River Deltas

River Delta

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

Most Recent Edits

• Snohomish Delta
• River Delta Restoration
• Blue Heron Mitigation Bank
• Viability of assisted vs. unassisted development of tidal fresh swamp
• Predicting Rates of Channel Development

Salish Sea References

• Ecology Coastal Oblique Photography
• The Encyclopedia of Puget Sound provides a peer reviewed version of the wiki
• The Nearshore Map Portal
• Habitat Work Schedule Map
• PRISM Project Search
• Washington Coastal Atlas

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Deltas form where large rivers meet marine waters. These deltas, built of fluvial sediment deposited at the coastline, are often broad and low-lying, and represent the marine extension of alluvial floodplains. Many have been heavily modified for agricultural and urban uses. Deltas can be distinguished based on the relative influence of waves, tides and river processes in their formation. (from Shipman 2008). Simenstad et al 2011 identifies 16 river deltas. Large coastal inlets wetlands associated with large watersheds (see Cereghino et al 2012) like Union, Tahuya or the Snow-Salmon, could be considered part of this population. PSNERP identifies recovery of lost delta tidal marsh and a primary target for restoration of Puget Sound nearshore ecosystems. A separate page describing Restoration of Puget Sound River Deltas provides an overview of goals, resources and efforts.

River Delta Core Topics

• Restoration of Puget Sound River Deltas provides an overview of restoration efforts.
• The following core topics and related topic pages are being developed for the wiki as part of the ESRP River Delta Adaptive Management Strategy

Topics Describing Critical Delta Dynamics	High Uncertainty Topics for Adaptive Management
Delta hydrodynamics and channels	Development of tidal channels following restoration Fringing marsh resilience, wave attenuation and flood management Delta restoration and farm system function
Delta sediment dynamics and vegetation	Delta plain accretion rate among systems compared to sea level rise Effects of relict levees on sediment and debris deposition in delta systems Viability of assisted vs. unassisted development of tidal fresh swamp Factors preventing development of productive delta marsh vegetation Distributary configuration effects on delta sediment deposition Fringing marsh resilience, wave attenuation and flood management
Delta biodiversity and food webs	Factors affecting long term composition and productivity of delta invertebrate communities Relative use of delta landscapes by valued bird populations Potential extent, function, and requirements for beaver habitat modification in delta landscapes Effects of introduced species on delta functions Delta Management for Waterfowl
Delta utilization by salmon	Relative importance of wetland composition on delta carrying capacity for juvenile salmonids Effects of delta landscape connectivity on realized function for juvenile salmon Effects of local delta habitat structure on salmonid carrying capacity
Delta social dynamics	Influence of ecosystem service quantification on stakeholder preferences around restoration Delta Management for Waterfowl
Delta flood and drainage	Fringing marsh resilience, wave attenuation and flood management Delta restoration and farm system function Drainage and flood effects are evaluated as part of the 'High Risk Project' component of the core monitoring strategy

Other River Delta Topic Pages

• Beneficial use of dredge materials
• Fish sampling design in river deltas
• Nearshore Monitoring Strategy
• River Delta Reference List
• River Delta Restoration
• Snohomish Agricultural Resilience
• Snohomish Agriculture Resilience Plan
• Tide gate effects on salmonid passage and utilization
• Whidbey Basin Estuary Restoration Monitoring

Sites and Places

• Deschutes Delta
• Dosewallips Delta
• Duckabush Delta
• Dungeness Delta
• Duwamish Delta
• Elwha Delta
• Hamma Hamma Delta
• Nisqually Delta
• Nooksack Delta
• Puyallup Delta
• Quilcene Delta
• Samish Delta
• Skagit Delta
• Skokomish Delta
• Snohomish Delta
• Stillaguamish Delta

