Nisqually Delta

River Delta

River delta sites occur at 16 locations where large river floodplains meet the sea

Most Recent Edits

• File:Multi-scale benefits of estuary restoration for PS Chinook salmon ESRP webinar Final.pdf

Salish Sea References

• Watershed Characterization Mapper
• The Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
• PRISM Project Search
• Washington Coastal Atlas
• WDFW's Salmonscape Map

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Nearshore Strategies Data Report

Cereghino et al 2012 completed a soundwide analysis to identify and describe river delta sites in Puget Sounds as part of a nearshore ecosystem restoration strategy (using remote sensing data c. 2000-2006). The following narrative of this delta site was developed to support distribution and use of analysis results:

The Nisqually Delta in the South Sound sub-basin historically contained 2,502 acres of vegetated wetland along a 20 km shoreline. The delta receives flow from a 214,377 square kilometer watershed. These characteristics make this system the 5th largest delta out of 16 systems in Puget Sound.

Simenstad et al 2011 found that this system had lost 77% of its vegetated tidal wetlands, and 68% of its shoreline length. Of the remaining shoreline, 73% shows some evidence of infrastructure development. In the surrounding uplands, 17% of land is estimated to have greater than 10% impervious surface. Across the watershed, 25% of land is estimated to have greater than 10% impervious surface. Based on these paramters, the site was given a degradation score of 52 out of 100, making it the 5th most degraded delta in Puget Sound. It faces a medium risk of future development locally, and a medium risk of development across the watershed. Approximately 44% of the watershed is currently impounded behind dams.

Restoration Efforts and Issues

• The Nisqually Refuge Restoration and Red Salmon Slough Restoration have largely restored historical tidal flow in the Nisqually Delta.
• While these projects removed river levee, The Nisqually Refuge dike and I-5 causeway constrain how freshwater, fish and sediment enter the delta.
• The Alder Dam impounds river sediment from a portion of the Nisqually basin, limiting sediment that reaches the delta.

Workgroups

• The Nisqually Delta is part of WRIA 11 which is the subject of multiple management efforts. The Delta is a key component of the Nisqually Salmon Recovery Plan. The Nisqually Tribe serves as the Lead Entity Coordinator for WRIA 11.
• The Nisqually Reach Nature Center supports environmental education and citizen science.
• The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the USFWS.
• USGS and Nisqually Indian Tribe have been providing leadership on monitoring the site, with USGS focussed on delta sediment dynamics and vegetation and the Tribe focussed on delta salmon utilization

Monitoring

• USGS Nisqually Delta Restoration] provides a web archive of project site information.
• USFWS, USGS SF Bay Station, USGS CHIPS Team, Nisqually Indian Tribe are collaborating in ongoing monitoring of system wide response to restoration.
• Ellings 2011 provides an early overview of monitoring strategy
• Takekawa & Woo 2013 is a recent proposal for monitoring to ESRP

Assessments

Nisqually River Delta Sediment Budget and Assessment of Opportunities to Recover Sediment Supply to Sustain Marsh

All Nisqually Delta Content

Wiki Pages Beamer 2014 nisqually connectivity effects on salmon density Beamer et al 2024 landscape determinants of estuary habitat use chinook salmon David et al 2014 chinook salmon foraging nisqually after restoration Ellings 2011 Nisqually Monitoring Framework ESRP 2012 red salmon slough revegetation deliverables Evaluating Salmon Rearing Limitations in River Deltas Greene et al 2021 chinook salmon estuary density dependance Grossman 2022 nisqually marsh sediment supply summary File:Nisqually 1889.jpg File:Nisqually 2006.jpg File:Nisqually 2013.jpg File:Nisqually delta current.jpg Nisqually Delta Distributary Restoration Pre-design Nisqually Reach Nature Center File:Nisqually refuge from near ring dike.jpg Nisqually Refuge Restoration Nisqually River Delta Sediment Budget and Assessment of Opportunities to Recovery Sediment Supply to Sustain Marsh File:Red salmon nick point near nisqually breach.jpg File:Red salmon phase 2 panne from west.jpg Red Salmon Slough Restoration Small, D., P. Smith, I. Keren, T. Quinn, P. Schlenger 2024 Fine scale movement of juvenile salmon to inform tidal fish passage restoration in Puget Sound

Uploaded Files File:Nisqually delta current.jpg

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