Skokomish Delta Restoration

From Salish Sea Wiki


The Skokomish Indian Nation and Mason Conservation District led a three phase restoration of historical tidal wetlands in the Skokomish Delta. This project is one of three initial large scale River Delta Restoration.

  • Phase 1 - removal of dikes surrounding 108 acres of the old Nalley Farm west of Nalley Slough (Completed 2007)
  • Phase 2 - Removal of dikes surrounding 211 acres of Nalley Island (Completed 2011)
  • Phase 3 - Reconnection of tidal channels and creeks through the Phase 1 site, and the PUD causeway along the western extent of the delta (Anticipated 2013)

Notes

  • The initial large grant for restoration was provided as one of the first awards of the ESRP programs, which was created by the State Legislature in response to significant efforts by WDFW and USACE under the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project General Investigation.
  • This project sequence was the focus of collaboration between WDFW, RCO and NOAA Restoration Center and other partners in developing seamless award mechanisms for combining federal and state funds through single awards to reduce administrative redundancy. A single RCO award 11-1361 contained funds from ESRP, PSAR, State Salmon, NOAA Restoration Center and EPA National Estuary Program through a single contract.
  • While there was a diversity of funding sources, the partnership of the Skokomish Indian Nation and Mason Conservation District provided the critical foundation for all the work in the system.
  • This sequence of work owes a particular debt to the late Rich Geiger, engineer with the Mason Conservation District, who played an instrumental role in design and construction management of the project. The restored estuary is a fitting tribute to his memory.
  • A critical component of the phase 1 and phase two projects was maintaining access and protection for the PUD and Tacoma Public Utility power corridor through the site during restoration of flooding.
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