Restoration Efforts

• Blue Heron Mitigation Bank
• Deepwater Slough Restoration
• Designing large wood placement in tidal marshes
• Estuary Restoration for Northern Puget Sound Birds
• Evaluating Salmon Rearing Limitations in River Deltas
• Everett Marshlands Restoration
• Everett Riverfront Wetlands
• Fir Island Farm Restoration
• Fisher Slough Restoration
• Island Unit Estuary Restoration
• Leque Island Restoration
• Marysville Mitigation Site
• Maulsby Mudflat Reconnection and Restoration
• Mid-spencer Island Restoration
• Milltown Island Restoration
• Nisqually Refuge Restoration
• North Ebey Island Restoration
• Port Susan Restoration
• Qwuloolt Restoration
• Red Salmon Slough Restoration
• Skokomish Delta Restoration
• Smith Island Restoration
• Snohomish Estuary Restoration Effects on Temperature, Salinity, and Tides
• Spencer Island Restoration
• Steamboat Slough Mitigation Site
• Swinomish Slough Restoration
• Three Crabs Restoration
• Tulalip Landfill Cleanup
• Union Slough Mitigation
• Union Slough Restoration
• Wiley Slough Restoration
• Zis a Ba Restoration

Other Efforts

• Chinook response to estuary restoration
• Coastal Blue Carbon Project
• Coastal Resilience to Climate Change
• Delta Metrics Project
• Estuary science to support adaptive management (Salish Sea 2011)
• Juvenile salmon response to landscape connectivity change within two Puget Sound river estuaries
• File:Landscape Connectivity Figure1.docx
• Nearshore Strategies Analysis
• Predicting Rates of Channel Development
• Puget Sound Large River Delta Tidal Restriction and Wetland Mapping
• Puget Sound Marine Riparian Mapping
• Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project
• Puget Sound Tidal Restriction and Wetland Mapping
• River Delta Consortium
• Skagit Delta Tidegates and Fish Initiative
• Skagit Farm, Fish and Flood Initiative
• Snohomish Delta Ecosystem Monitoring and Evaluation
• Stillaguamish Delta Dredged Sediment Re-use
• File:Stilly Sediment Reuse Agenda Draft 2014 Jan29.pdf
• Tidal Channel Reference Model
• Tide gate effects analysis

