducing overall flood-related risk to people, property, and infrastructure and gives the river more room to spread out.
- Adds logs to create shallow water habitat where young salmon can rest and hide from predators.
- Adds new native trees and shrubs along the river bank to provide shade to the river, helping to lower water temperatures.
- Creates a more stable slope reducing the need for future repairs.
Project goals
- Make levee repairs to minimize future maintenance costs and reduce flood risks to people, community resources, and infrastructure.
- Provide habitat benefits to fish and wildlife, including Endangered Species Act-listed Chinook salmon, steelhead, and bull trout, and by adding vegetation to provide share and slope stability to the levee in place of invasive blackberry.
- Limit disruptions to community use of the Green River Trail, Fort Dent Park, and Starfire Sports during construction.
Project schedule (subject to change)
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| 2021 to 2026 |
Design and permitting |
| June 15 to Oct. 19, 2026 | Construction |
| Nov. 2 to Nov. 24, 2026 | Planting |
| 2026 to 2027 | Site monitoring and project close out |