Crescent Harbor Lagoon Restoration

Efforts

Efforts describe the goal-oriented activites of workgroups

Salish Sea References

• Ecology Shoreline Photography Viewer
• The Encyclopedia of Puget Sound provides a peer reviewed version of the wiki
• PRISM Project Search
• Washington Coastal Atlas
• UW River History Project

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The Crescent Harbor Salt Marsh was once the largest barrier salt marsh on Whidbey Island. Historically, the site was hydraulically connected to Crescent Harbor by a channel located in the southwestern portion of the marsh. Around 1910, the marsh was diked and ditched for agricultural use, and the channel inlet was filled and replaced with a tidegate in the southeastern portion of the marsh. This allowed seasonal management of on-site water levels and blockage of flood tide flows. Site drainage was improved through ditching. Subsequently, muted tidal volumes and sediment transport have led to marsh surface subsidence to about three feet below natural marsh elevations due to soil decomposition and compaction (Heatwole 2004). Although the Navy secured the tide gate partially open in 1993 to allow some tidal exchange, the small opening, small-diameter culverts, and blockage by mussels and barnacles have led to extremely muted tidal flow to marsh surfaces.

A series of projects have been rehabilitating the marsh with the intent of supporting juvenile fish.

Notes

• Aerial view of the project site in The Nearshore Portal
• Mickelson et al 2009 develops a monitoring strategy for the site.
• In 2003 Heatwole 2004 researched insect and plant populations here and at reference sites.
• Sea Bees completed initial bridge construction.
• Four records in Habitat Work Schedule describe work at Crescent Harbor.
  • Feasibility Work which also supported some of the Heatwole work.
  • The 2008 Breach HWS Project
  • Phase 2 HWS Project in response to wave erosion following restored tidal prism.
  • Follow up monitoring in HWS scheduled from 2010 to 2014.
• Mickelson 2009 describes the freshwater inputs from Crescent Creek.
• Additional restoration work is proposed for the crescent creek mouth.
• PRISM has three contract records associated with the Crecent Harbor site.
  • Crescent Harbor Creek Restoration Design & Permit - Skagit River Sys Cooperative
  • Crescent Harbor Marsh Restoration - Skagit River Sys Cooperative
  • Crescent Bay Salt Marsh/Salmon Hab. Rest - Island County

Synthesis

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particles of clay, silt, sand, gravel, or cobble, transported by water, are called sediment.