884 protected lagoons, embayments, estuaries and inlets were historically mapped in Puget Sound
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The Squalichew Creek Estuary (IPU 18) is a coastal inlet embedded in the Nisqually Northeast Drift Cell. Its historical extent has been interrupted by the BNSF railroad grade
Nearshore Strategies Data Report
Cereghino et al 2012 describes a sound-wide analysis to identify and describe coastal inlet sites in Puget Sounds as part of a nearshore ecosystem restoration strategy (using remote sensing data c. 2000-2006). The following narrative was developed to support distribution and use of analysis results:
- Coastal Inlet Site 18 is one of 144 coastal inlets identified in the South Sound Sub-basin. This embayment had a historic length of 560 meters, with 0 acres of vegetated wetland, receiving flows from a 53 square km watershed. Based on these metrics, it ranks 68 out of 144 in its subbasin, and scores 43 out of 100 point in terms of size and complexity among all Puget Sound Coastal Inlets. The PSNERP Strategy Analysis assigned this site to group P8, a medium group of 28 sites where very large coastal watersheds flow into large embayments with extensive wetlands. Over five generations of coastal inlet development, mapping suggests this embayment appears to have completely lost is historical embayment shoreline, and 100% of current shoreline has evidence of tidal flow degradation. An estimated 1% of the nearshore zone, and 23% of the contributing watershed has impervious surfaces greater than 10%. Based on these metrics, this site ranks 11 out of 144 in its sub-basin, and scores 83 out of 100 points among all Puget Sound coastal inlets, in terms of the intensity and complexity of degradation. The PSNERP Strategy Analysis assigned this site to group D8, a small group of 13 sites with extreme loss of shoreline length and shoreline modification, with variable, but generally high levels of development in the nearshore and watershed. Based on this assignement, the site is recommended for a management approach focussed on cautiously and strategically enhancing those ecosystem functions necessary to protect and restore the most valuable ecosystem services.
