Samish 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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• Delta in Nearshore Portal

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 Samish Delta in the San Juan Sub-basin historically contained 3,735 acres of vegetated wetland along a 29 km shoreline. The delta receives flow from a 35,653 square kilometer watershed. These characteristics make this system the 6th largest delta out of 16 systems in Puget Sound.

Simenstad et al 2011 found that this system had lost 97% of its vegetated tidal wetlands, and 58% of its shoreline length. Of the remaining shoreline, 66% shows some evidence of infrastructure development. In the surrounding uplands, 15% of land is estimated to have greater than 10% impervious surface. Across the watershed, 34% of land is estimated to have greater than 10% impervious surface. Based on these paramters, the site was given a degradation score of 51 out of 100, making it the 6th most degraded delta in Puget Sound. It faces a medium risk of future development locally, and a high risk of development across the watershed. Approximately 2% of the watershed is currently impounded behind dams.

Notes

• Two projects in Habitat Work Schedule:
  • McElroy Slough is a SRT at the northern edge of the delta.
  • Friestad Lake involves the restoration of a barrier lagoon on Samish Island.
• WDFW has recently bought land both near the mouth of the Samish River and along Padilla bay.
  • WDFW Samish Unit Website
  • Samish Unit Map (PDF)
• There is an increase in private hunting clubs located along the Samish Delta.
• WDFW Map of recreational shellfishing] in the area.
• WDOEs Samish Fecal TMDL webpage
  • TMDL Fecal Findings for the Samish
  • TMDL Implementation Plan for the Samish
• Edison Slough has been retrofitted with a SRT.