River Delta Documents

Documents Cited (Off-Wiki) File:TNC 2011.pdf File:PWA et al 2004 fir island connector assessment.pdf File:Lipsky 2010 whidbey stakeholder preferences.pdf File:Hinton & Hood 2007.pdf File:Beamer et al 2003 importance of non-natal pocket estuaries.pdf File:Greene & Beamer 2005 skagit delta recovery plan analysis.pdf File:Fuller et al 2011 using sea level rise model results.pdf Athearn et al 2010 mapping elevation lidar vs sonar Yang et al 2011 model flood and tide File:Yang & Khangaonkar 2007.pdf French & Stoddart 1992 marsh hydraulics Simenstad & Cordell 2000 habitat assessment for salmon Simenstad et al 1982 role of estuaries in salmon life history Hood 2002 channel allometry Williams et al 2002 hydraulic geometry File:ESRP 2012 red salmon slough revegetation deliverables.pdf File:Ellings 2011 Nisqually Monitoring Framework.pdf Hood 2012 beaver in tidal marsh Hood 2007 wood and skagit delta shrub swamp Eilers 1974 nehalem marsh biogeography Frenkel & Eilers 1976 upper limit of oregon tidal marsh Frenkel & Morlan 1990 salmon river salt marsh restoration File:Rice 2011 DRAFT qwuloolt monitoring plan.pdf Jefferson 1974 oregon salt marsh communities File:Breslow 2001 farmer perception of salmon recovery.pdf File:Hood 2009 skagit monitoring strategy.pdf File:Cereghino 2007 qwuloolt wetland assessment.pdf File:Grossman et al 2011 skagit shallow stratigraphy.pdf Collins & Sheik 2005 reconstruction of puget sound tidal marsh File:Czuba et al 2011 sediment budgets in puget sound rivers.pdf File:Weinerman et al 2012 fisher slough economic benefits.pdf File:Brophy & van de Wetering 2012 ni-les'ton tidal wetland restoration monitoring.pdf File:Lyons & Ramsey 2013 tide gate synthesis.pdf Beck et al 2001 estuarine nursery conservation Syvitski et al 2005 distributary channels and sediment dispersal File:Hood 2013 channel geometry model.pdf File:Guthrie 2012 tidal fresh swamp revegetation.pdf File:Parametrix 2010 fisher slough monitoring plan.pdf File:PWA 2008 deschutes estuary restoration feasibility.pdf File:CLAMP 2009 capitol lake steering committee recommendation.pdf File:USACE 2011 qwuloolt environmental assessment.pdf Quinn et al 2013 coho salmon elwha delta pre restoration File:Shannon & Wilson Inc 2011 fir island farms feasibility study.pdf File:Woo et al 2011 port susan monitoring plan.pdf File:TNC 2012 port susan restoration as-built plans.pdf File:TNC 2012 port susan stewardship plan.pdf Temmerman et al. 2005 Yang et al. 2010b Crain et al 2004 mechanisms driving salt marsh composition Hutchinson 1988 salt tolerance of plants Morris et al 2002 coastal wetland sea level rise Morris 2007 biomass affects salt marsh accretion Kirwan & Murray 2007 tidal marsh evolution model Yang and Khangaonkar 2009 File:PGG 2012 leque island restoration camano island groundwater.pdf Hood 2006 tidal channel formation as depositional File:MacDonald et al 2013 elwha nearshore workshop proceedings.pdf File:Grossman 2013 skokomish survey notes.pdf Kirwan et al 2008 goose impacts on delta wetlands File:Beamer et al 2013 fisher slough fish monitoring 2012.pdf File:Beamer et al 2013 fisher slough fish monitoring 2011.pdf File:Boyd 2013 fisher slough monitoring lessons.pdf File:Roegner et al 2008 columbia river estuary restoration monitoring protocols.pdf Kirwan and Guntenspergen 2010 Mudd et al 2009 tidal marsh, sea level, productivty and carbon Fagherazzi et al 2012 salt marsh evolution models File:Takekawa & Woo 2013 niqually delta monitoring proposal.pdf Gelfenbaum et al 2006 nearshore research strategy File:Stilly Sediment Reuse Agenda Draft 2014 Jan29.pdf File:Griffith & Fuller 2012 stillaguamish delta restoration target DRAFT.pdf File:Fuller 2014 stillaguamish dredged sediment reuse.pdf File:Greene & Beamer 2011 