About the Nisqually Delta Restoration Project
Partner Organizations
The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is working to restore the Nisqually estuary, the largest estuary restoration project of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. The Refuge is being assisted by two key partners, the Nisqually Indian Tribe (Tribe) and Ducks Unlimited, to restore much of the historic estuary and reconnect it with the tides of Puget Sound. Lands located within the Refuge boundaries, including smaller parcels owned by the Tribe or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, protect one of the few relatively undeveloped estuaries remaining in Puget Sound along the Nisqually River. Nearly 405 ha diked for farming in the late 1800s has been managed by the Refuge as freshwater wetlands since 1974. In 2008, the Refuge and its key partners embarked upon the tidal restoration of 283 ha of estuarine habitat on the west side of the river, consistent with the recently completed Comprehensive Conservation Plan goal to restore native habitats representative of the Puget Sound lowlands. This tidal restoration complements the conversion of 57 ha of diked pasture on the east side of the river undertaken by the Tribe in 2002.
Biophysical monitoring elements will be initiated during the first year of the Refuge’s tidal restoration project by the USGS Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) and its partners. WERC has over a decade of experience providing science support for restoration of salt ponds and wetlands in the San Francisco Bay estuary. WERC will work closely with the Tribe, the USGS Pacific Science Center, Ducks Unlimited, and other restoration partners to document initial conditions and track physical changes as the levees are removed.
Nisqually Delta Restoration Plan Map
About The Website
This website is an unofficial informational outlet for groups working within the Nisqually Delta Restoration partnership. It is not an official website of the U. S. Government or any of the participating agencies. The partnership does not make any warranties or representations with respect to the content, quality, accuracy or completeness of any information or materials contained on the web site, including but not limited to: text, graphics, applications, databases, services, or any other information or materials. The information and materials contained on this web site have been compiled from a variety of sources and, as such, are subject to change without notice. Please contact the participating organizations directly for more specific details. For comments, suggestions or corrections regarding the information contained on this web site, please contact the webmaster at Avian Design.