skagit intensively monitored watershed report.pdf File:TNC 2014 port susan monitoring progress.pdf File:Beamer 2016 fisher slough restoration effectiveness.pdf File:Greene et al 2012 effects of tidegates on fish.pdf Simenstad et al 2004 urban estuary restoration challenge File:SDHP 2014 skagit hydrodynamic model report.pdf File:Hood 2012 tidal channel reference model.xlsx Hood 2014 natural tidal channel model File:Beamer 2014 nisqually connectivity effects on salmon density.pdf David et al 2014 File:Cereghino 2013 delta metrics exploratory analysis.pptx File:Cereghino 2014 delta consortium memo to watershed leads.pdf Hood 2015 factors affecting tidal channel geometry Edmonds & Slingerland 2007 delta distributary bifurcation from bar formation Hood 2010 File:Fuller et al 2014 port susan monitoring report.pdf File:Dean 2011 farm succession strategies.pdf File:Beamer et al 2007 fish assemblage greater skagit delta.pdf File:Hughes et al 2014 nursery functions of estuaries.pdf File:Smith et al 2005 tide gate salmon recovery analysis skagit.pdf File:WDFW 2015 delta restoration replacement lands.pdf File:Arcos 2012 skokomish channel stability.pdf Dalrymple & Choi 2007 tidal delta framework File:Cereghino 2015 accelerating estuary restoration.pdf File:Baek et al 2015 mid-spencer 60% design.pdf File:Cornu et al 2008 large wood placement in tidal wetlands.pdf File:Cereghino 2015 coordinated investment snohomish framework.pdf File:Barber 2014 vegetation and sediment at port susan.pdf File:Fuller & McArdle 2014 marsh erosion at stillaguamish delta.pdf File:Rossenkotter et al 2007 nearshore salmon recovery gap analysis.pdf File:TNC 2014 fir island farms construction strategy recommendations.pdf File:TNC 2013 fisher slough lessons learned.pdf File:Dethier 1990 puget sound shoreline classification.pdf File:Zu Ermgassen et al 2016 oyster restoration objectives for ecosystem services.pdf File:SnoCD 2016 DRAFT climate change effects on agricultural drainage proposal.pdf File:Boyd 2016 hat slough & fisher slough lessons learned.pdf File:Friebel 2016 fir island farms lessons learned.pdf File:Baker et al 2016 estuary restoration lessons learned.pdf File:Meidev & Neslon 2016 qwuloolt lessons learned.pdf File:WWAA et al 2008 tidegates and fish initiative agreeement.pdf File:TNC 2017 fisher slough restoration summary.pdf Ewing 1986 skagit tidal marsh productivity File:Fuller 2018 tnc port susan bay final monitoring report.pdf File:Fuller 2018 ESRP Webinar restoration stress resilience climate change Stillaguamish lessons.pdf File:Fuller 2015 stillaguamish pore water salinity memo.pdf File:Fresh et al 2004 guidance restoration protection.pdf File:Goetz et al 2004 PSNERP restoration principles.pdf File:Fresh 2006 juvenile salmon in nearshore.pdf File:Beamer et al 2006 deepwater slough effectiveness.pdf File:Hood 2019 fir island farms monitoring yr3.pdf File:Beamer et al 2018 fir island farms fish monitoring 2015-18.pdf File:WDFW 2015 monitoring adaptive management plan.pdf File:Porrini 2018 fir island farms invertebrate monitoring.pdf File:Schlenger et al 2011 PSNERP strategic needs assessment.pdf File:Cereghino 2021 delta adaptive management draft (2010-13).pdf File:Habitat Strategic Initiative 2021 estuary and floodplain implementation strategy.pdf File:Hall et al 2019 DRAFT snohomish monitoring plan.pdf File:Wright 2021 integrated floodplain management puget sound.pdf File:Beechie et al 2017 salmon habitat status monitoring.pdf File:City of Everett 2001 snohomish estuary wetland salmon overlay.pdf File:Snohomish County 2015 diking district 6 maintenance.pdf File:Snohomish County 2020 smith and mid-spencer monitoring year 0-1.pdf File:Greene et al 2021 chinook salmon estuary density dependance.pdf File:Landscape Connectivity Table1.docx

Documents Uploaded (On-Wiki) TNC 2011.pdf PWA et al 2004 fir island connector assessment.pdf Lipsky 2010 whidbey stakeholder preferences.pdf Hinton & Hood 2007.pdf Beamer et al 2003 importance of non-natal pocket estuaries.pdf Greene & Beamer 2005 skagit delta recovery plan analysis.pdf Fuller et al 2011 using sea level rise model results.pdf Yang & Khangaonkar 2007.pdf ESRP 2012 red salmon slough revegetation deliverables.pdf Ellings 2011 Nisqually Monitoring Framework.pdf Rice 2011 DRAFT qwuloolt monitoring plan.pdf Breslow 2001 farmer perception of salmon recovery.pdf Hood 2009 skagit monitoring strategy.pdf Cereghino 2007 qwuloolt wetland assessment.pdf Grossman et al 2011 skagit shallow stratigraphy.pdf Czuba et al 2011 sediment budgets in puget sound rivers.pdf Weinerman et al 2012 fisher slough economic benefits.pdf Brophy & van de Wetering 2012 ni-les'ton tidal wetland restoration monitoring.pdf Lyons & Ramsey 2013 tide gate synthesis.pdf Hood 2013 channel geometry model.pdf Guthrie 2012 tidal fresh swamp revegetation.pdf Parametrix 2010 fisher slough monitoring plan.pdf PWA 2008 deschutes estuary restoration feasibility.pdf CLAMP 2009 capitol lake steering committee recommendation.pdf USACE 2011 qwuloolt environmental assessment.pdf Shannon & Wilson Inc 2011 fir island farms feasibility study.pdf Woo et al 2011 port susan monitoring plan.pdf TNC 2012 port susan restoration as-built plans.pdf TNC 2012 port susan stewardship plan.pdf PGG 2012 leque island restoration camano island groundwater.pdf MacDonald et al 2013 elwha nearshore workshop proceedings.pdf Grossman 2013 skokomish survey notes.pdf Beamer et al 2013 fisher slough fish monitoring 2012.pdf Beamer et al 2013 fisher slough fish monitoring 2011.pdf Boyd 2013 fisher slough monitoring lessons.pdf Roegner et al 2008 columbia river estuary restoration monitoring protocols.pdf Takekawa & Woo 2013 niqually delta monitoring proposal.pdf Stilly Sediment Reuse Agenda Draft 2014 Jan29.pdf Griffith & Fuller 2012 stillaguamish delta restoration target DRAFT.pdf Fuller 2014 stillaguamish dredged sediment reuse.pdf Greene & Beamer 2011 skagit intensively monitored watershed report.pdf TNC 2014 port susan monitoring progress.pdf Beamer 2016 fisher slough restoration effectiveness.pdf Greene et al 2012 effects of tidegates on fish.pdf SDHP 2014 skagit hydrodynamic model report.pdf Hood 2012 tidal channel reference model.xlsx Beamer 2014 nisqually connectivity effects on salmon density.pdf Cereghino 2013 delta metrics exploratory analysis.pptx Cereghino 2014 delta consortium memo to watershed leads.pdf Fuller et al 2014 port susan monitoring report.pdf Dean 2011 farm succession strategies.pdf Beamer et al 2007 fish assemblage greater skagit delta.pdf Hughes et al 2014 nursery functions of estuaries.pdf Smith et al 2005 tide gate salmon recovery analysis skagit.pdf WDFW 2015 delta restoration replacement lands.pdf Arcos 2012 skokomish channel stability.pdf Cereghino 2015 accelerating estuary restoration.pdf Baek et al 2015 mid-spencer 60% design.pdf Cornu et al 2008 large wood placement in tidal wetlands.pdf Cereghino 2015 coordinated investment snohomish framework.pdf Barber 2014 vegetation and sediment at port susan.pdf Fuller & McArdle 2014 marsh erosion at stillaguamish delta.pdf Rossenkotter et al 2007 nearshore salmon recovery gap analysis.pdf TNC 2014 fir island farms construction strategy recommendations.pdf TNC 2013 fisher slough lessons learned.pdf Dethier 1990 puget sound shoreline classification.pdf Zu Ermgassen et al 2016 oyster restoration objectives for ecosystem services.pdf SnoCD 2016 DRAFT climate change effects on agricultural drainage proposal.pdf Boyd 2016 hat slough & fisher slough lessons learned.pdf Friebel 2016 fir island farms lessons learned.pdf Baker et al 2016 estuary restoration lessons learned.pdf Meidev & Neslon 2016 qwuloolt lessons learned.pdf WWAA et al 2008 tidegates and fish initiative agreeement.pdf TNC 2017 fisher slough restoration summary.pdf Fuller 2018 tnc port susan bay final monitoring report.pdf Fuller 2018 ESRP Webinar restoration stress resilience climate change Stillaguamish lessons.pdf Fuller 2015 stillaguamish pore water salinity memo.pdf Fresh et al 2004 guidance restoration protection.pdf Goetz et al 2004 PSNERP restoration principles.pdf Fresh 2006 juvenile salmon in nearshore.pdf Beamer et al 2006 deepwater slough effectiveness.pdf Hood 2019 fir island farms monitoring yr3.pdf Beamer et al 2018 fir island farms fish monitoring 2015-18.pdf WDFW 2015 monitoring adaptive management plan.pdf Porrini 2018 fir island farms invertebrate monitoring.pdf Schlenger et al 2011 PSNERP strategic needs assessment.pdf Cereghino 2021 delta adaptive management draft (2010-13).pdf Habitat Strategic Initiative 2021 estuary and floodplain implementation strategy.pdf Hall et al 2019 DRAFT snohomish monitoring plan.pdf Wright 2021 integrated floodplain management puget sound.pdf Beechie et al 2017 salmon habitat status monitoring.pdf City of Everett 2001 snohomish estuary wetland salmon overlay.pdf Snohomish County 2015 diking district 6 maintenance.pdf Snohomish County 2020 smith and mid-spencer monitoring year 0-1.pdf Greene et al 2021 chinook salmon estuary density dependance.pdf Landscape Connectivity Table1.docx

Other Files

• File:Simenstad et al 2011 Columbia Delta Classification.pdf
• File:DeltaWorkshopOutputs April2012 DRAFT.doc
• File:Mt. Wash photopoint.pdf
• File:TableDeltaProcesses.png
• File:TableLocalDeltaProcesses.png
• File:TableDeltaComponents.png
• File:FigureCriticalDynamics.png
• File:FigureLearningProjectMatrix.png
• File:Elwha delta 13-0401.jpg
• File:Tidal channel islands.png
• File:Skagit-stillaguamish delta site.png
• File:Grossman 2013 delta sediment dynamics presentation.pptx
• File:Cereghino 2013 delta learning presentation.pdf
• File:Fisher slough tidegate.jpg
• File:Delta nisqually.JPG
• File:Delta tree recruitment.JPG
• File:Delta marsh recruitment.JPG
• File:Smith island aerial 2011 NAIP NIR.png
• File:Skokomish-project footprint.jpg
• File:Skokomish restoration.jpg
• File:Skokomish restoration excavator.jpg
• File:Delta map with chinook rivers.png
• File:Fisher slough beach seine.JPG
• File:Deschutes delta and frigate.jpg
• File:Stillaguamish port susan sunset.JPG
• File:Stillaguamish delta restoration sites.jpg
• File:Stillaguamish Delta LiDAR 2013b.jpg
• File:North Fork Skagit River Fishtown Bar area.JPG
• File:Cereghino 2014 delta learning program.pptx
• File:Nisqually 1889.jpg
• File:Nisqually 2006.jpg
• File:Nisqually 2013.jpg
• File:Nisqually refuge from near ring dike.jpg
• File:Red salmon nick point near nisqually breach.jpg
• File:Red salmon phase 2 panne from west.jpg
• File:Nisqually delta current.jpg
• File:Qwuloolt monitoring plan.jpg
• File:Snohomish delta restoration.jpg
• File:Stillaguamish lidar.jpg
• File:Delta island sketch.jpg
• File:Qwuloolt first flood.png
• File:Qwuloolt first flood.jpg
• File:Port susan flood gate.jpg
• File:Port susan borrow ditch.JPG
• File:Port susan dike remnant.JPG
• File:Snohomish delta after.jpg
• File:Leque channels.jpg
• File:Smith island dike removal.jpg
• File:Leque leaking dike.jpg
• File:Leque eroding dike.jpg
• File:Leque south pass old road.jpg
• File:Leque construction aerial south landscape view.jpg
• File:Leque construction aerial machines.jpg
• File:Leque first tides.jpg
• File:Leque machines new channel.jpg
• File:Estuary salmon recovery.png
• File:SnohomishTSheet.tif
• File:Landscape Connectivity Figure1.docx

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